Quantitative Determination of Marker Compounds and Fingerprint Analysis

The use of natural products, such as herbal medicines, for the prevention and treatment of diseases has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, concerns about the safety, efficacy, and quality of these products remain, as there is a risk of adulteration and substitution of plant materials.

Adulteration occurs when other plant materials or compounds are added to the herbal medicine to increase its bulk or potency. Substitution occurs when a cheaper or more readily available plant material is substituted for the desired plant material.

To address these concerns, chromatographic fingerprinting of herbal products and quantitative determination of marker compounds are essential.

What is Fingerprint Analysis and Quantitative Determination of Marker Compounds ?

Fingerprint analysis involves generating a unique profile of a known reference material or sample based on the presence and abundance of multiple compounds.

This profile is then used as a reference for quality control and consistency in future batches of the product, particularly for complex mixtures like natural products.

Quantitative determination of marker compounds uses analytical techniques to measure the amount of specific compounds present in a sample. These compounds are chosen based on their chemical and therapeutic properties and abundance in the plant material.

By quantifying these compounds, it is possible to ensure consistency and quality control in herbal medicines.

Analytical Techniques Used

Several analytical techniques, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), and mass spectrometry (MS), are used for fingerprint analysis and the quantitative determination of marker compounds.

High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) is a simple, cost-effective, and rapid technique that can be used for both fingerprint analysis and the quantitative determination of marker compounds from complex matrices.

For example, Fingerprint analysis and quantification of caffeic acid in the methanolic extract of Ipomoea reniformis was carried out at our Anchrom Lab, Mumbai, by using the CAMAG HPTLC technique.

Caffeic acid was quantified to be 0.033% in the methanolic extract of Ipomoea reniformis, and Fingerprint profile showed 10 well separated band pattern.

As the use of natural products continues to grow, the importance of HPTLC in ensuring their quality and safety cannot be overstated.

Anchrom Enterprises Pvt. Ltd is one of the leaders in HPTLC in food analysis. Please contact us at lab@anchrom.in for HPTLC analysis of plant extracts, drugs, ingredients in cosmetics, and forensic science.