Pharmacogn. Mag. 19, 917-925 (2023). HPTLC profiling of Guggulutiktam Kashayam on silica gel with toluene - ethyl acetate - methanol 7:3:1. Detection by spraying with anisaldehyde sulphuric acid reagent. Qualitative identification under UV light at 254 and 366 nm. 

J. Ethnopharmacol. 321, 117566 (2024). HPTLC of Evolvulus alsinoides on silica gel with toluene - ethyl acetate - formic acid 6:3:1. Qualitative identification under UV light between 450 and 550 nm. The hRF values of methanol extract ranged from 3 to 64. 

Phytochem. Anal. 35, 10.1002/pca.3297 (2023). HPTLC of aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum on silica gel with ethyl acetate - toluene - acetic acid - formic acid 7:3:1:1. Detection by spraying with 50 % sulfuric acid and vanillin, followed by heating and visualization under UV light at 254 and 366 nm. 

Chinese J. Veter. Drug 57 (6), 52-57 (2023). Wupi Koufuye is a multi-ingredient TCM veterinary drug clinically used for the prophylaxis and treatment of gout in animals. For quality control, TLC on silica gel A) for White Mulberry root bark, developed twice with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate – methanol – concentrated ammonia solution 75:75:15:2, detection at UV 366 nm; B) for Pericarpium citri reticulatae, developed with trichloromethane - methanol – concentrated ammonia solution 100:30:3, detection by spraying with 0.5 % ninhydrin in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; C) for Zingiber officinale Rosc., with n-hexane, detection by spraying with 0.5 % vanilin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 4:1 followed by heating at 105°C until the zones are visible in daylight.

J. China Pharm. 32 (6), 71-74 (2023). Shegan Kangbingdu Koufuye is a multi-ingredient TCM oral liquid with antiviral effects. For quality control, TLC on silica gel A) for Blackberrylily rhizome, with chloroform – methanol – glacial acetic acid 200:30:2, detection by spraying with 2 % FeCl3 in ethanol, evaluation in fluorescence; B) Radix Bupleuri,  with chloroform – methanol – water 13:7:2, detection by spraying with 2 % 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde in 40 % sulfuric acid solution and heating at 60 °C until the zones are visible at UV 366 nm; C) for Folium Isatidis and Radix Isatidis, with cyclohexane - chloroform – propanone 5:4:2, detection in fluorescence light; D) for Capillary Wormwood Herb, Honeysuckle and Dandelion, with toluene – ethyl formate – formic acid 6:4:1, detection in fluorescence light.

Chinese  J. Guide for Trad. Chinese Med. & Pharm. 29 (1), 39-44 (2023). Resina Draconis (RD) is a rare Chinese medicinal plant, containing flavonoids and other medicinally active ingredients. It has hemostatic,  anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and promotes blood circulation and cardiovascular protection. For quality control, TLC of the extracts from 18 batches of RD samples obtained from different regions in Yunnan province, on silica gel with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol 15:8:2:1, detection by spraying with 10 % phosphomolybdate solution in ethanol, followed by heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight. 16 common components were characterized and 5 of them were confirmed and quantified: resveratrol, 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone, loureirin A, loureirin B and pterostilbene. Cluster and principal component analysis for chemometrics were applied, and considering the total content of the main components, a comprehensive scoring method was applied to evaluate the quality of RD samples from different regions and to provide an experimental basis for the establishment of quality control methods of RD medicinal materials and RD containing Chinese patent medicines.

Chinese J. Nat. Prod. Res. Devel. 35, 131-138 (2023). Ilicis Cornutae Folium is the leaf of Ilex cornuta Lindl. ex paxt., a TCM herb containing medicinally active ingredients, such as triterpenes and its saponins, flavones, polyphenols, and sterols. It is used as the main effective component of some TCM prescriptions with effects of lowering blood lipids, anti-myocardial ischemia, antioxidant, immunosuppression, and antifertility. TLC-bioautography-MS, as a drug screening technology integrating separation, identification and activity determination, is used in this study for quick characterization of lipase inhibiting active ingredients from the leaves, so as to provide a scientific basis for preparation of lipid-lowering prescriptions. TLC of the samples extracted from Ilicis Cornutae Folium,  the samples were applied as three parallel bands onto each of two silica gel plates,  and developed individually with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – water 10:30:10:3 and ethyl acetate – methanol – water 6:2:1. Each chromatogram was divided into three pieces, 1)  is sprayed with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol, heated at 105°C and evaluated under day light; 2) is used for TLC-bioautography screening of zones with lipase inhibition activity; 3) is used for structure characterization of the target zones (Rf values determined in test 2) by in-situ TLC-EFISI-MSn method. 15 triterpenoids were identified, including 9 ursoguane triterpenoids, one oleanane triterpenoid, and 5 18,19-split ring triterpenoids. The method is proved to be able to quickly characterize and screen the active components with lipase inhibition contained in Ilicis Cornutae Folium, thus to provide a base for realizing its routine quality control in laboratory.

J. Chinese Trad. Patent Med. 44 (2), 667-671 (2022). Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride) and Zhike (Fructus Aurantii)  are common TCM herbs with similar chemical compositions and the effects of improving the liver and biliary function. Their similaryity brings some difficulties to the qualitative identification and specification between the two in the quality control lab. Based on the methods provided in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia a method was developed for identifying the two drugs in full prescription and single-taste preparations (total 27 prescription preparations, including pills, granules, tablets, capsules, oral liquid, powder and paste) by TLC on polyamide stationary phase with dichloromethane – acetone – methanol at 20-25 °C to a distance of 10 cm. Detection by spraying with 3 % AlCl3 in ethanol solution and evaluation in UV light at 365 nm. Identification by comparing the fingerprints obtained through single procedure in the same condition for test samples of traditional Chinese full prescriptions and medical materials, the peel of dry young or immature fruits of Citrus reticulata Blanco. or its cultivated variety, Citrus aurantium L., and the standards of representative active ingredients, hesperidin, naringin, neohesperidin. In order to optimize the above method, all factors involved, e. g., sample preparation, stationary phase, mobile phase, developing distance, chamber temperature, and specificity, stability, etc. were investigated. The results obtained show that the method is simple, with obvious qualitative characteristics, good specificity, good repeatability and high reliability, which is well suitable for the title purpose.