J. of China Pharm. 21 (20), 34-35 (2012). Zhongtongxiao capsules are a herbal TCM preparation to treat blood stasis and sore swellings caused by fracture. TLC of the extracts of the medicine on silica gel 1) for Angelica sinensis and the rhizome of Chuanxiong, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 9:1, detection at UV 366 nm; 2) for Radix Paeoniae, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 200:25:50:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in ethanol – sulfuric acid 200:1 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible, viewing in daylight; 3) for Teasel, developed with toluene – ethanol 9:2, detection by spraying firstly with potassium iodobismuthate – hydrochloric acid – water 10:1:200 and then with 5 % nitrous acid in ethanol, followed by viewing in daylight; 4) for Licorice, 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 until the zones are visible, viewing in daylight.

Chinese J. of Veterinary Drugs 46 (5), 29-31 (2012). TCM is more and more important in veterinary medicine. It has been found that some medicines were illegally mixed with certain chemicals harmful to the animal body. Rapid screening of the additives illegally mixed in Astragalus polysaccharides injection by TLC on silica gel with 1) chloroform – methanol – acetone – ammonia 9:2:1:0.05 and 2) ethyl acetate – ethanol 1:1. Detection 1) under UV 254 nm; 2) by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate solution and evaluation in daylight; 3) by exposure to iodine vapor for a few minutes and evaluation under UV 254 nm. Identification of lincomycin, enrofloxacin, novalgin, 4-acetamino phenol, moroxydine hydrochloride, and ribavirin by comparison of the fingerprint with individual standards, with detection limits of 2.0, 0.5, 1.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 4.0 mg/mL, respectively. The method was applied to 25 batches of market samples and the results were compatible with those obtained by HPLC.

J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 35, 2753-2764 (2012). HPTLC of melitracen hydrochloride (1) and flupentixol hydrochloride (2) on silica gel with methanol - chloroform - toluene 2:9:9 + 1 drop ammonia. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 291 nm. The hRf value of compounds (1) and (2) were 53 and 34 and selectivity regarding matrix was given. Linearity was in the range of 1600-6400 ng/band and 80-320 ng/band for (1) and (2), respectively. Limit of detection was found to be 27 ng/band and 5 ng/band for (1) and (2), respectively. Limit of quantification was found to be 82 ng/band and 14 ng/band for (1) and (2), respectively. The intermediate/inter-day/intra-day precision was below 0.2 % for (1) and 1.1 % for (2) (n=3). Recovery (by standard addition) was between 99.1 and 101.8 % for both (1) and (2). The method showed comparable results with HPLC.

J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 35, 28-39 (2012). HPTLC of metformin hydrochloride and glipizide in tablet formulation on silica gel with water - methanol 3:1 + 1 drop ammonia. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 236 nm. The hRf value of compounds (1) and (2) were 22 and 85 and selectivity regarding matrix was given. Linearity was in the range of 5000-25000 ng/band for (1) and 50-250 ng/band for (2). Limits of detection and quantification were 991 and 3003 ng/band for (1) and 10 and 29 ng/band for (2), respectively. Recovery (by standard addition) was between 98.1 and 101.5 % for both (1) and (2).

Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy 22, 1355-1361 (2012). HPTLC of piperine (1) and piperlongumine (2) on silica gel with toluene - ethyl acetate 3:2 as mobile phase. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 342 and 325 nm for (1) and (2), respectively. The hRf of compounds (1) and (2) were 51 and 74, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 20-100 ng/zone for (1) and 30-150 ng/zone for (2). Limits of detection and quantification were 7 and 20 ng/zone for (1) and 10 and 30 ng/zone for (2), respectively. Intermediate/intra-day/inter-day precision was below 1.1 % (n=6). Recovery for both (1) and (2) was between 93.7 and 96.7 %.

of China Pharm. 26 (1), 50-53 (2012) Astragalus, as traditional Chinese medicinal herbal crude drug, is the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. Var. Monghoicus (Bge.) Hisao or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. It is specially effective for nourishing vitality, invigorating splenic yang, inducing diuresis for removing edema and promoting tissue regeneration. TLC of the extracts of the crude drugs on silica gel 1) for amino acids (standards arginine, alanine, proline), with carbolic acid – water 5:3 (carbolic acid was double distilled just before mixing with water), detection by spraying with 0.5 % ninhydrin in ethanol and heating at 105 ºC until the zones are visible under daylight; 2) for flavonoids (standards formononetin, calycosin glucoside, calycosin), with chloroform – methanol 10:1, detection by exposure to ammonia vapors for a few minutes and viewing under UV 254 nm.

Chinese J. of Clin. Res. on Trad. Chinese Med. 4 (9), 34-35 (2012). Langchuang pills are a herbal TCM preparation for clearing heat, removing toxicity and invigorating the circulation of blood. For quality control, TLC of the extracts of the preparations on silica gel 1) for the root of red-rooted salvia, with chloroform – benzene 5:1, detection by viewing in daylight; 2) for Radices Rehmanniae, with chloroform – methanol 8:1, detection by spraying with a saturated solution of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in ethanol and viewing in daylight; 3) for the rhizome of Chinese Goldthread, with benzene – chloroform – ammonia 5:3:1, detection at UV 366 nm.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 25, 138-144 (2012). HPTLC of diosmin (1) and hesperidin (2) on silica gel with ethyl acetate - methanol - water - acetic acid 25:2:2:1. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 330 nm. Linearity was in the range of 100-3000 ng/zone for (1) and 250-7500 ng/zone for (2). The method did not show any statistically significant deviation when compared with a validated HPLC.