Do you find differences in the quantification of actives in botanical extracts?

Botanical extracts contain many substances from the plant, among them main actives, which are the ones that give the extract functionality, and other substances that sometimes have synergistic activity.

The best technique available for separating and quantifying the active substances of a plant is the “Liquid chromatography” (HPLC, High Performance Liquid Chromatography or UPLC, Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

Sometimes when comparing the quantification of an active (purity or assay by HPLC) in the same extract are found important differences. Why?. What are the causes?

1.- The chromatographic method used are different (gradient, column, phases or wavelength) because there is no standardized method.

2.- Reference standards used in the analysis are different. Internal working standards are used because there is no commercial quantitative standard.

The lack of many standardized analytical methods and references standards in the botanical extracts sector creates confusion in the quantification of the actives.

Monteloeder is participating together with “USP Dietary Supplements” in the Harmonization and Standardization of analytical methods and assisting in the development of reference standards.

Fran Cremades

Quality Control Manager

Related articles:

https://www.monteloeder.com/blog/2019/01/aggiornamento-lista-italiana-delle-sostanze-e-preparati-vegetali-ammessi-negli-integratori-alimentari/

https://www.monteloeder.com/blog/2019/01/safety-first-the-importance-of-ensuring-a-good-product-of-botanical-extracts/

https://www.monteloeder.com/blog/2017/06/do-you-find-differences-in-the-quantification-of-actives-in-botanical-extracts/