Enhancing Herbal Formulation Analysis: The Role of Flash Chromatography and TLC–MS in Purification and Quality Control

Abstract

Herbal formulations, widely used for their therapeutic properties, require rigorous analysis to ensure their safety, efficacy, and consistency. Flash chromatography and thin layer chromatography–mass spectrometry (TLC–MS) are powerful analytical tools that play a crucial role in the purification, identification, and quality control of herbal products. Flash chromatography enables rapid separation and purification of bioactive compounds from complex herbal mixtures, while thin layer chromatography provides a simple and effective method for compound fingerprinting. When coupled with mass spectrometry, thin layer chromatography–mass spectrometry offers highly sensitive and precise identification of individual compounds, facilitating the detection of active ingredients, metabolites, and contaminants. This article explores the principles, techniques, and applications of flash chromatography and thin layer chromatography–mass spectrometry in the analysis of herbal formulations, with a focus on their combined use for the purification and characterization of active constituents. Additionally, it highlights the importance of these methods in quality control, standardization, and regulatory compliance in the herbal industry. Flash chromatography offers a distinct advantage in the rapid and high-resolution separation of complex multi-component herbal matrices, enabling efficient recovery of target bioactives, whereas TLC–MS provides exceptional analytical sensitivity and specificity for the detection and structural elucidation of low-abundance constituents. The combined application of these techniques ensures comprehensive chemical profiling and robust quality control of herbal formulations. By integrating these advanced techniques, researchers and manufacturers can ensure the integrity, potency, and safety of herbal products, paving the way for more effective and reliable herbal medicine.