Summary
Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is an easy, cheap, rapid, and widely used method for the analysis and isolation of natural and synthetic products. It has use also in the biological evaluation of organic compounds, particularly in the areas of antimicrobial and antioxidant metabolites, and for the determination of acetylcholine esterase inhibitors that are utilized in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This chapter deals with the basic principles of TLC and describes methods for the analysis and isolation of natural products. Examples of methods for isolation of several classes of natural product are detailed, and protocols for TLC bioassays are given.
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Suggested Readings
Grinberg, N. ed. (1990) Modern Thin Layer Chromatography. Chromatographic Science Series. vol. 52. Marcel Dekker, Inc.
Hostettmann, K., Hostettmann, M., and Marston, A. (1986). Preparative Chromatography Techniques—Applications in Natural Product Isolation. Springer Verlag, Berlin.
Merck Handbook—Dyeing Reagents for Thin Layer and Paper Chromatography (1980) E. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany. (A comprehensive set of spray reagents.).
Touchstone, J. C. and Dobbins, M. F. (1982) Practice of Thin Layer Chromatography. John Wiley and Sons Publishers.
Wagner, H. and Bladt, S. (1996) Plant Drug Analysis—A Thin Layer Chromatography Atlas. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (The first point of call for anyone interested in TLC of natural products. There are many excellent examples of systems and detection sprays).
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Gibbons, S. (2006). An Introduction to Planar Chromatography. In: Sarker, S.D., Latif, Z., Gray, A.I. (eds) Natural Products Isolation. Methods in Biotechnology, vol 20. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-955-9:77
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-955-9:77
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