A RAPID HPTLC METHOD FOR IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF THYMOL IN AN AYURVEDIC FORMULATIONS

Puneet Nirmal* and Dr. Shalini Sharma

ABSTRACT

Background: Hakam, Erand pak, Ajmodadi, Pathyadi are very popular Ayurvedic (churna) medicines practiced in India; however, unfortunately, they possess several quality control issues. Objective: The aim of this study was to find out a simple, accurate and sensitive HPTLC method for the detection and quantification of marker molecule, thymol on these Ayurvedic formulations for standardization. Materials and methods: Methanolic extraction (reflux) was performed from the above four churnas as well as crude drug (Trachyspermum ammi). HPTLC was done using thymol as a standard. The mobile phase was a mixture of toluene-ethyl acetate (93:7, v/v) and detection at 254 and 366nm. Results: The Rf was detected at 0.58. Thymol was quantified in crude drug (Trachyspermum ammi) is 13.34%. Conclusion: This method can be successfully employed for standardization and quantitative analysis of thymol in Ayurvedic formulations (churnas) and also be helpful to clinicians and pharmacists to draw significant role of thymol present in all these samples.

Keywords: HPTLC, Ajwain, Thymol, Churna, Ayurveda.