J. of China Pharm. 21 (10), 26-27 (2012). Yifeitongluo granules are a herbal TCM preparation for the combined treatment of deficiency of both qi and yin. TLC of the extracts of the preparations on silica gel 1) for Rhizoma Polygonati, with chloroform – methanol – acetic acid 5:4:1, detection by spraying with 2.5 % phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible; 2) for Viola yedonensis Makino, with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 5:3:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 3) for Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Miq, with toluene – propanone – methanol 16:6:1 after preconditioning with ammonia vapors, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate and viewing in daylight.

Chinese J. of Lishizhen Trad. Med. & Pharm. 22 (4), 860-862 (2011). Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.) Harald, a medicinal herbal drug widely applied in traditional Chinese medicines, is available from different provinces of China. Presentation of fingerprint methods of Fallopia multiflora from different regions by micellar thin-layer chromatography (MTLC) and IR techniques. MTLC of methanol extracts of Fallopia multiflora and emodin standard solution on polyamide layer with 0.4 % cetylpyridinium chloride in acetone – methanol – 1.0 mol/L NaOH 12:4:5 after chamber saturation for 15 min. Detection of the purple zones in daylight. The ratio of the hRf values of the component zones and those of emodin was calculated. In addition, FTIR of the methanolic extracts and emodin standard solution mixed in KBr tablets. The results of the real life samples available from five different regions are given and proved that the method is suitable for the quality control of the drugs.

by thin-layer chromatography) (Chinese). J. of Trad. Chinese Med. & Pharm. Consult. 4 (5), 481-482 (2012). As a widely used TCM herbal drug, Polygonum orientale Linn. is prescribed for treatment of rheumatic arthritis, coronary heart disease, stomach pain, etc. Description of a method for identifying the counterfeit drug and for routine quality control of the crude drug by identification of the flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol in the drug samples obtained by extraction of the dry stem, leaves and fruits of the herb after acid hydrolysis. TLC on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 20:14:1, detection by spraying with 1 % aluminium chloride in ethanol and heating mildly, viewing under UV 366 nm.

Jiangxi J. of Trad. Chinese Med. 43 (354), 62-64 (2012). Jiegu Xujin capsules are a herbal TCM for the treatment of fractures, bone dislocation and joint pain. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Rhizoma Drynariae and the standard naringin, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate – formic acid – water 2:24:5:6, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 9:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 3) for Eupolyphaga seu steleophaga, with toluene – dichloromethane – acetone 10:10:1, detection by spraying with 3 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:200 and heat at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 4) for Radix Notoginseng and the standards ginsenoside Rb1, Re, Rg1, R1, with the lower phase of chloroform – methanol – water 13:7:2, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing under UV 366 nm.

J. Chromatogr. A 1260, 232-238 (2012). Presentation of a new RP-HPTLC method for the separation of pyrazinamide, isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol in a four fixed-dose combination tablet formulation by detection of pyrazinamide, isoniazid and rifampicin at UV 280 nm firstly, and then derivatization and detection of ethambutol at 450 nm after RP-plate development. Evaluation of methanol, ethanol and propan-1-ol as the modifiers to form alcohol-water mobile phases. Systematic optimization of the composition of each alcohol in the mobile phase by using the window diagramming concept to obtain the best separation. Examination of the Rf distribution of the separated compounds indicated that separation of the compounds with the mobile phase containing ethanol at the optimal fraction situated within the optimal hRf-values region of 20-80, thus ethanol was selected as the organic modifier and the optimal mobile phase composition was found to be ethanol – water - glacial acetic acid - 37 % ammonia 70:30:5:1.

Chinese J. of Northern Pharm. 10 (2), 2-3 (2013). Xiaoer Danzhen granules are a herbal TCM for treating children with focal accumulation of heat, aphthae, hot urination, chicken pox, influenza fever, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Scutellariae and the standard astragaloside A, with n-butanone – glacial acetic acid – water 7:1:2, detection by spraying with 2 % ferric chloride in 2N HCl – water 1:100, and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 2) for Fructus Gardeniae and the standard gardenoside, with the lower phase of chloroform – methanol – water 13:7:2, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol, and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 3) for Radix Angelicae Sinensis, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate – formic acid 45:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm.

J. Strait Pharm. 24 (11), 16-18 (2012). Yangyin Qingfei compound oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation for treating cough, sore throat, tonsillitis, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Rehmannia, with chloroform – methanol – water 14:6:1, detection by immersion into vanillin – sulfuric acid – acetic acid 1:10:1000 and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 2) for Radix Ophiopogonis, with toluene – methanol – glacial acetic acid 800:50:1, detection under UV 254 nm. Quantification of catalpol by HPLC.

Chinese J. of Ethnomed. & Ethnopharm. 20, 30-32 (2012). Inula nervosa Wall is a herbal TCM drug with anti rheumatism effects. It is frequently used as key component in herbal TCM preparations for the treatment of rheumatism. For quality control, TLC of the volatile oil (obtained by steam distillation of the crude drug) diluted 1:100 with acetone, and the standards thymol and thymyl isobutyrate, on homemade layers (coated using a slurry of silica gel in 1 % NaOH solution), with cyclohexane – toluene 3:4, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:200 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight.