Elephantopus scaber Linn is an important medicinal plant. The whole plant is a good source of various bioactive phytochemicals. The High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography was carried out for the estimation of diosgenin content in Elephantopus scaber. HPTLC analysis was performed using Toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid [6: 5: 1 v/v/v] as a mobile phase. Detection and quantification were done densitometrically. HPTLC plate was scanned at 366 nm after derivatization showing good partition and banding. The diosgenin content in pet ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and aqueous extract was estimated by successive solvent (soxhlet) extracts, Standard diosgenin was used for calibration. The quantity of this important phytoconstituent in Elephantopus scaber was high (69.37 μg /ml) in aqueous extract and remarkably low (11.04 μg /ml) in methanolic extract. The saponins and diosgenin are used as alternate natural sources in the synthesis of various pharmaceutical products such as oral contraceptives, sex hormones and other steroids. In present investigation, the quantitative assay was performed for saponin and diosgenin content and the result obtained are discussed.
