Chinese J. Mod. Drug Appl. 6 (12), 131-132 (2012). Shisiwei Dangui Huoxue mixture is a herbal TCM for promoting blood circulation and relieving pain, and is prescribed clinically to treat blood stasis, local swelling caused by lesion of main and collateral channels of the injured limb after catagma. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Angelica sinensis, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 9:1, detection at UV 366 nm; 2) for Radix Paeoniae Alba, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 200:25:50:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 followed by mild heating and evaluation in daylight.

J. Sep. Sci. 36, 2373-2378 (2013). HPTLC of 6alpha,7alpha-diacetoxy-13-hydroxy-8(9),14-labdadien (1), 13-hydroxy-5(10),14-halimadien-6-one (2), and 9-hydroxy-13(14)-labden-16,15-olide (3) in the leaves of Vitex trifolia L. on silica gel with chloroform - acetone 49:1. Detection by spraying with vanillin-sulfuric acid reagent. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 610 nm. The hRf of compounds (1), (2) and (3) were 74, 57 and 51, respectively. Linearity was 333-1000 ng/zone for (1) and (2) and 670-2000 ng/zone for (3). LOD were in the range of 73, 56, and 92 ng/zone and LOQ were found to be 242, 186, and 307 ng/zone for (1), (2) and (3), respectively. The intra- and inter-assay precisions were in the range of 1.0-1.2 % and 1.1-1.3 %, respectively for compounds (1) to (3). Recovery (by standard addition) ranged 99.1-102.7 %.

Beijing J. of Trad. Chinese Med. 31 (7), 542-545 (2012). Ekou powder is a herbal TCM preparation for treating mycotic and follicular stomatitis and mouth erosion. For quality control TLC on silica gel 1) for Coptis chinensis, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate – isopropanol – methanol – water – triethylamine 6:7:2:3:1:2, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for borneol, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 17:3, detection by spraying with 1 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:200 and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 3) for Indigo naturalis, with toluene – chloroform – acetone 5:4:1, detection in daylight.

by thin-layer chromatography) (Chinese). J. of Trad. Chinese Med. & Pharm. Consult. 4 (5), 481-482 (2012). As a widely used TCM herbal drug, Polygonum orientale Linn. is prescribed for treatment of rheumatic arthritis, coronary heart disease, stomach pain, etc. Description of a method for identifying the counterfeit drug and for routine quality control of the crude drug by identification of the flavonoids quercetin and kaempferol in the drug samples obtained by extraction of the dry stem, leaves and fruits of the herb after acid hydrolysis. TLC on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 20:14:1, detection by spraying with 1 % aluminium chloride in ethanol and heating mildly, viewing under UV 366 nm.

Chinese J. of Lishizhen Trad. Med. & Pharm. 22 (3), 677-680 (2011). Chinese Goldthread is a traditional Chinese medicinal herbal drug, the dry rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch, Coptis dehoidea C.Y. Cheng et Hsiao and Coptis teeta Wal. is widely used as key component in preparations effective for clearing heat, eliminating dampness, purging intense heat and relieve internal heat or fever. Presentation of a TLC method for simultaneous determination of five varieties of alkaloids in Chinese Goldthread rhizome and identification of the characteristic component of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) in the preparation Yuhuanglian. TLC of the extracts of Chinese Goldthread rhizome on silica gel with cyclohexane - ethyl acetate – isopropanol – methanol – water – triethylamine 6:7:2:3:1:2 after saturation for 20 min, detection under UV 366 nm, identification of jatrorrhizine hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride, berberine hydrochloride, epiberberine hydrochloride, and coptisine hydrochloride by comparison with the standards. TLC of the extracts of Yuhuanglian on silica gel with petroleum ether (60-90 ºC) – chloroform – acetone – methanol – diethylamine 25:10:10:5:1, detection by spraying with 2 % vanillin in ethanol - sulfuric acid 200:1 and heating at 105 °C until the zones were visible, identification of evodine by comparison with the standard.

Chinese J. of Lishizhen Trad. Med. & Pharm. 22 (8), 2001-2002 (2011). Monkshood and Radix Aconiti agrestis, as traditional Chinese herbal drugs, are usually processed into small pieces ready for decoction and are clinically effective for relieving rheumatic pains. However, in the market some processed drugs were found to be mixed with counterfeits. Presentation of an assay method to investigate the situation of adulteration of these drugs. TLC of the extracts of the drugs 1) for alkaloids, on silica gel with n-hexane – ethyl acetate – methanol 32:18:5 with chamber saturation with ammonia vapors for 20 min, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate solution. Identification a) by fingerprint comparison with the individual standard component drug; b) by microscopy distinguishing the cluster crystal of calcium oxalate consisted in the thin-wall cells of the drug; 2) for peoniflorin, on silica gel with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 40:5:10:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 25, 145-149 (2012). HPTLC of labetalol hydrochloride on silica gel with ethyl acetate - methanol 4:1 + 1 drop ammonia. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 309 nm. The hRf of labetalol was 69. Linearity was in the range of 400-2400 ng/band. The intermediate/interday/intra-day precision was below 2 %. Recovery was in the range of 98.6-100.5 %.

J. of Inform. on Trad. Chinese Med. 29 (6), 96-98 (2012). Fangji Fuling Tang decocted extract is a herbal TCM preparation for the treatment of chronic nephritis edema, cardiac edema, etc. For quality control the method of the Chinese Pharmacopeia is improved. TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae and the standards (+)-tetrandrine, hanfangichin B, and fangchinoline, with chloroform – methanol – acetone 6:1:1, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in hydrochloric acid – water 1:200 and viewing in daylight; 2) for Radix Astragali seu Hedysari and the standard astragaloside A, with the lower phase of chloroform – methanol – water 13:7:2, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating mildly, viewing in daylight; 3) for Radix Glycyrrhizae, with the lower phase of ethyl acetate – formic acid – glacial acetic acid - water 15:1:1:1, detection under UV 366 nm. Quantification of (+)-tetrandrine, hanfangichin B, and fangchinoline by HPLC.