*Corresponding Author: reshmavishalpawar2019@gmail.com 260 DOI: https://doi.org/10.52756/ijerr.2023.v32.022 Int. J. Exp. Res. Rev., Vol. 32: 260-269 (2023) Densitometric HPTLC analysis of the Acacia catechu wild fractions for phenolics Reshma Pawar* and A. Balasubramaniam Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vels Institute of Science Technology & Advanced Studies, Pallavaram, Vels University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India E-mail/Orcid Id: RP, reshmavishalpawar2019@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8788-0023; AB, abalasubramaniam.sps@velsuniv.ac.in, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2536-0507 Introduction The medicinal qualities of Acacia catechu make it valuable. The medicinal potential of various components of the tree, such as its heartwood, bark, and leaves, is worth exploring (Chatterjee and Pakrashi, 1992). Due to its beneficial nutritional qualities, this plant has a long history of usage in Eastern medicine, particularly in Asia. Acacia catechu formulations have a diverse range of pharmacological activities, encompassing antibacterial, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, anti- pyretic, and anti-inflammatory effects (Singh and Lal, 2006; Singh et al., 1976; Naik et al., 2003). Traditionally used to treat cancer, bronchitis, asthma, chest wound healing discomfort, sore throats, diarrhoea, ulceration, vitiligo, and eczema, the Acacia catechu plant can produce therapeutic foods and medications due to its antifungal, antiviral, spasmolytic, and hypoglycemic properties. Numerous references in Ayurveda support the idea that A. catechu is a helpful herb with many therapeutic benefits, including those for skin conditions (Adhikari et al., 2021). The bark and heartwood of A. catechu are used to make the well-known ayurvedic skin tonic known as Khadira. Aside from that, heartwood extract has been used in various therapeutic applications. Alkaloids provide strong anti-microbial and hypoglycemic properties (Bhattarai et al., 2020). Traditional and folk remedies are the only ones that utilize this tree for therapeutic purposes, providing more investigation into novel medicinal compounds with known activities. It has traditionally been used as a treatment for dermatological conditions, sore throats, and fuel and feed (Rout et al., 2021). Its anti-diabetic, anti- Article History: Received: 16 th Jun., 2023 Accepted: 20 th Aug., 2023 Published: 30 th Aug., 2023 Abstract: Traditional "Ayurvedic" medicine from India has traditionally used Acacia catechu. The herbal extract is the primary component, although there have been no attempts to standardize it as an active agent or marker. A chromatographic fingerprint represents the chemical components of herbal remedies that are therapeutically advantageous. This study suggests utilizing an HPTLC approach to assess phenols like protocatechuic acid and gallic acid in Acacia catechu extract fractions made of water, ethyl acetate, and butanol. According to the study, protocatechuic acid (11.85%) in the water fraction of the Acacia catechu is more concentrated than gallic acid (6.92%). In contrast, the ethyl acetate fraction contains more gallic acid (11%) and less protocatechuic acid (4.10%). However, the butanol fraction only has 6.62% gallic acid. By the Folin-Coicalteu method, total phenolic content was determined, and antioxidant activity of all fractions was resolute using the DPPH method. It was discovered that ethyl acetate fraction had higher phenolic content (211 mg/g) than aqueous fraction (129 mg/g) and butanol fraction (101.2 mg/g). Ethyl acetate fraction has more potent antioxidant activity than water and Butanol fractions. The research emphasizes the potential of this methodology for efficient and economical phenolic profiling, which may aid in the assessment and use of A. catechu in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors. Keywords: Acacia catechu, Protocatechuic acid, Gallic acid, HPTLC