Differentiation of Randhuni (Apium graveolens) and Ajowan (Carum copticum) by Thin Layer Chromatographic Separation of Their Essential Oils

Abstract

The volatile oils of randhuni and ajowan seeds are extracted and spotted on silica gel G thin layer plates. The plates are developed in either benzene-petroleum ether (1+1) or chloroform-pyridine-benzene (65+5+30). Spraying with anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid reagent shows a single red spot for ajowan and 4 spots (violet, greenish yellow, violet, and blue) for randhuni. This procedure can also differentiate admixtures of the 2 and seeds of other Umbelliferae.