Quality control

The significant followings of secondary metabolites plant-derived products are tannins, terpenoids, and alkaloids, which have significant pharmacognostic value in the treatment of anti-inflammation. Preclinical studies on animal models demonstrate that tannins, by means of their inhibitory effect on COX and LOX enzymes and their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species, reduce edema, oxidative stress, and swelling of joints, whereas terpenoids (oleanolic and ursolic acid), by regulating the immune response and alleviating pro-inflammatory cytokine responses and anti-inflammatory effects on tissues, can be described as antioxidants. Alkaloids (such as berberine and colchicine) also work through distinct mechanisms of action, namely via inhibition of NF-KB, suppression of iNOS, and modulation of immune cell infiltration to yield therapeutic effects to specific gastrointestinal and joint inflammation. Taken together; these compounds can shed light on a variety of, but complementary mechanisms, which can provide safe and sustainable alternatives to traditional anti-inflammatory medicines. Although their potential remains encouraging, shortcomings including inefficient bioavailability, unstandardized extraction, and limited chronic model studies as well as their poorly studied translational potential, continue to represent a major obstacle. By filling these gaps with standardized approaches, pharmacokinetic/toxicological profiling, and designing synergistic formulations, the enhancement of their therapeutic value may be possible and allow their introduction in veterinary and biomedical practice.

The study focuses on the phytochemical profiling of selected Indian medicinal plants using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), two key methods for fingerprinting in the quality control of herbal products. The primary objective is to establish standard chromatographic fingerprints for Withania somnifera, Azadirachta indica, and Centella asiatica, which are commonly used in traditional Indian medicine. Dried plant materials were extracted with methanol, and TLC and HPLC under optimised conditions were used to identify major bioactive markers. The chromatograms run were examined with retention factors (RF) and retention times (RT), and peaks were compared with known phytoconstituents. TLC was used to provide separation based on the compound class and HPLC provided quantification in detail. The findings indicate that TLC and HPLC fingerprinting are powerful and complementary methodologies for standardising herbal medications and ensuring the consistency of batches. These results have regulatory, pharmacovigilance, and quality assurance implications in the traditional medicine industry.