Chinese J. of Medication & Clinics 12 (6), 768-769 (2012). Alliin (s-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide) is a sulfur containing amino acid found in garlic, which has antibacterial and antioxidant activities and is widely used as a component in Chinese drug formulations. For quality control, TLC on silica gel with n-butanol – glacial acetic acid – water 4:1:1, detection by spraying with 0.2 % ninhydrin and heating at 105 ºC for 5 min and viewing in daylight.

Chinese J. Ethnomed. Ethnopharm. (23), 70-71 (2011). Blood ginseng, the dried root of Indigofera stachyoides Lindl. is a traditional Chinese herbal crude drug with special effect in invigorating the circulation of blood, reducing phlegm, treating yin deficiency by reinforcing body fluid and nourishing the blood. It is used clinically to treat encephalalgia, woman’s abdominal pain, and metrorrhagia. For quality control 1) TLC of the extracts on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 6:3:1, detection in daylight; 2) determination of the moisture by drying in the oven; 3) determination of general ash content by firing, and of the acid insoluble ash content by acid pickling; 4) determination of ethanol extract by lixiviating with 50 % ethanol.

J. Jiangxi Univ. of TCM 23 (6), 49-52 (2011). Sangma oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation for clearing heat, opening the inhibited lung-energy, reducing phlegm, relieving a cough, and curing children acute bronchitis. TLC of the extracts of the preparations 1) for Forsythia fruit, on silica gel with chloroform – methanol 7:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible, viewing under daylight; 2) for Baical Skullcap root, on polyamide with toluene – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 10:3:1:2, detection by spraying with 5 % ferric chloride in ethanol and viewing under daylight; 3) for Tatarian Aster root, on silica gel with chloroform – methanol – formic acid 90:10:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible, evaluation under UV 366 nm.

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.