Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry & Natural Products

Biography

Biography: Arjun Singh

Abstract

To compare the phyto-constituents present in the heartwood and small branches of Acacia catechu on the basis of high performance thin layer chromatography in order to evaluate whether the small branches of this plant may be substituted with the heartwood. Acacia catechu (Family- Mimosaceae) commonly called Khadira is a medicinal plant widely used in Ayurveda. As per the Ayurvedic literature, heartwood of this plant is used in sáotha, Kustha, Prameha, Vrana. It is difficult to get huge amount of heartwood from this big tree without cutting the plant. Due to which availability of this plant may be difficult in near future for use in Indian system of medicine. Methods: CAMAG HPTLC system equipped with semi-automatic applicator Linomat-IV and win CATS 1.4.2 software was used. n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts of the heartwood and small braches were developed in suitable mobile phase using standard procedures and visualized in UV 254 and 366 nm and in white light after derivatization with in Anisaldehyde-Sulphuric acid reagent. Results: The HPTLC fingerprinting of the n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts of heartwood and small branches showed almost phytochemical profile. Conclusion: HPTLC fingerprint profile of heartwood and small branches are found similar, therefore small branches may be used in place of heartwood and vice-versa after comparison and confirmation of same for pharmacological activities. The results of qualitative evaluation of HPTLC fingerprint profile will also be helpful in the identification and quality control of the drug and can provide standard HPTLC fingerprints with selected solvent system. The method can also be used for identification of different Acacia catechu species and adulterants.