J. of Anhui Coll. of Trad. Chinese Med. 32 (6), 80-82 (2012). Shisanwei Hezhong pills are a herbal TCM formulation for regulating the spleen and stomach and for treating epigastric pain. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Rhizoma Corydalis and the standard tetrahydropalmatine, with n-hexane – chloroform – methanol 15:8:2, detection by exposing to iodine vapors and viewing in daylight and under UV 366 nm; 2) for White Paeony Root and the standard paeoniflorin, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 200:25:50:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:10 and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 3) for Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae and the standard hesperidin, with ethyl acetate – methanol - water 100:17:13, detection by spraying with 2 % aluminium chloride and viewing under UV 366 nm. Quantification of naringin by HPLC.

J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 36, 2363-2377 (2013). The impact of substituent of benzanilide moiety on retention of 14 (alkoxy-phenyl)benzamides was assessed by TLC on silica gel and aluminium oxide with various mixtures of n-pentane, benzene and acetone. The TLC method allowed for quantitative structure relationship (QSRR) studies with benzanilide derivatives.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 26, 470-474 (2013). TLC-bioautography of antimicrobial metabolites in the extracts of endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. on silica gel with toluene - diethyl ether - acetic acid 1:1:1. The plates were transferred to sterile Petri dishes and overlaid with Mueller Hinton (for Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus), Brain Heart Infusion (for Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) medium containing 0.65 % agar incorporating 1 mg/mL 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride, and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar medium (for Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) inoculated with 1 % standardized microbial inocula. For bacteria plates were incubated for 24 h at 37 °C. For fungi, plates were incubated for 48-72 h at 25 °C and the agar surface was sprayed with a 5 mg/mL solution of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and inhibition zones were detected as clear spots against a red and purple background.

Chinese J. of Med. Guide 18 (12), 82-84 (2012). Fufang Kuhuang Penwu spray is a herbal TCM preparation for treatment of eczema, skin itch and solar dermatitis. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for borneol, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate 33:7, detection by spraying with 1 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4, heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; 2) for Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis and the standard berberine hydrochloride, with benzene – ethyl acetate – methanol – isopropanol – concentrated ammonia 12:6:3:3:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 3) for Rheum palmatum L., Reynoutria japonica Houtt, and the standard emodin, with petroleum ether (30-60 °C) – ethyl formate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm before and after exposure to ammonia vapors.

by thin-layer chromatography) (Chinese). J. of Hubei Univ. of Trad. Chinese Med. 15 (5), 38-40 (2013). Kadsura longipedunculata Finet et Gagnep. is the dried and ripe fruit of Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils., a herbal TCM drug commonly used in TCM preparations for the treatment of cough, spermatorrhea, enuresis, diarrhea, night sweating, palpitation and insomnia. False and inferior species often appear on the market, e.g. inferior plant material was sold as high quality product after adding synthetic dyes which are harmful to human health. As this kind of adulteration is not easily identified by eye, a TLC method for rapid identification of three dyes was developed. TLC of the drug extracts and the standards carmine, erythrosine, and brilliant crocein, on silica gel with ethyl acetate – n-butanol – ethanol – ammonia – water 1:3:3:1:1, detection in daylight.

Chinese J. of Heilongjiang Med. 26 (2), 189-190 (2013). Fufang Niaoweoan Diyanye eye drops, i.e. allantoin/vitamin B6/vitamin E/aminoethylsulfonic acid eye drops, are used for treating eye fatigue and dry eye syndrome. For quality control, semiquantitative determination of taurine, the main active ingredient, by TLC on silica gel with n-butanol – ethanol – water – glacial acetic acid 3:1:1:1, detection by spraying with ninhydrin – ethanol 1:1000 and viewing in daylight. Semi-quantification by comparison of the area size and color of the target zone with the standard taurine. The LOD was around 100 ng/zone. The influences of temperature, acidic, alkaline and oxidizing conditions were studied.

J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 37, 2872-2881 (2014). 2D-HPTLC of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol on RP-18 with methanol – acetonitrile – water 2:2:1 in the first direction and cyclohexane – butyl acetate – methanol 8:6:1 in the second direction, both over 70 mm. With the grafted method both plates were combined in a 2D separation. Detection by dipping into a mixture of sulfuric acid (98 %) and water (1:49), followed by heating at 110 °C for 10 min. Compound was also detected using a yeast estrogen screening assay using the strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae BJ3505.

and Dendranthema indicum, on silica gel containing 1 % NaOH, with ethyl acetate – methanol – water 100:17:10, detection by spraying with 1 % aluminum trichloride in ethanol firstly, then with 5 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight.