Preliminary Qualitative HPTLC Fingerprinting of Triterpenoid Saponins in Gymnema sylvestre and Protoberberine Alkaloids in Berberis aristata
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. and Berberis aristata DC. are two widely used Ayurvedic antihyperglycemic herbs that are frequently co-formulated in polyherbal preparations, yet reference HPTLC identity data for their hydroalcoholic extracts remain limited. This study reports a preliminary qualitative HPTLC fingerprinting investigation of the hydroalcoholic extract of Gymnema sylvestre and the hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of Berberis aristata . For Gymnema sylvestre extract (leaf, 14% w/w hydroalcoholic yield), chromatography on silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ with toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid: methanol (3:5:0.5:2) and post-derivatization visualization (10% sulphuric acid in methanol) resolved three bands at Rf 0.52, 0.33 and 0.19, developing light blue, dark blue and light blue colouration respectively, consistent with an oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin class and tentatively corresponding by co-chromatography to gymnemagenin, gymnemic acid IV and deacyl gymnemic acid. For Berberis aristata extracts (root; hydroalcoholic yield 8% w/w, aqueous yield 6% w/w), the mobile phase butanol: ethyl acetate: formic acid: water (3:5:0.5:1) resolved two bands at Rf 0.58 and 0.47 in both extracts, showing yellowish-green fluorescence under UV light (254/366 nm) without derivatization, consistent with the protoberberine alkaloid chromophore and tentatively corresponding to berberine and palmatine; the jatrorrhizine standard resolved at a distinct Rf of 0.52 but was not detected in either extract. These preliminary, tentative fingerprints are reported as a qualitative reference profile only; quantitative estimation, inter-batch replication, and formal validation remain necessary before these methods can be regarded as standardization tools.
Source: Research Square
Authors: Shivaprasad Hudeda, Spandana Malatesha
Institution: JSS Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Analytical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7224417431