Available online 18 January 2023, 100628

Bhutanese traditional medicine (BTM) is an integral part of the mainstream health care system in Bhutan. It uses more than 230 species of medicinal plants, including the Meconopsis species. Although traditional BTM methods are used to check the quality of medicinal plants, these methods have limitations in differentiating the closely related species. There is a need for integrating traditional methods with modern analytical techniques to efficiently monitor the quality and safety of medicinal plants. Here, we studied two closely related Meconospsis species using both traditional and modern analytical approaches.

Meconopsis horridula Hook. F & Thompson and Meconopsis simplicifolia (D. Don) Walpers were collected from Lingzhi, Bhutan. The samples were tested and compared for physicochemical properties and extractive values. Their microscopy and High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) profiles were also compared. A literature review was performed to document isolated phytochemicals and their biological activities.

Two Meconopsis species revealed distinct macro-and microscopic characteristics. The physicochemical analysis and the HPTLC fingerprinting generated adequate data to authenticate these two species while preparing 16 essential traditional medicine drugs (ETMDs) in BTM. A literature review revealed that the two Meconopsis species contain alkaloids and flavonoids, which can be used as biomarker compounds for quality screening.

M. horridula and M. simplicifolia could be differentiated based on their taxonomical features, macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, HPTLC fingerprint profiles, and physicochemical values. The accomplished pharmacognostic properties of the two species can be used as important parameters in ensuring the quality and safety of BTM.

Bhutanese traditional medicine

Meconopsis

HPTLC

Pharmacology

Phytochemistry

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