J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 35, 2396-2407 (2012). HPTLC of vanillin in the roots of Decalepis hamiltonii Wight and Arn on silica gel with toluene - ethyl acetate 9:1. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 254 nm. The hRf value of vanillin was 42. Linearity was in the range of 2-12 µg/zone. Limits of detection and quantification were 1.3 and 3.9 µg/zone. The intermediate/inter-day/intra-day precision was 1.3 % (n=3), respectively. Recovery was between 99.4 and 100.3 %.

Chinese J. Ethnopharm.(4), 51-52 (2012). Cassia fistula, as a crude drug of Dai nationality medicine, is the mucus from the dried pod of Cassia fistula L. It has special efficiency in relieving internal heat or fever, apocatastasis and relieving pains. Its pods and leaves are both used as the component crude drug in preparations. To identify different officinal positions of the drugs available in different places of origin, TLC of the extracts of the drug on silica gel with petroleum ether (60-90 ºC) – ethyl acetate – formic acid 15:10:1, detection by spraying with 5 % aluminum chloride in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, evaluation at UV 366 nm.

J. of China Pharm. 26 (2), 167-171 (2012). Niuhuangjingnao tablets are a herbal TCM effective specially in clearing heat, removing toxicity, relieving uneasiness of mind and body tranquilization, and are prescribed clinically to cure dizziness, swelling and pain in the throat. In order to perfect the procedure for the quality control of the medicine a method has been presented. TLC of the extracts of the medicine 1) for borneol, on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate 10:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C until the zones were visualized, viewing in daylight; 2) for Rheum officinale, on silica gel with the upper phase of petroleum ether (60-90 ºC ) - ethyl acetate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection by viewing at UV 366 nm, followed by exposure to ammonia vapors and viewing at UV 366 nm; 3) for the rhizome of Chinese Goldthread, on silica gel with toluene – isopropanol - ethyl acetate – methanol – water 20:5:10:5:1, detection by exposure to ammonia vapors and viewing at UV 366 nm; 4) for Fructus Forsythiae, on silica gel with chloroform – methanol – glacial acetic acid 70:10:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones were visualized, viewing in daylight; 5) for honeysuckle, on polyamide phase with ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 20:2:3, detection by viewing at UV 366 nm; 6) for the root of Kudzu vine and Cape jasmine, on silica gel with chloroform – methanol – water 28:10:1, detection by viewing at UV 366 nm, followed by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C until the zones were visualized, viewing in daylight.

J. of Jiangxi Univ. of TCM 24 (3), 54-57 (2012). Shenbao Heji compound oral liquid is a herbal TCM for the treatment of impotence, nocturnal emission, low back pain, lack of energy, aversion to cold, and women with menorrhagia. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Epimedium davidii Franch and the standard icariine, with ethyl acetate – methanol – water 100:17:13, detection by spraying with 1 % aluminium chloride in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing at UV 254 nm; 2) for Radix Polygoni Multiflori and the standard emodin, with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) - ethyl formate – formic acid 15:10:1, detection by exposing to ammonia vapors and viewing in daylight; 3) for Leguminosae and the standard astragaloside A, with the lower phase of chloroform – methanol – water 13:6:2, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing under UV 366 nm; 4) for Fructus Psoraleae and the standard psoralen, with n-hexane - ethyl acetate 3:1, detection by spraying with 10 % KOH in methanol and viewing under UV 366 nm; 5) for Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 9:1, detection under UV 366 nm. Quantification of icariine by HPLC.

Phytochem. Anal. 24, 230-247 (2013). HPTLC of lupeol in the leaves of Ficus racemosa on silica gel with toluene - chloroform - ethyl acetate 10:2:1 + 1 drop glacial acetic acid. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 366 nm. The hRf of lupeol was 31. Average recovery was in the range of 98.8-99.4 %. The intra- and inter-assay precision was below 0.2 %.

Chinese J. of Lishizhen Trad. Med. & Pharm. 22 (7), 1703-1704 (2011). Ganoderma lucidum as a traditional Chinese medicinal herbal crude drug is the dried fruiting body of Ganoderma. It is used for mind and body tranquilization and to relieve cough and asthma, and is prescribed clinically to treat palpitation, lung deficiencies, and shortness of breath. TLC of the extracts of the crude drugs on silica gel with dichloromethane – ethanol – formic acid 16:10:1, detection under UV 254 nm. Identification of Ganoderma lucidum based on the characteristic marker compound ganodermic acid A which is not found in the counterfeits. Differentiation also by identifying the shape and properties by microscopy.

Chinese J. of Med. Guide 9 (11), 136-137 (2012). Honeysuckle, as a traditional Chinese medicinal herbal crude drug, is the dried flower bud of Lonicera japonica Thunb. It is effective in clearing heat and removing toxicity. For quality control, a method for the identification of chlorogenic acid and luteoloside in honeysuckle has been developed and optimized. TLC of the extracts of the crude drug on silica gel with ethyl acetate – acetone – formic acid – water 35:15:5:6, detection by spraying with 5 % aluminium chloride in ethanol, followed by 1) evaluation under UV 366 nm for luteolosid; 2) by spraying again with the upper phase of 1 % ferric chloride – 1 % potassium ferricyanide 1:1 and viewing under daylight for chlorogenic acid.

Shanxi J. of Trad. Chinese Med. 33 (12), 1666-1667 (2012). It is highly debatable whether Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata is compatible with Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim when both needed in processing single formulations. A method is presented to investigate the change of the chemical composition of the extracts obtained by separate and mixed decoction of two kinds of drugs. Preparation of the analytes by decocting, separately, of Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (A), Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim (B) and combined decoction of the two (C), then extracting, separately, with petroleum ether (30—60 °C) producing extracts A1, B1, C1 and with n-butanol producing extracts A2, B2, C2. TLC on silica gel with the upper phase of n-butanol – ethyl acetate – water 4:1:5, detection 1) under UV 366 nm; 2) by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and viewing under UV 366 nm. By investigation of 5 batches of the drug sample, significant difference was found between the analytes from single drug decoction and those from mixed drug decoction. The unknown ingredients found in the mixed decoction will be further characterized and analyzed. This study provides an experimental base for exploration of the mechanism of the interaction among the ingredients released from the two drugs.