RP-HPLC and HPTLC Methods for Analysis of Selected Herbs Used as Complexion Promoters in Ayurveda and Unani Systems of Medicine.

Abstract

In Ayurvedic and Unani texts, many herbs and formulations are mentioned as complexion promoters having skin brightening and whitening effects that downregulate melanin synthesis. However, with the assistance of chromatographic techniques, further validation of scientific standardization is required. To validate individual herbs and formulations in the ancient literature, some scientific aspects are to be focused on, including standardization of herbs or herbal products consisting of the active compounds. Out of many herbs having complexion promoting properties, three herbs (Myristica fragrans, Hemidesmus indicus, and Inula racemosa) were selected for the study. In the present study, validated reverse phase (RP)-HPLC and high-performance TLC (HPTLC) methods were developed for standardization of the herbs. It was observed that the quercetin present in M. fragrans was 0.62% (w/w) with a retention time (Rt) of 6.23 min, the ferulic acid present in H. indicus was 1.39% (w/w) with an Rt of 8.083 min, and the chlorogenic acid present in I. racemosa was 1.03% (w/w) with an Rt of 3.19 min. The HPTLC method showed 1.23% (w/w) of quercetin present in M. fragrans with a retardation factor (Rf) of 0.48, ferulic acid in H. indicus was 1.52% (w/w) with an Rf of 0.44, and chlorogenic acid was 1.09% (w/w) in I. racemosa with an Rf of 0.52. This specific and precise validated method can be useful for the quality evaluation and quantitative determination of the constituents in complexion-promoting herbs from Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine. The exploration of complexion promoters from Ayurveda and Unani; quality evaluation of complexion promoters herbs from Ayurveda and Unani; HPTLC and RP-HPLC analysis of herbal extracts used and their validation.