Quality control assessment of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa: A combined approach using high-performance thin-layer chromatography, heavy metal, pesticide and aflatoxin analysis

Aegle marmelos or bael is a medicinally important tree species used in various Indian traditional systems of medicines. In the present study, a sensitive and rapid high-performance thin-layer chromatography method was developed for the simultaneous determination of marmelosin, umbelliferone, and psoralen from the four different aerial parts of A. marmelos. The method uses HPTLC silica gel 60 RP-18 W plates as stationary phase, and acetonitrile: 0.1% orthophosphoric acid in water (1:1 v/v) as solvent system. The developed method is validated for specificity, precision, repeatability, and accuracy in accordance with International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. Further, the estimation of heavy metal suggested that the A. marmelos bark sample was highly contaminated with cadmium (3.8 +/- 0.7 mu g/g) which was far from the permissible range as described by World Health Organization (WHO). The observed chromium concentration was higher in the bark and the fruit than the normal range recorded in the plants. Arsenic and lead content was within the permissible range, while mercury was not detected in any of the tested samples. Studied samples were further tested for the presence of organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides, as well as organophosphate and carbamates. Results suggested that gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH) was more prominent and detected in the bark and the young twig samples. Carbamates were not detected in any of the samples. Aflatoxins were absent from all the samples analyzed through ultra-performance liquid chromatography -fluorescence (UPLC-FLR) analysis. The present study demonstrated that phytochemicals and physicochemical estimation are highly required for maintaining the quality of the raw drugs before the preparation of any formulations.

Automated summary

A sensitive and rapid high-performance thin-layer chromatography method was developed for the simultaneous determination of marmelosin, umbelliferone, and psoralen from the different aerial parts of Aegle marmelos. The study also revealed the presence of heavy metal contamination and organochlorine pesticides in the bark samples, while other harmful substances were within the permissible range. Therefore, phytochemical and physicochemical estimation of raw drugs is highly important before formulating any medications.