J. of China Pharm. 25 (8), 772-775 (2011). Safflower, the dried flower of Carthamus tinctorius L. is a herbal TCM drug for invigorating the circulation of blood, stimulating the menstrual flow, dissipating blood stasis, relieving pain, and is prescribed clinically to cure amenorrhea, falling injuries and skin and external diseases. Due to the lack of the source some counterfeits have been found on the market in recent years. The methods were studied for differentiating the dyes used by the market for adulteration of safflower. For dyes, TLC of the extracts of the crude drugs on silica gel firstly with chloroform – methanol – glacial acetic acid 7:1:2, detection under daylight for identification of orange, then with ethyl acetate – n-butanol – ethanol – ammonia – water 1:3:3:1:1, detection under daylight for identification of acid red 73, lemon yellow and carminum respectively. Results obtained by HPLC were compatible with those obtained by TLC.

J. of China Pharm. 21 (3), 16-18 (2012). Dingxuan granules are a herbal TCM preparation with nourishing effect on liver and kidney and curative effect on Meniere's syndrome. For quality control, TLC of the extracts of the medicine 1) for Radix Polygoni multiflori preparata, on silica gel first over 3.5 cm with chloroform – methanol 7:3, then over 7 cm with chloroform – methanol 20:1, detection at UV 366 nm; 2) for Radix Paeoniae alba, on silica gel with chloroform – methanol 4:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 4:1 and heating at 105 °C, viewing under daylight; 3) for the fruit of Chinese wolfberry, on silica gel developed with chloroform – ethyl acetate – formic acid 2:3:1, detection at UV 366 nm; 4) for Angelica sinensis, on silica gel with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 17:3, detection at UV 366 nm.

Chromatogr. 26 (1), 61–68 (2012) Picroside-I and picroside-II are known bioactive metabolites in Picrorhiza species. Presentation of a simple, precise method for the simultaneous determination of picrosides (picroside-I and picroside-II) in two different Picrorhiza species, P. kurroa and P. scrophulariiflora. TLC of the extracts of the medicinal herbal drugs on silica gel with chloroform – methanol 22:3. Quantification of picrosides (picroside-I and picroside-II) by absorbance measurement at UV 254 nm. Comparative study revealed that the content of picroside-I and picroside-II is higher in P. scrophulariiflora than P. kurroa the content of picroside-I was found to be 1.3 and 1.6 % inP. kurroa and P. scrophulariiflora, and of picroside-II 0.5 and 0.6 %, respectively. Study of the antioxidant potential of the two Picrorhiza species using DPPH* radical reagent. The scavenging activities of P. kurroa and P. scrophulariiflora were 37.7 % and 34.3 %, respectively, at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL.

J. of Qilu Med. & Pharm. 31 (6), 327-330 (2012) Zhachong Shisanwei Pill is a herbal TCM preparation for invigorating the circulation of blood. TLC on silica gel 1) for Fructus Chebulae and the standard gallic acid, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – formic acid 3:2:1, detection by spraying with 2 % ferric chloride in ethanol and heating at 105 ºC until the zones are visible in daylight; 2) for Radix Aucklandiae and the standards costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone, with chloroform – cyclohexane 5:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:200 and heating at 105 ºC until the zones are visible in daylight; 3) for Aquilaria agallocha (Lour.) Roxb, with toluene – ethyl acetate 4:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 4) for Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii, with petroleum ether (60-90 ºC) – ethyl acetate 8:3, detection under UV 366 nm.

J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 35, 1336-1345 (2012). HPTLC of tiapride hydrochloride and impurities III, VII, and VIII on silica gel with methylene chloride - methanol 45:8 + 1 drop ammonia. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 240 nm. Migration distances were 61 mm, 19 mm, 25 mm and 32 mm for (1) and impurities III, VII, and VIII, respectively. Limits of detection for impurities III, VII, and VIII were 4, 7, and 6 ng/band, where as the limit of quantitation for impurities III, VII, and VIII were found equal to 10, 20, and 20 ng/band. Recovery for every concentration level was in the range of 95.1 % - 100.4 %.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 25, 117-121 (2012). HPTLC of octachlorodipropyl ether on silica gel with toluene - acetic acid - water 20:20:1. Detection by spraying with 2 N alcoholic potassium hydroxide, followed by heating at 120 °C for 30 min, overspraying with 1 % silver nitrate in 30 % nitric acid and then exposed to unfiltered UV illumination for approximately 15 min. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 399 nm. The hRf values of octachlorodipropyl ether and photodegradation products O1 and O2 were 93, 19 and 82, respectively.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 25, 162-167 (2012). HPTLC of famotidine (1), paracetamol (2), and ibuprofen (3) in combined dosage forms on silica gel with chloroform - methanol - ethyl acetate - acetic acid 215:161:591:32. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 256 nm. The hRf values of compounds (1) to (3) were 21, 80 and 89, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 160-960 ng/zone for (1), 400-2400 ng/zone for (2) and 600-3600 ng/zone for (3).

J. of China Pharm. 21 (14), 57-58 (2012). Weikang granule is a herbal TCM preparation for curing chronic atrophic gastritis. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Fructus Aurantii with the upper phase of ethyl acetate – methanol – water 6:3: 1, detection by spraying with 1 % aluminium chloride in ethanol and viewing under UV 366 nm; 2) for Rhizoma Corydalis with cyclohexane – acetone 7:3, detection by spraying with aqueous potassium iodobismuthate 5 % – HCl 200:1 and viewing in daylight; 3) for Coptis chinensis with n-butanol – glacial acetic acid – water 7:1:2, detection under UV 366 nm.