Fingerprint analysis and the application of HPTLC to the determination of identity and quality of botanicals, from an industry perspective.

There are many examples of botanical identity methodology currently in use today; all have associated levels of confidence and, hence, application for their intended purpose. This paper addresses the application of some of these methods to identify and qualify commonly traded herbs. The relevance of botanical identity and quality within the dietary supplement industry has seen a dramatic increase in the last several years, and now with the current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) recently published and the requirement for 100% identity testing, there is an increased need for reliable methods of analysis and subsequent interpretation of the results or data derived from these methods, given the diversity of samples and matrixes seen on a daily basis in a commercial setting.

Analysis of Scutellaria lateriflora and its adulterants Teucrium canadense and Teucrium chamaedrys by LC-UV/MS, TLC, and digital photomicroscopy.

Methods using liquid chromatography with UV detection (LC-UV), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and digital photomicroscopy were developed to distinguish between the different species of Scutellaria lateriflora L. and its adulterants Teucrium canadense L. and T.