A rapid one-step immunochromatographic assay for the detection of asiaticoside.

Asiaticoside has been identified as the most active compound in Centella asiatica. In order to screen a large number of plant samples for the presence of asiaticoside, a rapid and simple technique is required that utilizes small quantities for test samples. In this study, an immunochromatographic strip test has been developed for the detection of asiaticoside in plant samples that uses a monoclonal antibody against asiaticoside. The limit of detection for the strip test was 12.5 μg/ml. Immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies could be useful for the determination of small quantities of asiaticoside in plant extracts.