ABSTRACT
Thymus is a widely used medicinal plant in food and pharmaceutical industries. Among different species of Thymus, T. vulgaris is used more than other species in therapeutic dosage forms. This study was conducted to differentiate various Thymus species by TLC fingerprint. In order to identify and differentiate various species of Thymus, TLC fingerprints of essential oil, dichloromethane, ethylacetate and n-butanol extracts of four available species named T. vulgaris, T. pubescens, T. citriodorus and T. daenensis were obtained and compared with each other. The results showed that the TLC chromatograms of essential oil and n-butanol extract cannot be used as differential identification for the above-mentioned species; while the ethylacetate and dichloromethane extracts are more reliable to be used for TLC fingerprints. TLC-chromatogram of ethylacetate extract is specific for identification of T. pubescens and T. vulgaris while T. citriodorus and T. daenensis can be best identified by their TLC fingerprints obtained from dichloromethane extract. For best differentiation of various Thymus species, different extracts of the plants should be used
Subject(s)
Chromatography, Thin Layer , Plant Extracts , Methylene Chloride , Oils, Volatile , 1-ButanolABSTRACT
Artemisia absinthium L. [common wormwood] has been widely used in traditional medicine. The plant contains toxic components: a and beta-thujone, therefore, it should be used with caution. Since common wormwood is considered to be a toxic plant, we decided to evaluate toxic compounds quantities in those used in Iranian folk market. Five samples were purchased from Tehran markets. Essential oil of the flowers was obtained by water distillation. Essential oils were injected to gas chromatograph and their thujone content were determined according to the calibration curve. The results showed that alpha-thujone is absent in all samples and p-thujone content in the essential oils is much less than its amount reported from other countries. Since the quantity of toxic compounds are low in the plant growing in Iran, it is proposed that Artemisia absinthium L. can be studied for its some medical uses
ABSTRACT
Passiflora has several species that two of them named P. incarnata and P. caerulea are cultivated in Iran. Many investigations have been carried out on therapeutic effects of the genus but only P. incarnata is approved for use in pharmaceutical dosage forms for anxiety and insomnia. The purpose of this study is differential determination of P. incarnata and P. caerulea in medicinal plants and related herbal drugs. In this investigation, microscopic properties, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and total flavonoids calculated as hyperoside of P. incarnata and P. caerulea were determined. In addition, TLC chromatogram regarding flavonoids and HPLC chromatograms of P. incarnata and P. caerulea ethanol extract, Passipay tablet and drop [Iran Darouk Co.], Passiflora drop and dry extract [Vogel Co.] and Passiflora drop [Curarina Co.] were also compared. No significant difference between total ash, acid-insoluble ash and total flavonoids in two species were found. But they were very different in microscopic properties. TLC and HPLC chromatograms are very different as well. The aerial parts of the two plant species can be well distinguished by microscopic method. The plant extract either itself or in pharmaceutical dosage forms, can be determined by HPLC or TLC methods. Since sample preparation is very simple and doesn't require complex procedures, the above-mentioned methods seem to be efficient