Optimization of TLC analysis of flavonoids and phenolic acids of Helleborus atrorubens Waldst. et Kit.

Numerical methods for the evaluation of the separation power of thirteen thin-layer chromatographic systems for splitting a methanolic extract of leaves of Helleborus atrorubens Waldst. et Kit. into 15 compounds (flavonoids and phenolic acids) have been investigated. For this purpose, the following mathematical approaches have been applied: calculation of the information content (I), determination of discriminating power (DP) and formation of clusters and dendrogram. The most suitable chromatographic system for the separation of investigated compounds is ethyl acetate-formic acid-water (65:15:20, v/v/v).