Chinese J. of Guide for Trad. Chinese Med. & Pharm. 2 (2), 97-99 (2013). Sanhuang zhiyang chaji liniment is a herbal TCM preparation prescribed for treating skin itching, carbuncle furuncle, acute eczema, impetigo and skin infection. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis and the standard berberine hydrochloride, with toluene – ethyl acetate – isopropanol – methanol – ammonia 12:6:3:1:1, detection by exposure to ammonia vapors and viewing under UV 366 nm; 2) for Radix Scutellariae and the standard baicalin, with ethyl acetate – butanone – methanol – water 5:3:1:1, detection by spaying with 1 % ferric chloride in ethanol and viewing in daylight; 3) for Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and the standard emodin, with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl formate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 4) for Radix Sophorae Flavescentis and the standard matrine, with benzene – propanol – ethyl acetate – ammonia 10:15:20:1, detection by spaying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in hydrochloric acid – water 1:200 and viewing in daylight.

Chinese J. Econ. Forest Res. 31 (2), 142-145 (2013). Compared to other analytical techniques TLC has the advantage of no/minor sample pretreatment, simultaneous separation and determination of numerous and complex samples. Determination of polypeptide in protolysate of Camellia oleifera cake by TLC on silica gel with n-butanol – ethanol – water 4:1:1, detection by spraying with 0.5 % ninhydrin in propanone and heating at 105 °C for 15 min and viewing in daylight. Quantification of polypeptide by densitometry at 231 nm using glutathione (a tripeptide composed of glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine) as the external calibration standard. The %RSD for repeatability was 0.03 % (n=5). Recovery by standard addition was 106.9 % (%RSD=0.06 %, n=5). The LOQ was 2 µg/zone. The results of the TLC method for a batch of real life samples were comparable with the results by RP-HPLC.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 27, 97-101 (2014). HPTLC of myristicin (1) and linalool (2) in the leaf extracts of parsley, dill and celery on silica gel with petroleum ether - dichloromethane 3:7. Detection by spraying with vanillin reagent, followed by heating at 120 ºC for 5 min. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 600 nm. Linearity was in the range of 5-21 μg/zone for (1) and 1-6 μg/zone for (2). The intermediate/interday/intra-day precisions were below 3 % (n=6). The LOD and LOQ were 1030 and 2000 ng/zone for (1) and 430 and 830 ng/zone for (2), respectively.

Chinese J. of Inform. on TCM 21 (1), 88-90 (2014). Ziyin Mingmu pian tablet is herbal TCM for promoting blood circulation which is used for the treatment of primary pigmentary degeneration of retina and other eye diseases. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Paeonia suffruticosa Andr., with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate – glacial acetic acid 40:10:1, detection by spraying with 2 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:10 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight and under UV 366 nm; 2) for Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc., with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 40:8:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; 3) for Notopterygium incisum, with cyclohexane – benzene - ethyl acetate 2:1:1, detection by spraying with 1 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and under UV 366 nm; 4) Acorus tatarinowii, with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl acetate 4:1, detection under UV 366 nm. Quantification of salvianolic acid B by HPLC.

J. of China Pharm. 22 (z1), 81-82 (2013). Danhong Ruangan Jiaonang capsule is a herbal TCM for promoting blood circulation and strengthening spleen, and is prescribed clinically for the treatment of right flank pain caused by blood stasis, anorexia, abdominal distension, lassitude, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Atractylodes macrocephala, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 3:1, detection by spraying with 25 % phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol and heating until the zones are visible in daylight; 2) for Carthamus tinctorius L., with ethyl acetate – formic acid – water – methanol 35:10:15:2, detection in daylight; 3) for Angelica sinensis, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 4:1, detection under UV 366 nm.

J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 37, 2249-2257 (2014). HPTLC of benzyltrimethylammonium chloride (1), dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (2), tetrabutylammonium bromide (3), and methyltrioctylammonium bromide (4) on silica gel with methanol - 5 % aqueous EDTA 7:3. Detection by spraying with Dragendroff reagent. The hRF values for (1) to (4) were 32, 43, 62 and 75, respectively.

J. Sep. Sci. 37, 2062-2068 (2014). HPTLC of (1) phospholipids phosphatidylcholine, (2) phosphatidylethanolamine, (3) phosphatidylinositol, (4) phosphatidylserine and (5) sphingomyelin in Phyrrhocoris apterus on silica gel with chloroform - methanol - acetic acid - water 60:35:2:1 over a path of 9 cm, and chloroform - methanol - acetic acid - water 25:15:4:2 over a path of 6 cm. Detection by exposure to iodine vapor, followed by detection at UV 205 nm. The hRF values of (1) to (5) were 91, 68, 82, 88 and 94, respectively. The spots were subsequently scrapped from the plates. Quantification by conversion into inorganic phosphate (as phosphomolybdate complex) followed by absorbance measuremet at 820 nm.

Heilongjiang Med. J. 26 (5), 746-750 (2013). Ganmaoling Jiaonang capsules are a TCM preparation composed of traditional Chinese herbal and Western drugs, with antipyretic and analgesic effects, which is used for headaches, fever, runny nose, sore throat, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel (1) for Evodia lepta (Spreng.) Merr with water-saturated toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 5:4:1, detection at UV 366 nm; (2) for Herba Bidentis bipinnate and Herba Bidentis pilosae with chloroform – methanol – formic acid 35:5:2, detection by (A) exposure to ammonia vapor and evaluation under white light and (B) spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible; (3) for Ilex asprella (Hook. et Arn.) Champ. ex Benth. with benzene – acetone 9:1, detection at UV 366 nm. Quantitation of 4-acetamidophenol, chlorpheniramine maleate and caffeine by HPLC.