Comparative Study of Phytochemicals present in a Polyherbal Anti-diabetic Formulation using Chemical methods and HPTLC methods

The important challenge to Herbal products for their worldwide acceptance is developing the standard methods for their quality assurance. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the phytochemicals present in any herbal product plays very important role in its further standardisation. BSL-150 is an Indian polyherbal, anti-diabetic tablet formulation which majorly contains leaves of Gymnemasylvestre, seeds of Syzygiumcumini, seeds of Phyllanthusemblica and bark of Tinospora cordifolia. The phytochemical analysis of the marketed tablets and in-house formulation by standard chemical methods showed presence of Alkaloids, Flavanoids, Steroids, Triterpenoids, Saponins, Tannins, Phenols, Phytosterols, Proteins, Anthraquinones, Gums and mucilages. The phytochemical analysis using HPTLC methods showed presence of Flavanoids, Steroids, Triterpenoids, Saponins, Tannins, Phenols, sterols, Anthraquinones, Essential oils, Bitter principles and coumarins. On comparison of the chemical method and HPTLC method for phytochemical screening, the chemical methods are less time consuming but they are not plant specific and general. Whereas, HPTLC methods can be plant specific and can be developed further for polyherbal formulation. Also, on the basis of intensity and Rf of a band, the selection of the phytochemicals as chemical marker for standardisation of the polyherbal product becomes easy. Thus Modern instrumental method of phytochemical screening has more advantages over the chemical method.