Patent ID: 6855343
Filing Date: 2005-02-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for determining the presence or absence of an ingredient of interest in an herb or a multiplicity of herbs that specifically binds to a probe, comprising the steps of: (a) extracting the herb or a multiplicity of herbs with a solvent to obtain an herbal extract followed by concentrating the herbal extract by evaporation; (b) mixing the concentrated herbal extract with water and a water-miscible organic solvent followed by removing resultant insoluble particulates to obtain fraction A; (c) retaining a first portion of fraction A and mixing a second portion of fraction A with water and a water-immiscible organic solvent and separating phases to obtain an organic fraction B and an aqueous fraction E; (d) retaining a first portion of fraction B and mixing water with a second portion of fraction B and conducting partition extraction to obtain an organic fraction C and an aqueous fraction D; (e) retaining a first: portion of fraction E and mixing a water-immiscible organic solvent with a second portion of fraction E and conducting partition extraction to obtain an organic fraction F and an aqueous fraction G; (f) loading at separate locations on a plastic slide at least a portion of each of fractions A to G; and (g) contacting said slide with said probe and detecting any binding of said probe, thereby detecting the presence or absence of an ingredient that specifically binds said probe in said herbal extract fractions.