Studies on the Methods for Chemical Identification of Forsythiae Fructus and Plantaginis Herba

The methods for the chemical identification of Forsythiae Fructus and Plantaginis Herba are respectively discussed. On Forsythia Fructus, a color reaction with 4-aminoantipyrine due to phenylethanoid glycosides, namely, forsythiaside and acteoside, is distinctive by showing red. Moreover, a color reaction with hydroxyamine and ferric chloride due to lignan, arctigenin, is distinctive by showing reddish purple, and a color reaction with sulfuric acid due to lignan, phillyrin, is distinctive by showing red. The three origins of Forsythiae Fructus recorded in the Japanese Pharmacopeia XI, are distinguishable from each other by difference of color reactions due to lignans. On Plantaginis Herba, a color reaction with 4-aminoantipyrine due to plantamajoside is remarkable and its identification is also applicable by thin-layer chromatography.