Chemical Fingerprinting of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Extracts: HPTLC Bioautographic Assays as Preliminary Research Tool to Match Chemical and Biological Properties

摘要

TLC bio-autographic approach, dated at 1946, represents a modern and rediscovered research tool which capacityto match chemical fingerprinting – even if with semi-quantitativeindications and biological activities that however need to be analyzedby supplementary tests drives further in-depth studies towards moretargeted results. High performance TLC plates and more specificelution methods allow separating in a more well-defined way thebands, evidencing consequently bioactivities through bioautographyclearer. The fields of application of HP-TLC bio-autographic approachconcerning medicinal and aromatic plants are many, from the identityand quality control of plant crude drugs and extracts, of crude drugstransformation processes and final products,to research for interestingbiomolecules and their possible synergic interactions for new products,answering for new and modern needs of efficacy and safety.