Chromatographic profiling of ziziphus mauritiana lam. extracts for phytochemical characterization / Nurul Adlina Nadhirah Zamani, Ibtisam Abdul Wahab and Hannis Fadzillah Mohsin

Ziziphus mauritiana, commonly known as Chinese date, Ber, and Indian jujube, belongs to the Rhamnaceae family and is native to Southeast Asia. Although it has been naturalized in tropical regions from South Africa to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, its phytochemical profile remains underexplored. A comprehensive phytochemical profiling and standardization of extract can be achieved by TLC and HPLC analysis. The study involves the development of improved chromatographic methods for the analysis of local Z. mauritiana leaves, including selection of the mobile phase type, gradient elution method and temperature, which are all potential HPLC parameters that may affect the result of analysis. The leaves were subjected to extraction through maceration utilizing methanol and hexane. The results indicated a percentage yield of 7.28% for hexane and 18.98% for methanol. TLC investigations were conducted using the crude extracts obtained, employing a dual mobile phase system (ethyl acetate: chloroform = 6:4) for the methanol extract and hexane:acetone (6:4) for the hexane extract, respectively. Both systems exhibited successful separation of phytochemicals. The methanol extract was subjected to HPLC profiling in accordance with the established protocols. Naringin was determined to be present through qualitative HPLC screening. Phytochemicals present in the leaves of Z. mauritiana are identified as a result of this research, which also sheds light on the optimal parameters for TLC and HPLC analyses. This research may also provide valuable insight regarding the importance of quality control and formulation of herbal medicines from the standardized extract.