Quality assessment of Sclerocarya birrea leaves and leaves products from Burkina Faso based on fingerprinting using HPTLC

The species Sclerocarya birrea, also known as Marula, is present in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Burkina Faso, the leaves are sold as a traditional improved medicine with antidiabetic indication. The objective of this study was to develop a simple, rapid and robust high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for the reliable quality control of S. birrea leaves in Burkina Faso and other West African countries. Chromatography was performed using HPTLC Si 60 F254 plates (20 × 10 cm) as the stationary phase and ethyl acetate‒formic acid‒water (80:10:10, V/V) as the mobile phase. Derivatization steps using natural product and anisaldehyde reagents were used after the development for the detections of flavonoids and triterpenoids. Detection was carried out prior to and after derivatization under UV 254 nm, 366 nm and white light. The HPTLC method was successfully applied to the analysis of 182 collected samples including different origins, related herbal drugs (different plant parts, confounding species) and 12 traditional improved medicines in different forms (capsule, powdered sample, tea). The method was then adapted for use in quality control at different levels in developing countries.