High-performance thin-layer chromatographic fingerprinting of sandalwood essential oils

Abstract

The potential of high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) fingerprinting in identifying differences in sandalwood essential oils from 5 sandalwood species, namely, Santalum album, Santalum spicatum, Santalum austrocaledonicum, Santalum paniculatum, Santalum lanceolatum, and a natural substitute for sandalwood, Osyris lanceolata, was explored. Variation was observed in the profile of bands (RF values and color) and peak intensity profiles displayed by the essential oils across and within the essential oils studied with some bands being unique to the individual species. The potential of HPTLC fingerprinting as a quality control tool in authenticating sandalwood oils in the sandalwood industry was demonstrated in the present study