Two-Dimensional Micro-TLC Phenolic Fingerprints of Selected Mentha sp. on Cyano-Bonded Polar Stationary Phase

Abstract

Micro-thin-layer chromatography in two-dimensional (2D-mTLC) mode in normal- (NP) and reversed-phase (RP) systems by use of cyanopropyl-bonded stationary phases was applied to make fingerprints of 11 species of Mentha genus and two finished pharmaceutical products. Non-aqueous eluents were used in the NP systems. Mixtures of acetonitrile with water and methanol with water were used in the RP chromatographic systems. Optimization of one-dimensional systems was performed by determining RM vs. composition of mobile phase dependencies for standards occurring in various Mentha sp. On the basis of these dependencies, the most selective chromatographic systems for each run were chosen. Then most selective eluents were applied to optimize two-dimensional systems by creating RF in NP systems vs. RF in RP systems correlations. The best two-dimensional systems were chosen on the basis of R(2) values for RF vs. RF correlations (the lowest values of R(2) coefficients). The 2D-mTLC optimized systems were applied to separate phenolic compounds and make fingerprints of the examined plant materials.