Application of high performance liquid chromatography to the determination and validation of levodopa in methanolic extract of Mucuna utilis

A sensitive, precise and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the analysis of levodopa in methanolic extract of Mucuna utilis. The method utilises sample preparation step followed by separation on a Eurosphere C18, 250 Χ 4.0 mm, 5 m particle size column, using methanol and 0.5% v/v acetic acid in the ratio of 70:30 v/v as the mobile phase. Analysis of levodopa was carried out in the absorbance mode at 284 nm. The method was validated in terms of linearity, precision (inter and intra day), accuracy, Limit of Detection (LOD) and Limit of Quantitation (LOQ). The proposed HPLC method was found to be precise, specific, accurate and can be used for the identification and quantitative determination of levodopa in herbal extracts.