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.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 26, 267-273 (2013). HPTLC of glabridin in a Glycyrrhiza glabra formulation on silica gel with toluene - dichloromethane - ethyl acetate 1:1:1. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 287 nm. The hRf value for glabridin was 57. Linearity was in the range of 25-500 ng/zone. LOD and LOQ were 10 and 25 ng/zone. Recovery was in the range of 97.3-103.2 %. Intermediate/interday/intra-day precision was below 2 % (n=6).

J. Chil. Chem. Soc. 58, 1737-1740 (2013). HPTLC of enalapril maleate in tablets on silica gel with 1-buthanol - glacial acetic acid - water 12:3:5. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 207 nm. The hRf values of enalapril and its degradation products enalapril diketopiperazine and enalaprilat were 62, 82 and 52, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 200-1200 ng/zone for enalapril. LOD and LOQ were 23 and 72 ng/zone. Intermediate intra- and inter-day precision was below 2 % (n=6).

J. of Inform. on Trad. Chinese Med. 30 (3), 61-63 (2013). Naodesheng Koufuye oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation for treatment of cerebral arteriosclerosis and ischemic stroke. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Flos Carthami, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate 11:6, detection by exposure to ammonia vapors and viewing under UV 366 nm; 2) for Radix Puerariae and the standard puerarin, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – water 15:40:22:10, detection under UV 366 nm; 3) for Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong and the standard ferulic acid, with benzene – chloroform – methanol 2:2:1, detection under UV 254 nm. Quantification of ginsenoside Rb, ginsenoside Rg and notoginsenoside R by HPLC.

Chinese J. of Inform. on TCM 20 (7), 52-54 (2013). Yangxue Yishen capsules are a herbal TCM preparation for treating rough skin, blood scale disease, alopecia areata and neurodermatitis. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Gastrodia elata Blume and the standard gastrodine, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 80:10:30:1, detection by spraying with 10 % phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol and heating at 110 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; 2) for Epimedium davidii Franch and the standard icariin, with benzene – methanol – glacial acetic acid 45:8:4, detection by spraying with 10 % aluminium chloride in ethanol and letting stand for 40 min at room temperature, evaluation under UV 366 nm; 3) for Salvia miltiorrhiza and the standard protocatechuic aldehyde, with chloroform – acetone – formic acid 25:10:4, detection by exposure to ammonia vapors for 15 min and viewing under UV 254 nm. Quantification of astragaloside A by HPLC-ELSD.

Chinese J. of Ethnomed. & Ethnopharm. 13, 31-33 (2012). Xian Rong Bushen Jiu liquor is a herbal TCM preparation containing several TCM herbs effective for improving impotence, premature ejaculation, lassitude and hypogonadism, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Epimedium brevicornu Maxim. and the standard icariin, with the lower phase of chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – water 15:40:22:10, detection under UV 366 nm before and after spraying with 1 % aluminium chloride in ethanol; 2) for Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. and the standards ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Re and ginsenoside Rg1, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – water 10:1:1:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight.