Abstract

Despite the fact that many researchers have developed different methods for the determination and detection of bile acid sequestrant, the analytical instruments are still quite costly, and expertise is usually required. In order to avoid the above-mentioned problems, simple, rapid, effective, and inexpensive methods to evaluate bile acid-binding are essential. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and rapid thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-image analysis method to quantitatively determine the bile acid-binding activity of ten edible ethanolic plant extracts. The method was carried out by using TLC silica gel 60 F254 plate with the mobile phase composed of chloroform, methanol, and acetic acid (7:2:1 v/v). The chromatograms were analyzed with image analysis software (ImageJ). The method provided good linearity, accuracy, reproducibility, and selectivity for the determination of bile acid-binding activity. Litsea petiolata extract was found to show the most potent bile acid-binding activity compared to other extracts. Moreover, some extracts exhibited selective binding ability to bile acid; for example, extracts of Careya sphaerica and Polygonum odoratum could selectively bind rather to taurocholic acid than glycodeoxycholic acid. This study shows a simple method for the evaluation of potential edible plants to be used as cholesterol-reducing agents due to their bile acid-binding activity.