Determination of Anthracene Derivatives in Herbal Medicines

Abstract

The relevance of this study stems from the need for alignment of test methods used for identification and assay of anthracene derivatives in herbal preparations and herbal medicinal products. The aim of the study was to analyse Russian and international quality standards and to identify the most specific and sensitive test methods that could be used for herbal medicines containing anthracene derivatives. The comparative analysis of requirements in the Identification, Determination of major classes of bioactive compounds, and Assay parts of the Russian and foreign pharmacopoeial monographs for herbal preparations and herbal medicinal products containing anthracene derivatives, demonstrated that the main test method used for identification is thin layer chromatography, while assays most often rely on spectrophotometry. The so-called “consistent standardisation” principle is implemented in the Russian quality standards as regards alignment of methods used for anthracene derivative determination in herbal preparations (i.e. active pharmaceutical ingredients, APIs) and herbal medicinal products containing these APIs. The comparative analysis of requirements in the Russian and foreign quality standards for herbal medicines containing anthracene derivatives demonstrated the need for elaboration of two general chapters: Qualitative analysis of anthracene derivatives in herbal medicines and Quantitative analysis of anthracene derivatives in herbal medicines.