High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) Profiling of Methanolic Extract of Sunthi Choorna (Powder of Dried Rhizome of Zingiber officinale Rosc.)

Abstract

Introduction: High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) is a versatile  analytical technique widely employed for qualitative and quantitative analysis across  various fields. Known for its high resolution, sensitivity, and reproducibility, HPTLC  is particularly effective for separating and identifying complex mixtures. The visual  fingerprints generated in chromatograms facilitate quality control, authenticity  verification, and compound profiling. Sunthi, the dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Rosc., is renowned for its therapeutic  benefits. Ensuring its authenticity and quality is essential for safe and effective  use. Chromatographic fingerprinting provides a reliable method to identify its  pharmacologically active and chemically unique components, supporting its  validation and standardization. Materials and Methods: An HPTLC plate measuring 5 × 10 cm, pre-coated with  silica gel 60 F254 TLC plates, was used as the stationary phase. Toluene: chloroform:  methanol (5:4:1) was used as the mobile phase. Visualization was done under  ultraviolet light at 254 nm and 366 nm. Results and Discussion: The HPTLC of the methanolic extract of Sunthi choorna (powder of dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Rosc.) showed 12 peaks in a total area  of 78977.6 AU at 254 nm and 15 peaks with an area of 239963.4 AU at 366 nm. Conclusion: HPTLC fingerprinting plays a vital role in the standardization of herbal  drugs, particularly in the identification of medicinal plants. The fingerprinting  profile of Sunthi Choorna (powdered dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Rosc.) reveals  12 peaks at 254 nm and 15 peaks at 366 nm. This method provides a detailed profile  analysis that is essential for quality control and can be a valuable tool for future  research.