Planta Med 2006; 72 - P_306
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-950106

Rapid TLC analysis of Ranunculus bulbosus L. homeopathic tincture

B Gehrmann 1, MF Melzig 2
  • 1Einhorn-Rats-Apotheke, Markt 10–12, 25813 Husum, Germany
  • 2Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany

Ranunculus bulbosus L., Bulbous Buttercup or Crowfoot (Ranunculacea) is a perennial plant native to the Northern parts of Europe and to the North eastern parts of the United States. Ethanolic tinctures of Ranunculi bulbosi herba cum radice are used in homoeopathy for skin diseases, rheumatism, gout, (zoster) neuralgia, influenza, and meningitis [1, 2]. Ranunculus bulbosus L. is monographed in the HAB 2005 [3]; however, the described TLC procedure is a general comparative method.

Thus, we propose a rapid and simple TLC analysis using the DESAGA H-separating chamber and different solvent systems containing e.g. ethyl acetate, methanol, water at different proportions as mobile phase and diverse silica gel plates (e.g. Si 60, HPTLC-, RP-material) as stationary phase. The optimised TLC conditions are performed on different samples of homoeopathic Bulbous Buttercup tinctures and provide chromatograms showing satisfying distributions of characteristic zones in the range of Rf values from about 0.2 to 0.8. The described TLC methods are time saving (running time ca. 3min) and only need a small amount of solvents (mobile phase 1–2 mL/performance), sorbens (plates 5×5cm), and homoeopathic tincture (application of 10–20µL/performance). The TLC method may be proposed for an improved homoeopathic pharmacopoeia monograph of Ranunculus bulbosus L.

References: 1. Brendler, Th., Grünwald, J., Jänicke, Chr., Editors. (2003), Herbal Remedies, CD-ROM, medpharm, Scientific Publishers, Stuttgart. 2. Homöopathisches Repetitorium (2003), Deutsche Homöopathie-Union, Karlsruhe. 3. Deutsches Homöopathisches Arzneibuch (2005), Monograph Ranunculus bulbosus (Edition 2000).