HPTLC Fingerprint Profile (Phenolics) of Selected Cyathea Species from Western Ghats, South India

HPTLC analysis was performed to study the phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins profile of Cyathea nilgirensis Holttum, Cyathea gigantea (Wall. ex. Hook.) Holttum, and Cyathea crinita (Hook.) Copel. The maximum number of bands was observed in the ethanolic extracts of C. crinita. The phenolic bands with R f values 0.05, 0.32, 0.43, 0.75 (quercetin), and 0.83 demonstrated their occurrence in all the three studied species of Cyathea. Flavonoids with R f values 0.05, 0.23, 0.30, 0.43, and 0.73 showed their presence in the three studied species of Cyathea. Tannins with the R f values 0.05, 0.09, and 0.82 determined their existence in all the three studied Cyathea species. Gallic acid was present only in C. crinita with the R f value 0.49. The developed HPTLC profiles can be used for identification and quantitative determination of phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins. This method is also suitable for rapid screening of Cyathea species for chemotypic assessment and also for quality control purposes.