Chinese J. of Food & Drug 14 (7), 284-286 (2012). Kexian capsules are a herbal TCM preparation for treating epilepsy and phlegm blockage syndrome. For quality control TLC, on silica gel 1) for Gambir plant, with toluene – chloroform – acetone – concentrated ammonia – methanol 20:25:15:4, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for Borneol, with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl acetate – chloroform 11:1:3, detection by spraying with 1 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:200 and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight. Quantification of cholic acid by UV spectrophotometry.

J. of Inform. on Trad. Chinese Med. 29 (6), 96-98 (2012). Fangji Fuling Tang decocted extract is a herbal TCM preparation for the treatment of chronic nephritis edema, cardiac edema, etc. For quality control the method of the Chinese Pharmacopeia is improved. TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae and the standards (+)-tetrandrine, hanfangichin B, and fangchinoline, with chloroform – methanol – acetone 6:1:1, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in hydrochloric acid – water 1:200 and viewing in daylight; 2) for Radix Astragali seu Hedysari 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 mildly, viewing in daylight; 3) for Radix Glycyrrhizae, with the lower phase of ethyl acetate – formic acid – glacial acetic acid - water 15:1:1:1, detection under UV 366 nm. Quantification of (+)-tetrandrine, hanfangichin B, and fangchinoline by HPLC.

Chinese J. of Northern Pharmacy 10 (10), 9-10 (2013). Keke Diwan drop pills are a herbal TCM preparation for the treatment of cough, dyspnea and shortness of breath. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Ephedra sinica Stapf and the standard ephedrine hydrochloride, with chloroform – methanol – ammonia 100:20:1, detection by spraying with 0.3 % ninhydrin in n-butanol – glacial acetic acid 19:1 and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 2) for Pericarpium papaveris, with toluene – acetone – ethanol – concentrated ammonia 20:20:3:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 3) for Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., with benzene – chloroform – methanol – glacial acetic acid 40:90:15:1 with preconditioning for 10 min, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 26, 421-426 (2013). HPTLC of umbelliferone in the leaves of eleven Juniperus species on silica gel with n-hexane - ethyl acetate 7:3 in the first run and dichloromethane - diethyl ether 4:1 in the second run. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 326 nm. The hRf of umbelliferone was 30. Linearity was between 10 and 80 ng/zone. LOD and LOQ were 7 and 23 ng/zone. Average recovery (by standard addition) was 96.3 %. Intermediate intra- and inter-day precision (n = 6) was below 7 %.

Chinese J, Mod. Drug Appl. 6 (22), 129-130 (2012). Huaxue Jietonggao ointment is herbal TCM preparation for the treatment of sprain, contusion, rheumatism, lumbago and back ache. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Capsicum annuum and the standard capsaicin, with petroleum ether (30-60 °C) – ethanol 9:1, detection under UV 254 nm; 2) for Zingiber officinale Rosc., with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl acetate 2:1, detection by spraying with 2 % p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde in 40 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; 3) for Heracleum hemsleyanum, with n-hexane – toluene – ethyl acetate 2:1:1, detection under UV 366 nm.

Chinese J. of Inform. on TCM 19 (6), 57-59 (2012). In TCM Tongfu Keli granule is prescribed for postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery, reducing inflammatory intestinal obstruction, and intestinal adhesion formation. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Rheum palmatum L., with petroleum ether (30-60 °C) – ethyl formate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for immature Bitter Orange, with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid – water 20:10:1:1, detection by spraying with 3 % aluminium chloride in ethanol and viewing under UV 366 nm; 3) for Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils., with cyclohexane – acetone 5:2, detection under UV 254 nm. Quantification of aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, physcion by HPLC.

CBS 111, 13-15 (2013). HPTLC of propolis on silica gel in a twin trough chamber with 8 mL of n-hexane – ethyl acetate – glacial acetic acid 5:3:1 and preconditioning with 5 mL hydrochloric acid (37 %) in the opposite trough using filter paper wetted with the hydrochloric acid shortly before chromatography. Migration distance was 65 mm. Detection under UV 366 nm after dipping in 0.5 % methanolic 2-aminoethyldiphenylborane reagent followed by drying and dipping in 5 % methanolic polyethylene glycol solution. Different types of German propolis were found, an orange, a blue and mixed types. Comparison with HPTLC fingerprints of the possible origin plants showed that the orange type most likely derives from Populus nigra. The blue type correlated to a certain extent with Populus tremula as well as both types with Aesculus hippocastanum L. Confirmed by MS the following substances were found in the orange type: pinocembrin, galangin, caffeic acid phenethylester and chrysin. The blue type contained p-cumaric acid and ellagic acid. Caffeic acid, quercetin and apigenin appeared in both types.

Chinese J. of Inform. on TCM 20 (8), 56-58 (2013). Zaodi Anshen Wan pill is herbal TCM for treatment of neurasthenia, fatigue syndrome, depression, insomnia, dizziness and tinnitus, palpitation, etc. For quality control, HPTLC on silica gel 1) for Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa, with water-saturated n-butanol, detection by spraying with 1 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4, evaluation under UV 366 nm; 2) for Radix polygoni multiflori preparata and the standards emodin and physcion, with petroleum ether (30-60 ˚C) – ethyl formate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection by exposure to ammonia vapors, evaluation under UV 366 nm. Analysis of Schisandra chinensis, schisandrin, deoxyschizandrin and gamma-schizandrin B by HPLC.