Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Sm. is a common and safe medicinal fern of tropical climate, used by Ayurvedic physicians of Kerala and tribal peoples in different parts of the country for various ailments with inflammation. But, to get a desired therapeutic effect the drug must be genuine with good quality. Authentication and quality of plants can be accurately done by doing HPTLC fingerprints with biomarker. Development of HPTLC finger printing profile of aqueous extract of rhizome of the plant with biomarker naringin was the aim of this study. Precoated silica gel 60 F254 was the stationary phase and ethyl acetate, formic acid, acetic acid, water in the ratio -1.5:1.1:1.1:0.1 was the mobile phase used for this purpose. After derivatization with methanolic sulphuric-10%, TLC plates were viewed at UV 366 nm and in visible light and densitometric profile were developed at 590 nm. At 590 nm, chromatogram of the aqueous extract of the drug showed 4 peaks and the 3 rd peak was found to be homologous to the chromatogram of naringin. Thus the study revealed the identification as well as genuineness of the plant and has shown the potency of the drug as an anti-inflammatory agent.

High performance thin layer chromatography is a powerful analytical technique used in the process of drug discovery. The fingerprint profile developed for each drug using this technique will be unique which makes it useful in establishing identity of a drug. The quality of different drug samples can be compared qualitatively and quantitatively through this technique. Asoka -Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde is a plant that has immense therapeutic potential. It is a drug which is significantly related to disorders of women. The stem barks are widely utilized for reproductive disorders like heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding. The stem bark possesses several phytoconstituents including flavonoids, polyphenolics and sterols which accounts for its multiple beneficial action in therapeutics. The churna (powder) and bhavita churna (processed powder) of stem bark of Asoka -Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde was subjected to high performance thin layer chromatography and comparative analysis of different peaks were obtained. The number of peaks in the chromatogram of bhavita churna (processed powder) was more when compared to churna (powder) which substantiates its better potency.