Phytochem. Anal. 25, 29-35 (2014). HPTLC of hyoscyamine (1), scopolamine (2) and their biosynthetic precursors anisodamine (3), cuscohygrine (4) and litorine (5) in selected Solanaceae plants on silica gel with two-stage multi-development using chloroform - methanol - acetone - 15:3:2 + 1 drop ammonia. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 190 nm for (3) and at 520 nm for (1), (2), (4) and (5) after spraying and derivatising with Dragendorff’s reagent following a Munier and Macheboeuf modi?cation (Baerheim-Svendsen and Verpoorte, 1983). The hRf values for compounds (1) to (5) were 41, 78, 24, 30 and 49, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 1000-3000 ng/zone for (3) and 500-3000 ng/zone for (1), (2), (4) and (5). LOD and LOQ were 127 and 425 ng/zone for (1), 100 and 334 ng/zone for (2), 11 and 38 ng/zone for (3), 104 and 413 ng/zone for (4), and 111 and 373 ng/zone for (5), respectively. Recoveries were in the range of 88-91 % for all the analytes. Intermediate intra- and inter-day precision was below 3 % (n=3).

J. Strait Pharm. 24 (7), 75-76 (2012). Shenghua Heji compound oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation for treatment of postpartum blood circulation, promote uterine contraction, removing blood stasis. For quality control, TLC 1) for Angelica sinensis, on silica gel with benzene – ethyl acetate – glacial acetic acid 2:1:1, detection under UV 254 nm; 2) for Rhizoma chuanxiong, Semen persicae, Glycyrrhizae and the standard ferulic acid, on silica gel with benzene – glacial acetic acid – methanol 30:2:3, detection under UV 366 nm and after spraying with 1 % ferric chloride – 1 % potassium ferricyanide 1:1 in daylight; 3) for Rhizoma chuanxiong and the standard ferulic acid, on neutral alumina layer with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – chloroform 1:1, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in water – hydrochloric acid 200:1 and viewing in daylight.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 26, 435-439 (2013). HPTLC of ciclesonide in bulk and dosage form on silica gel with acetonitrile - 1,4-dioxane - n-hexane 1:1:8 +1 drop ethyl acetate. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 242 nm. The hRf of ciclesonide was 38. Linearity was between 1 and 6 mg/zone. LOD and LOQ were 100 and 303 ng/zone. Recovery (by standard addition) was found to be 98.9-100.3 %. Intra- and inter-day precision values were below 0.7 and 1.4 %, respectively.

Chinese J. of Ethnomed. & Ethnopharm. 23, 51-52 (2012). Shengjing Yusi capsule is a herbal TCM preparation for treating male infertility. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Epimedium davidii Franch, with chloroform – methanol – water 13:7:2, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis, with petroleum ether (30-60°C) – ethyl acetate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection by spraying with 5 % phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 26, 491-495 (2013). TLC of enantiomers of (±)-bupropion on silica gel, impregnated with L-Glu, with acetonitrile - methanol - dichloromethane - water 28:5:11:5. Detection by exposition to iodine vapor. LOD was 0.2 µg/zone for each enantiomer.

CBS 111, 5-6 (2013). HPTLC of caffeine, taurine, and arginine in shampoo samples extracted with isopropanol, on silica gel over 50 mm with isopropanol - n-heptane - water 7:3:1 for caffeine and isopropanol - water 4:1 for arginine and taurine. Detection under UV 254 nm (caffeine) and after spraying with ninhydrin reagent under white light (arginine and taurine). Quantitative absorbance measurement at UV 254 nm for caffeine and UV 600 nm for arginine and taurine. The hRF of caffeine was 54. Precision (%RSD) for the polynomial calibration of caffeine was 3.9 % (n=3). The hRf of taurine was 24. Arginine remained at the start position under these conditions. The content of taurine and caffeine found in shampoos corresponded to the usual amount of 0.1 % active ingredient in a formulation.

J. Strait Pharm. 26 (3), 86-87 (2014). Zhibai Dihuang Wan pill is a herbal TCM for treatment of insomnia, dizziness, irritability, spermatorrhea, constipation, dry mouth and sore throat, tinnitus, hectic fever and night sweat, etc. For quality control, HPTLC for simultaneous identification of Alisma plantago-aquatica Linn., Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf and the standard ursolic acid on silica gel with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl formate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection 1) under UV 366 nm, 2) 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. The method was used for the analysis of 18 products manufactured by 17 pharmaceutical companies factories and was found simple, specific, reproducible, robust and well suitable for the purpose.

Trends in Chromatography 8, 131-135 (2013). Based on the Minilab TLC screening methods two individual and one simultaneous HPTLC methods for quantification of lumefantrine and artemether were developed. HPTLC of artemether, lumefantrine, and both substances in a combined tablet formulation on silica gel with ethyl acetate - glacial acetic acid - toluene 2:1:9 with chamber saturation. Quantitative absorbance measurement of lumefantrine at 254 nm. For artemether, detection by spraying with methanol - 96 % sulfuric acid 19:1 and heating at 100 °C for 5 minutes, evaluation in daylight and quantitative absorbance measurement at 610 nm. With the simultaneous method artemether zones were detected by heating at 160 °C for 5 min, and after cooling absorbance measurement at 254 nm was performed. This is a novel, reagent-free detection method based on thermochemical activation of fluorescence quenching. Precision (%RSD) for the artemether individual method was 0.1-0.6 % and recovery 98-103 %. Precision (%RSD) for the lumefantrine individual method was 0.9-1.8 % and recovery 100-102 %. With the simultaneous method the hRF was 34 for lumefantrine and 61 for artemether, precision (%RSD) was below 3 % and recovery was 98-100 %.