Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy 22, 1355-1361 (2012). HPTLC of piperine (1) and piperlongumine (2) on silica gel with toluene - ethyl acetate 3:2 as mobile phase. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 342 and 325 nm for (1) and (2), respectively. The hRf of compounds (1) and (2) were 51 and 74, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 20-100 ng/zone for (1) and 30-150 ng/zone for (2). Limits of detection and quantification were 7 and 20 ng/zone for (1) and 10 and 30 ng/zone for (2), respectively. Intermediate/intra-day/inter-day precision was below 1.1 % (n=6). Recovery for both (1) and (2) was between 93.7 and 96.7 %.

Chinese J. of Trad. Chinese Med. for Emerg. 21 (5), 738-739 (2012). Ningxin pills are a TCM preparation with special efficiency on promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, relieving pain and are prescribed clinically to treat coronary disease and angina pectoris. For quality control, TLC of the extracts on silica gel 1) for Panax Notoginseng (Burk.) F.H.Chen, Radix Ginseng rubra, with the lower phase of chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – water 15:40:22:10, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 2) for Rhizoma Corydalis, with toluene – acetone 9:2, detection by exposure to iodine vapors and evaluation at UV 366 nm; 3) for borneol, with petroleum ether (30-60 ºC) – ethyl acetate – chloroform 11:1:3, detection by spraying with 1 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight.

Chinese J. of Inform. on TCM 17 (12), 45-48 (2010). Jinshishenyan pills are a herbal TCM preparation effective for nourishing kidney, activating spleen-energy, relieving internal heat or fever, and removing blood stasis. For quality control, TLC of the extracts on silica gel for 1) Lonicera japonica, with the upper phase of ethyl acetate – formic acid – water 14:5:5, detection at UV 366 nm; 2) for Cortex Phellodendri chinensis, developed with benzene - ethyl acetate – methanol – isopropanol – concentrated ammonia 12:6:3:3:1, detection by exposure to ammonia vapors for a few minutes and evaluation at UV 366 nm.

Chinese J. of Today’s Pharm. 22 (11), 690-692 (2012). Qufengjiangu tablets are a herbal TCM for the treatment of waist and knee pain and rheumatic arthralgia. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Angelicae Pubescentis, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate – formic acid – glacial acetic acid 70:20:2:3, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for Radix Notoginseng and Radix Dipsaci, with n-butanol – ethyl acetate – 10 % diluted ammonia 4:1:5, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 3) Herba Taxilli, with toluene saturated with water – ethyl formate – formic acid 5:4:1, detection by spraying with 5 % aluminium chloride in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing under UV 366 nm. Quantification of osthole by HPLC.

J. of China Pharm. 26 (4), 368-369 (2012). Nauclea officinalis is a tree growing in tropical regions. In TCM its branch, trunk and bark are used for treatment of acute tonsillitis, acute pharyngitis, conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract infection, etc. For quality control of its decoction pieces and the three formulations, Danmu injection, Danmu Jingao tablets, and Danmu Jingao syrup, TLC on silica gel with n-hexane – ethyl acetate – methanol 15:8:2, detection under UV 366 nm. As standards the alkaloids naucleficine, mauclefidine, and nauclefline were used.

J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 36, 197-212 (2013). HPTLC of lupeol (1) and stigmasterol (2) in the stems of Costus igneus on silica gel with n-hexane - ethyl acetate 4:1 for (1) and toluene - acetone - acetic acid 89:9:2 for (2). Detection by dipping in a solution of 0.5 mL p-anisaldehyde in 50 mL glacial acetic acid and 1 mL of 97 % sulfuric acid, followed by heating at 105 °C. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 538 nm. The hRf values of (1) and (2) were 55 and 58, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 5-10 µg/zone for (1) and 1-6 µg/zone for (2). LOD and LOQ were 131 and 430 ng/zone for (1) and 80 and 212 ng/zone for (2). Intermediate precision was below 2.9 %. Average recovery (by standard addition) for (1) and (2) was 100.2 % and 99.9 %, respectively.

J. AOAC Int. 95, 1614-1617 (2012). HPTLC of (E)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)butadiene (DMPBD) in the rhizome of Zingiber cassumunar on silica gel with hexane - dichloromethane 3:2. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 289 nm. The hRf value of DMPBD was 30. Linearity was between 130 and 703 ng/zone. LOD and LOQ were 40 and 10 ng/zone, respectively. The interday and intra-day precisions were 0.9 and 0.3 % (n=3). Average recovery (by standard addition) was 103.1 %.

Chinese J. of Guide for Trad. Chinese Med. & Pharm. 18 (7), 76-78 (2012). Guanjieyan Babuji preparation is a herbal TCM for treating arthritis and joint diseases. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Amur Cork-tree Bark and the standard berberine hydrochloride, with toluene – ethyl acetate – methanol – isopropanol – water 60:30:20:15:3, detection by exposing to ammonia vapors and viewing under UV 366 nm; 2) for Fructus Psoraleae and the standards psoralen and angelicin, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 4:1, detection by spraying with 10 % KOH in methanol and viewing under UV 366 nm 3) Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and the standard emodin, with petroleum ether (30-60 °C) – ethyl formate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 4) for Radix Astragali seu Hedysari, with chloroform – methanol 10:1, detection by exposing to ammonia vapors and viewing under UV 366 nm.