Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Chromatographic techniques such as Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) have become indispensable tools in the standardization and quality assessment of herbal medicines. These planar chromatography methods, based on multistage distribution processes between a stationary adsorbent and a mobile phase, allow rapid fingerprinting and detection of herbal constituents, adulterants and substitutes. TLC offers simplicity, speed and cost‐efficiency, while HPTLC enhances precision, reproducibility and quantitative capabilities through automation and densitometry. Modern pharmacognosy uses these techniques for identifying marker compounds, verifying botanical identity, and ensuring batch consistency. This review traces the origin and principle of TLC/HPTLC, explores instrumentation and method development, outlines their applications in herbal drug analysis, and discusses their advantages and limitations. The integration of these chromatographic methods into herbal drug quality control frameworks supports the reliability of traditional formulations in contemporary therapeutics.