ASSISTANT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY AND STANDARDIZATION OF MEDICINES

Abstract

Standardizing herbal formulations is a persistent challenge due to the chemical complexity of plant materials and environmental variability. This study investigates the application of metabolomic profiling for the quality control and standardization of Crataegus oxyacantha L. (Hawthorn), a widely used cardiotonic herb. Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), we identified key chemical markers, including vitexin-2"-O-rhamnoside and hyperoside. Results indicate that metabolomic "fingerprinting" provides a more robust measure of batch-to-batch consistency than traditional single-marker analysis. This approach aligns with the 2025 WHO guidelines for the harmonization of herbal product safety and efficacy.