An Introduction to Planar Chromatography

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is an easy, cheap, rapid, and widely used method for the analysis and isolation of natural and synthetic products. It has use also in the biological evaluation of organic compounds, particularly in the areas of antimicrobial and antioxidant metabolites, and for the determination of acetylcholine esterase inhibitors that are utilized in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This chapter deals with the basic principles of TLC and describes methods for the analysis and isolation of natural products. Examples of methods for isolation of several classes of natural product are detailed, and protocols for TLC bioassays are given.