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High performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of two xanthones, 1,2,6,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (SR1) and 2,8-dihydroxy-1,6-dimethoxyxanthone (SR2) in leaves and rhizomes of Swertia speciosa. The extracts were analyzed on C18 column using an isocratic mobile phase which consists of MeOH and H2O at the flow rate of 1 ml/min. Identification of xanthone derivatives was done by using UV variable λ detector at 260 nm. The limit of detection obtained for the analytes were in the range of 0.86–2.24 ppm. We had planned to quantify the major bioactives in S. speciosa and to compare their variation with seasons and altitudes. Maximum concentration of SR1 and SR2 was found in S. speciosa rhizomes collected from Hemkund (4000 m high), Uttarakhand, India. Overall, results show that the concentration of bioactives increase with altitude and in samples collected in between Sep.-Oct. which seems to be the period of prime potency and should be the harvesting period.

The chromatographic profile of xanthones found in Swertia chirata was studied by HPLC using a C18 reversed phase column and aqueous methanol mobile phase using UV absorption at 260 nm. RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of two xanthone derivatives, 2, 8-dihydroxy-1, 6-dimethoxyxanthone (SR1) and 1, 2, 6, 8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (SR2) in leaves and rhizomes of S. chirata. The HPLC fingerprints of four batches of herbal samples from different regions of Uttarakhand Himalaya showed similar chromatographic patterns. The retention time of markers peak in the HPLC fingerprint were determined as an important parameter for identification. In this herb, SR1 and SR2 were quantitatively determined using a validated reversed phase HPLC method. The bioactives of S. chirata were quantified and their variation was studied in cultivated and wild species with season and altitude to infer about prime of potency and proper harvesting period. The limit of detection obtained for the analytes were in the range of 0.86–2.24 ppm and the maximum concentration of xanthones was found in cultivated plants.