Standardization of Homoeopathic Mother Tincture of Strychnous nux vomica with the help of High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography and correlation of its alkaloid markers with its Toxicological action

Abstract

Background: Chromatography is one of the important laboratory technique in which the components of a mixture are separated on an adsorbent in order to analyze, identify, purify and quantify a mixture. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)is used to support the identity of a compound in a mixture when the Rf of a compound is compared with the Rf of a known compound. High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography is a sophisticated and automated form of Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The procedure simultaneously processes the sample and standard that results in better analytical precision and accuracy at a faster pace. Pharmacological/ Toxicological action of Nux Vomica is because of its active principles present in the seeds namely strychnine, brucine etc. This research paper aims to corelate the active principles present in Nux Vomica with the toxicological action of the same. Materials and Methods: 1. Standard Nux Vomica mother tincture was tested for its alkaloid markers and its correlation with the toxicological action was studied. 2. Analysis of the mother tincture was done using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography. 3. Stationary phase consisted of TLC Aluminium sheets with silica gel 60 F253 pre-coated layer (20cm x 10cm), thickness-0.2mm, no. of tracks-18, band length-6mm. 4. Mobile Phase consisted of Chloroform: Methanol (9.5:0.5). 5. The plate was developed in developing chamber and observed under U.V. Light. Results: Colours seen on the HPTLC Plates of samples are greenwhich corresponds to strychnine, dark blue which corresponds to brucine, orange to alkaloids fluorescent green to sterols and pink to fatty acids which are evident on the chromatogram. Conclusion: Therapeutic action of Nux Vomica as noted in Homoeopathic Materia Medica is because of the active principles like strychnine, brucine, alkaloids, sterols, fatty acids present in it which is evident from the chromatogram.