Chromatographic Finger Printing Analysis in Identification of Phytomarkers by HPTLC Technique

Abstract

Chromatographic fingerprinting techniques are becoming increasingly popular and significant in the standardization of natural products. They are employed for both quantifying marker compounds and authenticating the presence of various herbs in poly herbal compositions. Although HPLC and GC are also frequently employed for chromatographic fingerprinting of single herb and poly herbal compositions, HPTLC has been the pioneer in this field. Chromatographic fingerprinting is used to determine the single herbs identification and qualities before they are included to herbal formulations. Each herb that will be incorporated to the formulation must first undergo fingerprinting. This can be used to identify both the herb and evaluate the main active components which can be found in the herb. The final poly herbal formulation is developed when all the herbs have been appropriately processed and their identity and purity have been confirmed. At this point, a chromatographic method can yield distinctive peaks for each of the herbs utilized in herbal formulation is used to develop a chromatographic fingerprint of the poly herbal formulation. These fingerprints assist in confirming the presence of all the herbs in multi herbal preparations. The lack of one of the distinguishing features in the chromatographic fingerprint indicates the absence of even a single herb during the manufacturing process. In fact, the specific herbs that are present in the formulation can even be quantified with the aid of a well-developed chromatographic fingerprint. This chapter gives an insight into finger print analysis for identification of phytomarkers and sophisticated chromatographic methods like HPTLC advantages and applications. This chapter also gives importance to modern and traditional method of several extraction methods involved in extraction of phytoconstituents.