Planta Med 2015; 81 - PW_213
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565837

Development of an HPTLC-method for identification of Scrophulariae radix (Xuanshen) and quantification of the two main iridoids, harpagide and harpagoside

K Schiller 1, E Reich 2, J Heilmann 1, D Manns 3, G Franz 1
  • 1Pharmaceutical Biology department, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
  • 2CAMAG Laboratory, Muttenz, Switzerland
  • 3Federal Institute for Drugs and Medicinal Devices (BfArM), Bonn, Germany

Herbal drugs originating from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are becoming more popular in Europe. Challenges related to clear definitions, identity, purity, adulteration/falsification prompted the German Pharmacopeia and the Commission of the PhEur to develop and establish quality monographs for the most important TCM herbal drugs commonly used in Europe. Clear identification- and validated assay methods should be the most important part of any new monograph [1, 2].

Scrophulariae radix (Xuanshen, Ch P 2010) is the dried root of Scrophularia ningpoenis Hemsl.,[3] used in TCM for the treatment of fever, swelling, etc. The iridoids harpagide and harpagoside as well as phenylpropanoid glycosides were described as the most abundant secondary metabolites [4]. According to the Ch P 2010 monograph, harpagide and harpagoside were chosen as reference compounds for the development of an identification method based on a new simplified extraction protocol and HPTLC fingerprinting. The use of DCM/EtOH/water (70:45:6.5) as mobile phase and detection with anisaldehyde reagent guarantee the stability of harpagide and harpagoside on the HPTLC plate and afford a clear separation of both iridoids from each other as well as fingerprints appropriate for the characterization of Scrophulariae radix. For quantification of harpagide and harpagoside a densitometric HPTLC assay was also developed using the same mobile phase and comparing quantification with and without derivatization reagent.

References:

[1] Bauer R, Franz G. Modern European monographs for quality control of Chinese herbs. Planta Med 2010; 76: 2004 – 2011

[2] Wang M, Franz G. The role of the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph Eur) in quality control of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in European member states. WJTCM 2015; 1: 5 – 15

[3] Pharmacopoeia of the PRC, Engl. Edit. 2010

[4] de Santos Galindez J, Diaz Lanza AM, Fernández Matellano L. Biologically active substances from the genus Scrophularia. Pharm Biol 2002; 40: 45 – 59