Separation, Identification, and Investigation of Antioxidant Ability of Plant Extract Components Using TLC, LC–MS, and TLC–DPPH^•

Abstract

Ten common phenolic compounds from the extracts of five plant species, that is, Hypericum perforatum L., Matricaria recutita L., Achillea millefolium L., Thymus vulgaris L., and Salvia officinalis L., were separated using optimized thin-layer chromatography (TLC) conditions at normal phase mode and were visualized using Natural Product/Polyethylene Glycol Reagent. Antioxidant properties of components of the extracts were assessed using TLC–DPPH^• directly on the TLC plate. Nine out of ten analyzed polyphenols were proved to be radical scavengers. The presence and identity of target substances in plant samples were confirmed by the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry technique.

Keywords:

• direct bioautography
• plant tinctures components
• polyphenols
• TLC separation
• TLC–DPPH^• assay
• LC–MS

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr Hab. Emilia Fornal for letting them use the mass spectrometry services and facilities of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland