Development of Chromatographic Fingerprint Profile and Multi-elemental Analysis of Datura metel L.

Background: The Solanaceae family member Datura metel L. has been related to therapeutic benefits. The plant is widely used in Ayurveda and Siddha systems of Indian medicines. Objectives: Present study was focused to understand the phytochemical and multi elemental composition of D. metel whole plant. Materials and Methods: The whole plant of D. metel was collected, shade dried, powdered and subjected to analysis of physico-chemical parameters, thin layer chromatography, high performance thin layer chromatographic finger print profilings (HPTLC), high pressure liquid chromatographic profile at four wavelengths, X-ray fluorescence, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer, powder X-ray diffractometer and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. Results: In HPTLC, 7 spots under 254 nm, 10 spots under 366 nm and 11 spots after derivatization with vanillin sulphuric acid reagent appeared. In HPLC, 9 peaks at 230 nm, 11 peaks at 254 nm, 5 peaks at 286 nm and 7 peaks at 366 nm separated. Presence of 17 elements such as copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, zinc, iron, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, aluminium, chlorine, carbon, oxygen, sulphur and silicon were identified. Conclusion: The elements K, Mg, Ca, Si, S and Fe play vital role on human health. Chlorine, silicon, sulfur and silica are first time identified which have significant biological functions.