Identification of triterpenoid compounds of Centella asiatica by thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry.

The identification of the four principal triterpenoid components of Centella asiatica has been achieved by TLC on silica gel plates and mass spectrometry, as a modification of the method described in the European Pharmacopoeia (5th edn). A combination of ethyl acetate and methanol as the mobile phase was found to be successful in separating these compounds from the rest of the main components of the extract. The spots were detected with anisaldehyde solution. The separated compounds were confirmed by MALDI -TOF mass spectrometry.