Hebei J. Trad. Chinese Med. 34 (3), 433-434 (2012). Compound Kuhuang lotion is a TCM preparation used clinically for clearing heat and eliminating dampness, eliminating stagnations of blood, and relieving pains. Description of a method for the quality control of the preparation. TLC of the extracts of the preparations on silica gel 1) for Rheum officinale and the standards emodin, rhein, chrysophanol and aloe emodin, with petroleum ether (60-90 ºC) – ethyl acetate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection in daylight; 2) for Radix Sophorae flavescentis and the standard matrine, with ethyl acetate – propanone – benzene – ammonia 30:10:30:1, detection by spraying with a solution of potassium iodobismuthate – water – hydrochloric acid 10:200:1, detection in daylight; 3) for Golden Cypress and the standard berberine, with benzene – ethyl acetate – methanol – isoamyl alcohol – water 20:10:5:5:1, detection at UV 366 nm.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 25, 415-419 (2012). HPTLC of apigenin (1), quercetin (2), hyperoside (3), vitexin (4) and vitexin-2”-O-rhamnoside (5) on silica gel with acetonitrile - methanol - water 1:1:2 + 1 drop formic acid. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 254 nm. The hRf of (1) to (5) were 12, 20, 48, 53 and 59, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 400-1250 ng/zone for (1) and (2) and 800-2500 ng/zone for (3) to (5). Limits of detection and quantification were 100 and 310 ng/zone for (1), 200 and 630 ng/zone for (2) and (3) and 300 and 960 ng/zone for (4) and (5), respectively, The intermediate/inter-day/intra-day precision was below 2.2 % (n=3). Recovery for all (1) to (5) was between 97.1 and 100.2 %.

J. of Shandong Inst. of Commerce & Vocational Technol. 12 (1), 93-94 (2012). Description of a procedure for determination of picroside-l in Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell by TLC of its root extracts on silica gel with chloroform – methanol – ethyl acetate 7:3:5. Detection at UV 254 nm. Quantification of picroside-l by densitometry in absorbance mode at 282 nm. Validation of the procedure by investigation of the linearity range (0.6-3.0 µg/zone, R = 0.999, n = 5); of the stability (%RSD = 1.5, n = 5 in 90 min); of the precision (%RSD = 0.6, n = 5 within plate); and of the standard addition recovery (98.4 %, %RSD = 1.9, n = 5).

J. Planar Chromatogr. 25, 409-414 (2012). HPTLC of two anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (1) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (2), in the berries of Euterpe oleracea Mart. on silica gel with ethyl acetate - formic acid - acetic acid - water 100:11:11:26. Quantification by absorbance measurement at 520 nm. The hRf of compounds (1) and (2) were 29 and 37, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 100-500 ng/zone. The limit of detection was 30 ng/zone for (1) and 40 ng/zone for (2) and the limit of quantification was 100 ng/zone for both (1) and (2). The intermediate/inter-day/intra-day precision was below 2.8 % (n=3). The average recovery was between 99.8-101.8 %.

Inner Mongolian J. of Trad. Chinese Med. 10, 35-36 (2012). Jiangding Doukou Qufeng compound oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation prescribed to effectively cure flatulence, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. TLC of the extracts of the preparations on silica gel 1) for Cortex Cinnamomi and Foeniculum vulgare, with petroleum ether (60-90 ºC) – ethyl acetate 17:3, detection by spraying with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine solution in 2N hydrochloric acid and viewing in daylight; 2) for Rhizoma Zingiberis, with petroleum ether (60-90 ºC) – chloroform – ethyl acetate 2:1:1, detection by spraying with 2 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:200 and heating at 105 °C until the zones were visible in daylight.

J. of Modern Trad. Chinese Med. 14 (2), 12-14 (2012). Rubus idaeus, the dried immature fruits of Rubus chingii Hu, is a herbal TCM drug specially effective for tonifying the kidney, controlling nocturnal emission, nourishing the liver, and improving eyesight. It is prescribed clinically to cure spermatorrhea, night emission, enuresis, frequent micturition, sexual impotence and premature ejaculation. TLC of the extracts of the crude drug on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 9:3:1, detection by spraying with 2 % aluminium chloride in ethanol and viewing under UV 366 nm.

Chinese J. of Northern Pharmacy 9 (4), 8-9 (2012). Shugan capsules are a herbal TCM herbal preparation for nourishing the liver and tonifying spleen, used for women’s climacteric symptoms. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Paeoniae Alba, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 200:25:50:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in ethanol – sulfuric acid 4:1 and heating mildly, viewing under daylight; 2) for Rhizoma Cyperi, with n-hexane - ethyl acetate 17:3, detection under UV 254 nm.

f.) Wall. ex Nees. (Chinese). Chinese J. of Lishizhen Trad. Med. & Pharm. 22 (6), 1411-1412 (2012). The extracts of Andrographis paniculata, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, have been widely used as the core ingredient in a variety of traditional Chinese patent medicines, such as Chuanxinlian pills, Chuanxinlian capsules, Lianzhi pills, and some cosmetics and veterinary drugs. The quality of the extracts became significant for guaranteeing the validity, security, stability and homogeneity of the medicines. TLC of the herb extracts on silica gel with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol 20:15:2. Detection under UV 254 nm and by spraying with 2 % 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid in ethanol – 2 mol/L KOH solution 1:1 followed by evaluation in daylight.