Methods of Identification of medicinal plants

1. Methods of Identification
Faisal Nooh

2. Identification Methods
• In identifying a plant constituent one it has been
isolated and purified it is necessary first to
determine the class of compound (chemical
nature) and then to find out which substance it is.
• The calss of compounds is usually clear from its:
• Response to colour tests (chemical test)
• Solubility
• Rf and
• Spectral characteristics

3. • Complete identification depends on:
– Melting point (for solids)
– Boiling point (for liquids)
– Optical rotation (for optically active cpds) &
– Rf value
• The important informative data on plant
substance are its spectral characteristics.

4. Spectral Characteristics of Plant
• Ultra violte (UV)
• Infrared (IR)
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
• Mass Spectroscopy
• For final confirmation direct comparison
with authentic material (if available) should
be carried out.