Analysis of active ingredients in cosmetics is often a tedious task because of the multiple additives present in the formulation. Therefore, in cases like these when there is a complex matrix present, HPTLC can be used for separation, identification and quantification. Each active ingredient has a unique fingerprint that can be produced by separation using HPTLC which can then be compared to the reference fingerprint available to confirm the presence or absence of the active ingredient. Analytical methods using HPTLC are thus developed for routine quality control for the identification of active ingredients and excipients in cosmetics. The advantage of having a fingerprint Chromatography and its comparison with the reference available, separation of multiple samples in parallel, checking for adulteration, finding out the purity and stability of the active ingredient is what makes HPTLC a common method of testing in many laboratories worldwide.

A method for the identification of Neem Oil Azadirachta indica Juss. in soapwas developed by the analysts at Anchrom. The objective of the study was to find out if Neem Oil is present in the soap samples provided by the manufacturer.

A rapid analysis method was developed followed by derivatisation using Iodine vapours and Anise aldehyde reagent. The final results obtained showed that the sample results correlated with the reference standard available.

Therefore, we can conclude the presence of Neem Oil in the test sample provided by the manufacturer.