A simple and simultaneous identification method for aloe, catechu and gambir by high performance liquid...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacognosy
• Analytical Chemistry
• Quality Control

Background:

• Accurate identification of traditional medicinal materials like aloe, catechu, and gambir is crucial for safety and efficacy.
• Misidentification of these substances poses significant medicinal risks due to potential variations in active compounds and unintended biological activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a rapid and effective analytical method for the simultaneous identification of aloe, catechu, and gambir.
• To assess the accuracy of identification of these medicinal materials in local markets in China and Korea.

Main Methods:

• High-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was optimized for simultaneous identification.
• High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used for identifying marker compounds.
• An Optimapak C18 column and a gradient elution of acetonitrile and phosphoric acid solution were employed.

Main Results:

• The developed HPLC-DAD method demonstrated excellent linearity (r(2)>0.9992), precision (RSD <1-2%), and recovery (99.48-100.97%).
• The study identified mislabeled aloe, catechu, and gambir samples in Chinese and Korean markets.
• This highlights a significant risk of medicinal misuse and potential adverse effects.

Conclusions:

• The developed HPLC method provides a reliable tool for the accurate identification of aloe, catechu, and gambir.
• Implementing this method can mitigate risks associated with the misapplication of these medicinal materials.
• Ensuring correct identification is vital for patient safety and therapeutic outcomes.