MOLECULAR CHARACTERISATION OF SELECTED SMALL HERBS AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING BY HPTLC

Medicinal and culinary herbs are widely utilized for their therapeutic and nutraceutical properties; however, accurate identification and quality assessment remain major challenges due to morphological similarities and possible adulteration. The present study aimed to perform molecular characterisation and phytochemical profiling of three selected small herbs, namely basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), mint (Mentha spp.), and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), using an integrated analytical approach. Molecular authentication was carried out through DNA barcoding employing standard barcode regions, including the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and chloroplast genes rbcL and matK, followed by BLAST and phylogenetic analyses, which confirmed accurate taxonomic identity of the selected herbs. In addition, phytochemical screening of methanolic/ethanolic extracts was performed using High- Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) to generate characteristic chemical fingerprints. HPTLC analysis revealed the presence of major bioactive phytoconstituents, particularly phenolic compounds, with distinct Rf values and densitometric profiles for each herb, demonstrating variation in phytochemical composition among basil, mint, and oregano. The combined application of molecular characterisation and HPTLC-based phytochemical profiling provides a reliable, reproducible, and efficient strategy for authentication, quality control, and standardization of medicinal herbs, supporting the prevention of adulteration and the safe utilization of herbal raw materials in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations.