A validated HPTLC method for determination of trans-caryophyllene from polyherbal formulations

Formulations of traditional medicines are usually made up of a complex mixture of herbs. However, effective quality control methods in order to select materials of the right quality are lacking. ‘Amukkara choornam’ is a polyherbal Siddha formulation used for gastritis, spleen enlargement, leucorrhoea, hiccups, anaemia, tuberculosis and kappa diseases. Trans-caryophyllene is an important constituent present in the ingredients of this formulation. In a literature survey, it was found that there is no such method for the quantification of trans-caryophyllene except gas chromatography or gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS). So, a high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed and validated for the quantification of trans-caryophyllene in amukkara choornam. Pre-coated silica gel 60F-254 plates (10 × 10 cm2) were used for the analysis. The solvent system consisted of toluene–ethyl acetatate (9 : 3, v/v), and trans-caryophyllene was detected at 260 nm. The developed method was v...