What Do You Mean By Herbal Monograph Analysis?

Let us understand first what is the meaning of Monograph

The monograph is a scientific document covering plant research from different aspects. It includes information about the particular plant like scientific name, other common names, morphological and anatomical characteristics, chemical constituents, TLC/HPTLC/HPLC/GC identity test, adulterants/substitutes, pharmacology, major therapeutic claims, safety aspects, and dose.

It is a comprehensive document of the particular plant which can be used for quality control of the said plant.

This has applications in R & D labs, herbal manufacturing units and commercial testing labs.

One can develop a monograph for a particular plant for all the above aspects as per the suitability of the method used.

Role of HPTLC in the Development of Herbal Monograph

HPTLC is the best choice of chromatographic technique for the analysis of herbal samples.

HPTLC is a modern version of TLC wherein the principle is the same but the practice is different.

HPTLC technique is GLP/USP/EP compliant chromatography. CAMAG HPTLC system offers a wide range of instruments for performing analysis by HPTLC.

Herbal samples can be studied for different aspects by HPTLC:

• Fingerprint studies for identification of herbal samples/formulations w.r.t botanical reference material and confounded material.
• Identification, quantification and validation studies of analytical/bioactive markers.
• Class of compound studies for identification of phytochemicals/secondary metabolites.
• HPTLC Bioassays/Bio autography studies like DPPH/ α-/β-glycosidase/Ache assays.
• Stability studies.
• Identification of API in herbal samples/formulations by MS for detection of synthetic adulterants.

Advantages of the HPTLC technique for herbal drug analysis

HPTLC is the fast, simple, flexible and most important ‘visible technique of chromatography. On a 20×10 cm plate around 15-20 samples can be analysed simultaneously. This technique has diverse applications in many different fields including herbal, pharma, forensic, food and cosmetics.

After doing a single analysis, analysts can get many data points e.g. images at 254nm, 366 nm and white light with a suitable photo documentation unit, scanning data and spectral data with the scanner. Scanner for qualitative and quantitative analysis.

This technique can be coupled with mass spectroscopy for further identification of separated analytes.

As the HPTLC technique has immense applications in herbal analysis, this technique is of great use for developing monographsMedicinal plants division, ICMR i.e.

Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi has published 17 volumes of ‘Quality Standards of Medicinal Plants’.

In these monographs, a comprehensive study has been reported for a number of medicinal plants. One can refer to these volumes as a reference for developing/writing monographs.

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