HPTLC (High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography)
TestingAlso known as: HPTLC, High-Performance TLC
Identity-testing technique that compares a botanical sample's chromatographic fingerprint against a reference standard.
What It Means
HPTLC separates plant compounds across a thin stationary layer and visualizes the resulting fingerprint pattern against a reference standard. It is the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP)-recommended technique for many botanical identity tests because it captures multiple marker compounds simultaneously, which makes economic adulteration harder to mask than single-marker assays. Under 21 CFR §111.75, contract manufacturers must verify the identity of each incoming dietary ingredient using scientifically valid methods; HPTLC is one of the FDA-acceptable techniques, alongside HPLC, GC, FTIR, and NIR.
What It Is Not
HPTLC is not a potency assay. It confirms identity, not concentration. It does not detect contamination by heavy metals, microbes, or pesticides, which require separate analytical methods (ICP-MS, microbial counts, GC-MS).
Evidence and References
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