Traditional medicine has been believed for generations to be effective in treating various diseases and is recognized for its safety. One reason people opt for herbal medicine is its affordability compared to chemical drugs. Additionally, herbal medicine is required to be free of medicinal chemicals (BKO). However, a public warning issued between 2020 and 2025 indicated that some herbal preparations still contained substances like sildenafil citrate and caffeine. The aim of this research is to establish a validated analytical method to detect the presence of sildenafil citrate and caffeine in stamina-enhancing herbal medicines using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) with densitometry. This method was selected due to its cost-effectiveness and its ability to separate two compounds. In this study, category II validation was conducted to identify impurities in the preparations, focusing on test parameters such as selectivity and Limit of Detection (LOD). The selected mobile phase for this study was a mixture of chloroform and ethanol (9.5:0.5 v/v). The TLC plate was analyzed with a densitometer at a wavelength of 254 nm. The Rf value for sildenafil citrate was found to be 0.32, while the Rf value for caffeine was 0.52, resulting in a separation (Rs) value of 2. The LOD for sildenafil citrate was determined to be 8.5418 ?l/ml (equivalent to 0.0854 mg in a 600 mg sample), whereas the LOD for caffeine was 4.7987 ?l/ml (or 0.0959 mg in a 600 mg sample).

Traditional medicine has been trusted for generations as an effective remedy for various health conditions and is widely recognized for its safety when compared to synthetic pharmaceuticals. One of the main reasons individuals choose herbal medicines is their relative affordability and the perception that they are free from harmful chemical additives. However, recent public warnings issued between 2020 and 2025 have revealed the presence of hazardous medicinal chemicals (Bahan Kimia Obat/BKO) such as sildenafil citrate and caffeine in some stamina-enhancing herbal products. This study aims to develop and validate an analytical method using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) coupled with densitometry for the detection of sildenafil citrate and caffeine in herbal medicines. The method was chosen due to its simplicity, low operational cost, and ability to effectively separate these two compounds. A category II validation was performed to determine the presence of impurities, with a focus on parameters including selectivity and the Limit of Detection (LOD). The mobile phase employed was a combination of chloroform and ethanol (9.5:0.5 v/v), and detection was carried out at 254 nm using a densitometer. The TLC results showed that sildenafil citrate and caffeine had Rf values of 0.32 and 0.52, respectively, with a resolution (Rs) of 2, indicating a good separation. The LOD for sildenafil citrate was 8.5418 ?l/ml (0.0854 mg per 600 mg sample), while the LOD for caffeine was 4.7987 ?l/ml (0.0959 mg per 600 mg sample). These findings highlight the importance of routine quality control testing to ensure the safety and authenticity of herbal medicines in the market.