Development of a HPTLC method to profile the phytochemicals in Allanblackia parviflora (tallow tree) kernel and seed cakes

Abstract

HPTLC is a useful and practical analytical tool to characterize plant compositions. This study was focused on exploring the results of high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis, particularly as a useful tool for the authentication of Allanblackia parviflora seed and kernel cakes. Bulked samples from sixteen different Ghanaian communities were analysed by HPTLC and their fingerprints were compared. The optimum experimental conditions were established: sample weight of 2.0 g, methanol:water (80:20 v/v) as extraction solvent, 30 min extraction time and twice extraction, ethyl acetate:methanol:water (100:16.5:13.5 v/v) as mobile phase, vanillic acid as derivatisation agent and 7 min of plate heating time after derivatisation. The HPTLC profile generated from extracts across 16 communities and 157 trees was very reproducible and demonstrates the robustness of the technique in characterising the profile