Physicochemical, qualitative, and high profile thin-layer chromatography study of Tylophora indica (Burm. f) Merr. leaves and roots

Abstract

Introduction: India is the land with near estimation of 6000–7000 medicinal floras. Comprehensive ethnobotanical studies of these natural healers highlight their multiple therapeutic applications. Moreover, different parts of a plant reveal different pharmacological activities due to the variation of phytoconstituents. Hence, standards should be available for all parts which are playing an important role in the pharmacological profile of the drug. The whole plant of Tylophora indica is used for the different therapeutic attributes, but standards of only leaves are available. Therefore, in the present study roots of T. indica were evaluated for establishing the standards of roots. Materials and Methods: T. indica leaves and roots were collected from the Ayushya Vatika, Lovely Professional University and subjected to physicochemical, qualitative, and high profile thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) study. Results: Results of physicochemical analysis of leaves were complying with the standards and results of roots for loss on drying, total ash, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, methanolic extractive values, and water-soluble extractive were 11.3 ± 0.6%, 6.8 ± 1.32%, 4.16 ± 0.98%, 1 ± 1.0%, 30.4 ± 1.75%, and 20 ± 1.6%, respectively. Qualitative analysis revealed that leaves are devoid of steroids, terpenoids, and amino acids. In HPTLC analysis two different solvents were used for both the samples and different numbers of RFs were observed in different samples. X-ray powder diffraction study of root indicates the absence of heavy metals such including mercury, lead, and arsenic. Conclusion: The investigated T. indica leaf samples comply with the standards. The results of the study revealed entirely different physicochemical, qualitative, and HPTLC profiles of roots. Hence, standards should be developed for the individual plant part which is going to be used as a medicine.