Steps

Aims

Medicinal plant discovery

Botanical study

• Morphological investigation of medicinal plant including macroscopic and microscopic studies.
• Literature review based on monograph or pharmacopoeia.
• Authentication of medicinal plant.

Extract preparation

Phytochemical investigation

• Determination of raw material preparation method.
• Standardization of extraction method.
• Composition analysis.
• Characterization of purity, impurities and contaminants.
• Determination of marker compound or active constituent.

Extract fractionation

Identification of marker compound or active constituent

• Analysis of marker compound or active constituent for preliminary identification.
• Structural elucidation of compounds in extract preparation.

Chemical characterization

Physico chemical properties

• Chemical identification of marker compund or active constituents by fingerprinting (chromatogram, spectroscopic etc.)
• Quantification of marker compound or active constituent.
• Physico chemical property measurements of marker compound/active constituent and extract.
• Physical and chemical characterization of extract.
• Structural elucidation of marker compound or active constituent.
• Standardization of herbal extract.

Primary pharmacodynamic study

Biological characterization

• Screening of pharmacology or therapeutic effect.