~ 45 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2013; 2 (3): 45-49 ISSN 2278-4136 ISSN 2349-8234 JPP 2013; 2 (3): 45-49 © 2013 AkiNik Publications Received: 18-7-2013 Accepted: 09-8-2013 Rashmi Tambe Department of Pharmacognosy, MCE Society’s Allana College of Pharmacy, Azam Campus, Camp, Pune, India. Maushumi Kulkarni Department of Pharmaceutics, MCE Society’s Allana College of Pharmacy, Azam Campus, Camp, Pune, India. Kiran Bhise Department of Pharmaceutics, MCE Society’s Allana College of Pharmacy, Azam Campus, Camp, Pune, India. Correspondence: Rashmi Tambe Department of Pharmacognosy, MCE Society’s Allana College of Pharmacy, Azam Campus, Camp, Pune, India. E-Mail: rashmicloud9@rediffmail.com Tel: +91-9922964713 Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and HPTLC Fingerprinting of Bark Extracts of Symplocos racemosa Rashmi Tambe, Maushumi Kulkarni, Kiran Bhise ABSTRACT Objective: To establish physical constants and fingerprint profile of Symplocos racemosa using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) technique. Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening was done, physical constants were evaluated and HPTLC studies were carried out. CAMAG HPTLC system equipped with Linomat V applicator, TLC scanner 3, Reprostar 3 and WIN CATS-4 software were used. Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract showed the presence of alkaloids, triterpenes, tannins, saponins, glycosides, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The proximate analysis showed satisfactory result with respect to foreign matter, moisture content, ash value and extractive values. HPTLC finger printing of methanol extract of bark powder revealed presence of eight components 0.23 0.44, 0.57, 0.68 0.97,1.17,1.35,1.43 Component number 6 at Rf 1.17 showed maximum concentration.Aqueous extract of bark powder showed seven peaks with Rf values in the range with their Rf value Rf - 0.23 0.27 0.32, 0.38 0.54, 0.75 Component number 5 at 0.0.54 Rf showed maximum concentration. Conclusions: It can be concluded that HPTLC fingerprint analysis of bark powder extract of Symplocos racemosa can be used as a diagnostic tool for the correct identification of the plant and it is useful as a phytochemical marker and also a good estimator of genetic variability in plant populations. Keywords: Symplocos racemosa bark, Phytochemical Screening, Physical constants, HPTLC Fingerprinting. 1. Introduction The human being exploited to alleviate his suffering from injuries of deceases utilizing plant growing around him. The plant kingdom still hold many species of plant containing substance of medicinal value which have yet to be discovered and the large no. of plant are constantly being screened for their possible pharmacological value in addition to already exploited plants [1] . As the results of modern isolation technique and pharmacological screening procedure, new plant drugs usually find their way into modern medicines. Now a days maximum world population depends on herbal medicines. Medicinal plants often contain additional active principles other than the major active principles and physiologically inert substances like cellulose and starch. As the constituents derived from the medicinal plants proved the cure the medicinal plants proved to cure the human disorders they isolated and used for their pharmacological action. The constituents having particular therapeutic effect are identified and isolated [2] . Standardization of plant materials is the need of the day. Several pharmacopoeia containing monographs of the plant materials describe only the physicochemical parameters. Hence the modern methods describing the identification and quantification of active constituents in the plant material may be useful for proper standardization of herbals and its formulations [3] . Also, the WHO has emphasized the need to ensure the quality of medicinal plant products using modern controlled techniques and applying suitable standards [4] . Chromatographic fingerprinting techniques are most significant methods which can be used for the routine herbal drug analysis and for quality assurance. HPTLC offers better resolution and estimation of active constituents can be done with reasonable accuracy in a shorter time [5] .