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.

J. of Guangzhou Chem. Industry. 40 (24), 122-123 (2012). Cleavers (Galium aparine) is a herb used as a key component drug in various TCM formulations for the treatment of tumours, dysentery, mastitis, urinary tract infections, gallbladder diseases etc. For quality control and to guarantee the medication safety of relevant formulations, TLC of chlorogenic acid, the main active ingredient, on silica gel with ethyl acetate – formic acid – water 14:1:1, detection 1) by viewing under UV 366 nm; 2) by spraying with 2 % ferric chloride in ethanol and heating mildly then viewing in daylight; 3) by densitometry at 585 nm.

Chinese J. of Prac. Med. 7/20, 245-247 (2012) . Liuwei Xiaohuang pills are a herbal TCM for treating abdominal distention and constipation. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix et Rhizoma Rhei and standard rhein, with petroleum ether (30-60 °C) – ethyl acetate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm and by exposing to ammonia vapors, viewing in daylight; 2) for Fructus Aurantii Immaturus and the standard synephrine, with the upper phase of n-butanol – glacial acetic acid – water 4:1:5, detection by spraying with 0.5 % ninhydrin in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight.

Chinese J. of Northern Pharm. 10 (2), 2-3 (2013). Xiaoer Danzhen granules are a herbal TCM for treating children with focal accumulation of heat, aphthae, hot urination, chicken pox, influenza fever, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Scutellariae and the standard astragaloside A, with n-butanone – glacial acetic acid – water 7:1:2, detection by spraying with 2 % ferric chloride in 2N HCl – water 1:100, and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 2) for Fructus Gardeniae and the standard gardenoside, with the lower phase of chloroform – methanol – water 13:7:2, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol, and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 3) for Radix Angelicae Sinensis, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate – formic acid 45:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm.

J. Strait Pharm. 24 (11), 16-18 (2012). Yangyin Qingfei compound oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation for treating cough, sore throat, tonsillitis, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Rehmannia, with chloroform – methanol – water 14:6:1, detection by immersion into vanillin – sulfuric acid – acetic acid 1:10:1000 and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 2) for Radix Ophiopogonis, with toluene – methanol – glacial acetic acid 800:50:1, detection under UV 254 nm. Quantification of catalpol by HPLC.

J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 36, 2405-2421 (2013). HPTLC of acetylsalicylic acid (1), caffeine (2), and ethoxybenzamide (3) in combined tablets on silica gel with n-hexane - acetone - glacial acetic acid 7:2:1. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 200 nm for (1), 275 nm for (2) and 300 nm for (3). The hRf values for (1) to (3) were 44, 29 and 59, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 1.7-15.4 µg/zone for (1), 0.6-4.0 µg/zone for (2) and 1.2-8.0 µg/zone for (3). LOD and LOQ were 130 and 390 ng/zone for (1), 25 and 80 ng/zone for (2) and 60 and 180 for (3), respectively. Recoveries (by standard addition) were in the range of 99-100 %. Intermediate intra- and inter-day precision was below 2 % (n=3).

J. Planar Chromatogr. 26, 215-225 (2013). HPTLC of gatifloxacin and 8 related substances on silica gel with methanol - 1,2-dichloroethane - ammonia - acetonitrile 28:72:5:5. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 366 nm. The hRf value for gatifloxacin was 42. Linearity was in the range of 20-1000 ng/zone. LOD and LOQ were 2.6 and 5.6 ng/zone. Intermediate/interday/intra-day precision was below 2 % (n=6). The method showed comparable results with a validated RP-HPLC mehod.