Cassia alata is used in the treatment of dermatoses. Quality control of herbal products remains difficult and complex. This study aims to develop a quality control approach for a hydroethanol extract of fresh Cassia alata leaves (EHCA), raw material and its antimicrobial soap, the finished product.
The chromatographic fingerprint, phytochemical characterization of EHCA and soap were performed by the method of Wagner and Balt. The spectral pattern of the tracer compound was determined by UV/Visible spectrophotometry. The choice of the tracer compound and its monitoring in the antimicrobial soap was done according to the criteria of the European Medicines Agency.The chromatographic fingerprint and phytochemical characterization of EHCA revealed anthracenosides, saponosides, tannins and flavonoids. An anthracene compound was characterized in EHCA at an Rf of 0.52 ± 0.01 at 365 nm, with 1.83 ± 0.01 as the resolution factor. Its UV/Visible spectral plot showed an absorption maximum at 223 nm and a detection limit of 2.19 ± 0.01 µg/mL. Its significant presence and formulation suitability was found in the antifungal soap.
The thin layer chromatography and UV-visible spectrophotometry allowed the identification of a tracer compound in the EHCA. The anthracenosides, due to their abundance and their adaptation to the formulation process of the antimicrobial soap, would be the most indicated for the monitoring of the quality of the extract and the finished product.

Cassia alata; quality control; extract; soap.