Identification and Quantification of Paracetamol Adulteration in Jamu Pegal Linu by TLC-Densitometry

Abstract

Jamu is a traditional Indonesian herbal medicine that has long been used for health maintenance, disease prevention, and treatment. With the increasing public preference for natural products, the circulation of jamu in the market has expanded significantly. However, some products have been reported to contain illegally added pharmaceutical substances, including paracetamol, to provide rapid therapeutic effects. The undeclared presence of paracetamol in herbal medicine may pose serious health risks, especially when consumed repeatedly or without proper dosage control. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and quantify paracetamol in jamu pegal linu samples using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) combined with densitometry. Sample preparation was carried out using 96% ethanol as the extraction solvent. Chromatographic separation was performed on silica gel 60 F254 plates using chloroform:ethyl acetate (9:1, v/v) as the mobile phase. Qualitative identification was based on retention factor (Rf) values and spot profile comparison with paracetamol standard under UV light at 254 nm. Quantitative analysis was conducted using TLC–densitometry by constructing a calibration curve from standard paracetamol solutions. Each sample was prepared and analyzed in triplicate (n=3), and results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The TLC results showed that sample S2 exhibited a chromatographic spot with an Rf value comparable to that of the paracetamol standard, confirming the presence of paracetamol. The calibration curve demonstrated acceptable linearity with the regression equation of y = 1 × 10⁻⁵x + 0.002 and the calibration showed acceptable linearity for screening purposes (R²=0.9615). Based on densitometric measurement, the concentration of paracetamol in sample S2 was 3563 µg/mL 3563 ± 2 µg/mL, corresponding to 35.63 ± 0.06% w/w (n=3). This relatively high concentration indicates intentional adulteration rather than accidental contamination. In conclusion, TLC–densitometry is a rapid, simple, precise, and cost-effective method for detecting and quantifying paracetamol in jamu products. These findings emphasize the need for stricter quality control and regulatory monitoring to ensure the safety, quality, and authenticity of herbal medicines marketed to the public.