Planar chromatographic study of flavonoids and soyasaponins for validation of fingerprints of<i>Desmodium adscendens</i>of different origin

Abstract

The flavonoid and triterpenoid soyasaponin content of the aerial parts of Desmodium adscendens from four geographical origins of Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo) has been studied by planar chromatography, because the species is supposed to have hepato-protective activity. Comparative study of these compounds revealed the presence of flavonoids such as vitexine and isovitexine and soyasaponins such as soyasaponin I. The study proves the suitability of TLC analysis of soyasaponins for fingerprinting of this genus.