Background: Saptachakra (Salacia chinensis L.) is an important medicinal plant described as antidiabetic drug in South Indian Ayurvedic literature. Research works attributed its action, mainly to the chief chemical compound mangiferin. Increased demand has led to over exploitation from the limited natural habitat, but this has not led to its scarcity in the market, which questions its authenticity.
Aim: To find out the authenticity of the different commercial market samples using HPTLC analysis in comparison with the authentic natural habitat sample
Materials and Methods: So, the present study has been carried out with different commercial market samples from four different markets of South India viz Hyderabad (Sample A), Chennai (Sample B), Thiruvanantpuram (Sample C) and Bengaluru (Sample D) and compared these samples with the authentic natural habitat plant specimen (Sample G) in terms of HPTLC with marker compound mangiferin.
Results: In HPTLC analysis of all the samples, except Sample D, all other samples (B, C and G) showed presence of mangiferin. Highest percentage of mangiferin was in Sample G with 1.6 %, followed by Sample C with 0.81 % and Sample B 0.38 %.
Conclusion : Samples B and C matched with authentic natural habitat Sample G, on mangiferin content and samples A and D found to be adulterated with other botanical sources.
Key words: Saptachakra, Salacia chinensis L, HPTLC analysis, Mangiferin
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