Identification of paracetamol compound in traditional herbal medicine for muscle pain relief using thin layer chromatography - Densitometry

Traditional medicine consists of substances or formulations derived from plants, animals, minerals, and galenic preparations or mixtures of these materials that have been used for generations as therapy and can be implemented according to the norms applicable in society. The pharmaceutical chemical that is often added to herbal medicine for muscle pain relief is paracetamol. This research aims to prove the presence or absence of the chemical drug paracetamol in the herbal medicine for muscle pain relief found in the Koja District. A total of 10 samples were selected through purposive sampling from herbal stores within the area. The analysis was conducted qualitatively using color reaction test and quantitatively using Thin Layer Chromatography-Densitometry. Color reaction tests indicated that two samples were positive for paracetamol. Analysis using thin-layer chromatography indicated that 3 samples had Rf values ranging from 0.3-0.35, close to the standard Rf value. Based on the analysis results using Thin Layer Chromatography-Densitometry, the herbal samples that tested positive for containing paracetamol were identified according to the maximum wavelength of the samples that matched the maximum wavelength of paracetamol at 247 nm in samples (S5), (S7), and (S9). The TLC-densitometry method can be used to analyze the presence of paracetamol in traditional herbal medicine for muscle pain relief.