J. of Fujian Univ. of TCM 22 (5), 52-54 (2012). Coix seed is a TCM herb frequently prescribed to treat edema, dermatophytosis, spasm and diarrhea. For quality control of the crude drug available from different places of origin, TLC of the herb extract and standard glycerol trioleate on silica gel with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl acetate – glacial acetic acid 25:5:1, detection by spraying with 0.5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:200, heating at 105 °C for 5 min and viewing under UV 366 nm. Coix seed from different places of origin contains different amounts of glycerol trioleate (measured by HPLC).

J. Planar Chromatogr. 26, 232-236 (2013). TLC of acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid on silica gel with hexane - ethyl acetate 2:1. Detection by scanning at 101 wavelengths, from 200 to 300 nm. Positive matrix factorization used as a curve resolution approach allowed for the evaluation of the inhomogeneity of the application zone. The method was also applied for the system ciprofibrate/clorfibric acid on silica gel with hexane - tetrahydrofurane 8:2 + 1 drop glacial acetic acid.

Chinese J. of Guide for Trad. Chinese Med. & Pharm. 19 (4), 70-71 (2013). Pothos chinensis (Raf.) Merr. and three other medicinal herbs are used in traditional Yao medicine, they have anti venom, anti tumor, and antioxidant effects and reduce blood sugar. For quality control, TLC of 1) Pothos chinensis (Raf.) Merr., on polyamide phase with acetone – water 1:2, detection by spraying with 2 % aluminiumchloride in ethanol and heating at 105°C until the zones are visible in daylight, and under UV 366 nm; 2) for Mappianthus iodoides Hand.-Mazz., on silica gel with petroleum ether (60-90°C) – ethyl acetate 4:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight, and under UV 366 nm; 3) Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC., on silica gel with chloroform – methanol – ammonia 150:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 4) for Saussurea woodiana Hemsl., on silica gel with petroleum ether (60-90°C) – ethyl formate – formic acid 75:25:2, detection under UV 366 nm.

Chinese J. of Guide for Trad. Chinese Med. & Pharm. 18 (11), 80-82 (2012). Zhining Xiji lotion is a herbal TCM preparation for treating inflammatory external hemorrhoids, incarcerated hemorrhoids, and the postoperative perianal edema. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, with toluene – acetone – methanol 16:6:3 after chamber saturation with ammonia for 15 min, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in hydrochloric acid – water 0.5:100 and viewing in daylight; 2) for Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis, developed with n-butanol – glacial acetic acid – water 7:1:2, detection under UV 366 nm. Quantification of berberine hydrochloride by HPLC.

Chinese J. of Inform. on TCM 19 (6), 55-57 (2012). Huayu Shengji Gao ointment is a herbal TCM preparation for treating pain of surgery wounds, burn ulcer, and fester. For quality control, TLC on silica gel for 1) Angelica sinensis, with n-butanol – ethyl acetate 9:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for Lithospermum erythrorhizon, with cyclohexane – toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 50:50:5:1, detection in daylight; 3) for A. dahurica (Fisch.) Benth. et Hook, with petroleum ether (30-60 °C) – diethyl ether 3:2, detection under UV 366 nm. Quantification of ferulic acid by HPLC.

Chem. J. of Chinese Univ. 35 (4), 741-745 (2014). TLC is a rapid, simple, efficient, economic and widely used method with great advantages but some limitations in the detection of unknown groups. IR is a universal detection technique with advantages in the detection of colorless, non fluorescent substances. For successful application of TLC/FTIR the selection of the proper stationary phase is important. In this study sulfur fine particles were successfully employed as the coating for narrow band plates. Sulfur fine particles with the average size of 500 nm were produced by reaction of sodium thiosulfate with hydrochloric acid and characterized by XRS. Narrow band plates were coated by precipitation/evaporation technique. TLC of the mixture of rhodamine B and gentian violet on narrow band plates with tetrahydrofuran – methanol – ammonia 16:2:1 with chamber saturation for 10 min. TLC of the mixture of rhodamine B and bromophenol blue on narrow band plates with ethyl acetate – methanol – ammonia 16:1:3 with chamber saturation for 10 min. Both systems achieve complete separation. In situ detection of the separated zones by microscopic reflection infrared spectroscopy. The resulting spectra of the separated zones of rhodamine B, gentian violet and bromophenol blue matched those of the corresponding standards. There were no interfering absorption peaks except for the absorption peak of CO in the mid infrared region. The layer had a considerable ability for separation of mixed samples, therefore, the new type of stationary phase can meet the requirements for analyzing some mixtures by TLC/FTIR hyphenated technique.

J. of China Pharm. 22 (13), 25-27 (2013). Yushang Jiegu Dan pill is a herbal TCM for treating various kinds of body damage, local swelling and pain, early fracture, etc. For quality control, HPTLC 1) for Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and the standard baicalin, on polyamide layer with toluene – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 10:3:1:2, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for Rheum palmatum L. and the standards physcion and emodin, on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 15:2:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 3) for Caesalpinia sappan L., on silica gel with dichloromethane – acetone – formic acid 10:4:1, detection in daylight; 4) for Paeonia veitchii and the standard paeoniflorin, on silica gel with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol - formic acid 200:25:50:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; 5) for Boswellia carteri, on silica gel with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate 9:1, detection by spraying with 1 % p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:50 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight.

J. of China Pharm. 27 (7), 722-724 (2013). Xihuang Wan pill is a herbal TCM prescribed for treatment and adjuvant therapy of various cancers. Huoxue Zhitong San powder is a herbal TCM prescribed for traumatic injury and ecchymoma. In the drug market fraud rosin was found to be added to the key ingredient olibanum. For quality control, HPTLC of the sample extracts and the standards acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (KBA), beta-boswellic acid (beta-BA), acetyl-beta-boswellic acid (beta-ABA), and abietic acid (LOD=1.0 µg), on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate – heptane – formic acid 80:20:10:3 with chamber saturation for 20 min, detection 1) under UV 254 nm and UV 366 nm; 2) by spraying with a fresh solution of anisaldehyde – sulfuric acid – acetic acid 1:10:1000 and heating at 105 °C until the zones were visible in daylight. Verification of abietic acid from added rosin by HPLC. The method was used for the analysis of 63 batches of Xihuang Wan pills sampled from 13 pharmaceutical factories and 10 batches of Huoxue Zhitong San powder from 4 factories.