J. of Xinjiang Trad. Chinese Med. 30 (3), 70-72 (2012). Compound Xuelian tablet is a herbal TCM preparation prescribed clinically to cure rheumatism. TLC of the extracts of the medicine on silica gel 1) for Saussurea involucrata, with the upper phase of ethyl acetate – formic acid – water 10:1:2, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; 2) for Rhizoma Corydalis, with cyclohexane – chloroform – methanol 10:6:1, detection by exposure to iodine vapors until the zones are visible, evaluation in daylight and under UV 366 nm; 3) for Radix Angelicae Pubescentis, with petroleum ether (30-60 ºC) – formyl acetate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm.

Chinese J. Mod. Drug Appl. 6 (12), 131-132 (2012). Shisiwei Dangui Huoxue mixture is a herbal TCM for promoting blood circulation and relieving pain, and is prescribed clinically to treat blood stasis, local swelling caused by lesion of main and collateral channels of the injured limb after catagma. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Angelica sinensis, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 9:1, detection at UV 366 nm; 2) for Radix Paeoniae Alba, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 200:25:50:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 followed by mild heating and evaluation in daylight.

Chinese J. of Lishizhen Trad. Med. & Pharm. 23 (2), 401-402 (2012). The dried root of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. is a traditional Chinese medicinal crude drug specially effective for cleaning heat, purging the pathogenic fire, reinforcing body fluid and nourishing the blood, promoting the secretion of saliva or body fluids. Timosaponin B-II is a water soluble saponin extracted from Anemarrhenae. TLC of rhizoma anemarrhenae total steroidal saponins on silica gel with n-butanol – glacial acetic acid – water 4:1:5, detection by spraying with 10 % vanillin in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible, evaluation in daylight.

by thin-layer chromatography) (Chinese). J. of Guizhou Normal Univ. (Natural Sci.) 30 (3), 1-3 (2012). Kalimeris indica (Linn.) Sch. is a perennial herb used in TCM preparations for treating cold fever, hepatitis, parotitis, pharyngitis, indigestion, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel with chloroform – methanol 9:1, detection by spraying with 5 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylgiht. The standard was alpha-spinasteryl-3-O-ß-D-glucoside.

J. of Guangzhou Chem. Industry. 40 (24), 122-123 (2012). Cleavers (Galium aparine) is a herb used as a key component drug in various TCM formulations for the treatment of tumours, dysentery, mastitis, urinary tract infections, gallbladder diseases etc. For quality control and to guarantee the medication safety of relevant formulations, TLC of chlorogenic acid, the main active ingredient, on silica gel with ethyl acetate – formic acid – water 14:1:1, detection 1) by viewing under UV 366 nm; 2) by spraying with 2 % ferric chloride in ethanol and heating mildly then viewing in daylight; 3) by densitometry at 585 nm.

Chinese J. of Med. Guide 10 (34), 113-114 (2012). Zhitongfengshi pills are a herbal TCM for treating numbness of limbs and rheumatic pain. For quality conterol TLC on silica gel 1) for Fructus Gardeniae, with ethyl acetate – acetone – formic acid – water 20:14:4:1, detection by spraying with 13 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating mildly, viewing in daylight; 2) for Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis,with n-butanol – formic acid – water 75:16:9, detection under UV 366 nm; 3) for Radix Scutellariae, with ethyl acetate – acetone – acetic acid – water 12:6:4:3, detection by spraying with 1.5 % ferric chloride in ethanol and viewing in daylight; 4) for Radix Clematidis, with toluene - ethyl acetate – glacial acetic acid 100:15:1, detection by spraying with 15 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating mildly, viewing in daylight.

Chinese J. of Xizang Sci. & Technol. (232), 46-47 (2012). Jiweiqingpeng powder is a herbal TCM fomulation widely prescribed in Xizang region to treat plague diseases, fever caused by influenza, pneumonia, sore throat, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Inulae, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate 3:1, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in water – hydrochloric acid 200:1 and viewing in daylight; 2) for Terminalia chebula Retz, with chloroform – formic acid – methanol 8:1:1, detection by spraying with 2 % ferric chloride in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight. TLC on silica gel with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate – diethylamine 5:2:1, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in water – hydrochloric acid 200:1, viewing in daylight, limit test of aconitine by comparison with the control sample of the standard.

Chinese J. Mod. Drug Appl. 6 (11), 124-125 (2012). Shaoshang Heji mixture is a herbal TCM preparation for treating burns with significant curative effects. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Flos Lonicerae and the standard chlorogenic acid, with ethyl acetate – formic acid – water 16:3:6, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for Astragalus mongholicus and the standard astragaloside A, with the lower phase of chloroform – methanol - water 13:7:2, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 ° for 5 min, evaluation in daylight and under UV 366 nm.