Authentication of Alpinia galanga extracts using DNA barcoding, HPTLC and HPLC analysis

Area of Science:

• Pharmacognosy and Molecular Biology
• Phytochemistry
• Botanical Authentication

Background:

• Alpinia galanga (greater galangal) is a valuable medicinal plant used in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• Increasing demand in the nutraceutical industry necessitates robust methods for authenticating A. galanga.
• Potential for adulteration poses risks to product quality and consumer safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and integrate molecular and chemical techniques for authenticating Alpinia galanga rhizomes and extracts.
• To establish reliable quality control measures for A. galanga in the nutraceutical sector.
• To differentiate genuine A. galanga from potential adulterants.

Main Methods:

• DNA extraction and amplification of specific regions (rbcL and trnL-trnF) for DNA barcoding.
• High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) for chemical fingerprinting.
• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for quantifying key compounds like galangin.

Main Results:

• DNA barcoding successfully identified A. galanga at the species level.
• HPTLC revealed consistent banding patterns, with a specific band (RF 0.90) identified as a marker compound.
• HPLC confirmed the presence and concentration of galangin, matching reference standards across all sample types.

Conclusions:

• The integrated approach of DNA barcoding and chemical profiling (HPTLC, HPLC) provides a reliable method for authenticating Alpinia galanga.
• These methods ensure the quality and integrity of A. galanga in botanical reference materials, raw rhizomes, and finished extracts.
• This robust authentication strategy mitigates the risk of adulteration in nutraceutical and medicinal products.