Source: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.^[1]

Source: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.^[2]

Source: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.^[3]

Ilex paranguariensis var. paraguariensis
Source: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.^[4]

Ilex paraguariensis var. vestita
Source: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.^[5]

Lower epidermis showing actinocytic stomata observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution.
Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories^[6]

Epidermis showing thick cell walls observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution.
Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories^[7]

Ilex paraguariensis HPTLC ID - Natural Product Reagent + PEG UV 365 nm

Yerba Mate (leaf) (Ilex paraguariensis)

Lane Assignments Lanes, from left to right (Track, Volume, Sample):

1. 2 μL Caffeine ~0.1% in CH3OH
2. 3 μL Ilex paraguariensis-1 (leaf)
3. 3 μL Ilex paraguariensis-2 (leaf)
4. 3 μL Ilex paraguariensis-3 (leaf)
5. 3 μL Ilex paraguariensis-3 (leaf)
6. 3 μL Ilex paraguariensis-4 (leaf)
7. 3 μL Ilex paraguariensis-5 (leaf)
8. 4 μL Theobromine ~0.1% in CH3OH

Reference materials used here have been authenticated by macroscopic, microscopic &/or TLC studies according to the reference source cited below held at Alkemists Laboratories, Costa Mesa, CA. 

Stationary Phase Silica gel 60, F254, 10 x 10 cm HPTLC plates 

Mobile Phase ethyl acetate: glacial acetic acid: formic acid: water [10/1.1/1.1/2.4] 

Sample Preparation Method 0.3 g + 3 ml CH3OH sonicate/heat @ 50° C ~ 1/2 hr 

Detection Method Natural Product Reagent + PEG -> UV 365 nm 

Reference see Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, Max Wichtl, 3rd ed., 2004

Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories ^[8]