DETECTION OF MEDICINAL CHEMICALS IN HERBAL MEDICINE FOR MUSCLE ACHES: AN AUTHENTICATION STUDY USING THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract

High public interest in traditional medicines is partly driven by the perception that herbal medicines are safer and more affordable than modern pharmaceuticals. However, this condition may be exploited by irresponsible manufacturers who illegally add medicinal chemicals to traditional herbal products. One of the medicinal chemicals reported in pegal linu herbal medicines is paracetamol. Improper use of paracetamol may increase the risk of toxicity, particularly hepatotoxicity. This study aimed to identify the presence of paracetamol in pegal linu herbal medicines circulating at Deprok Market, Cipinang Muara, using Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC). A descriptive study was conducted using five pegal linu herbal medicine samples obtained from several herbal medicine retailers through accidental sampling. Identification was performed using silica gel GF254 plates as the stationary phase and a chloroform:methanol (9:1) mixture as the mobile phase. Spots were observed under ultraviolet light at 254 and 366 nm by comparing the retention factor (Rf) values of the samples with those of a paracetamol reference standard and positive controls. The Rf values obtained were 0.80 for sample A, 0.56 for sample B, 0.60 for sample C, 0.34 for sample D, and 0.44 for sample E. The presence of paracetamol was determined based on the similarity of the Rf values between the samples, reference standard, and positive control under the same TLC conditions.