IR and 1H-NMR based differentiation of stem bark of Saraca asoca from its most commonly used adulterant Polyalthia longifolia

Abstract

The bark of the Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde plant is used widely in treating various diseases, mainly uterine disorders. However, owing to its shortage, S. asoca formulations are now being adulterated with the barks of other plants, Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites being the most common. Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based effective, feasible and fast methods can be used for differentiating S. asoca bark from that of P. longifolia. The unique chemical shift values of different chemical constituents in methanolic, ethyl acetate and hexane extracts of barks of both plants were qualitatively identified and compared, and a new method of differentiating the adulterant from Saraca asoca bark has been established.