Chinese J. of Lishizhen Trad. Med. & Pharm. 30 (11), 1499-1501 (2012). Qinyu Shaoshang burn liquid is a herbal TCM preparation for treatment of burns. For quality control TLC on silica gel plates 1) for Borneolum Syntheticum, with chloroform – methanol – ammonia 100:20:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for Amur Cork-tree Bark, with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) ethyl acetate - chloroform 3:1:1, detection by spraying with 5 % phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol and viewing in daylight. Quantification of baicalin by HPLC.

J. of Anhui Coll. of Trad. Chinese Med. 31 (4), 77-79 (2012). Wuzi Yanzong pills are a herbal TCM preparation for treating male impotence, sterility, and premature ejaculation. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Fructus Lycii and China Dodder, with cyclohexane – acetone 3:2, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis, with chloroform – butanone 30:1, detection under UV 254 nm. Quantification of schisantherin A by absorbance measurement at 230 nm. Linearity was between 0.25-1.10 µg/zone (r = 0.999, n=5). Plate-to-plate %RSD was 2.1 % (n=5) and 0.98 % within plate (n=5). Recovery (by standard addition) was 100.9 % (%RSD = 0.51, n=6).

Chinese J. Ethnopharm.(9), 36-38 (2012). Luman-12 is a traditional Mongolian herbal medicine preparation for treatment of cough, asthma, etc. For quality control of the main component herbal drugs TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Polygalae, with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 28:8:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight; 2) for Radix Glycyrrhizae, with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 10:8:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 3) for Piper nigrum, with benzene – ethyl acetate – acetone 7:2:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight.

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. of China Pharm. 21 (11), 22-24 (2012). Yijingling oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation for mind and body tranquilization and nourishing the liver and kidney and is prescribed clinically to treat insomnia, amnesia, and the climacteric syndrome. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Polygoni Multiflori with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 20:2:1, detection by exposing to iodine vapor and viewing in daylight; 2) for Fructus Psoraleae with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 3:1, detection by spraying with 10 % KOH in ethanol and viewing under UV 366 nm.

Shanxi J. of Trad. Chinese Med. 33 (12), 1666-1667 (2012). It is highly debatable whether Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata is compatible with Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim when both needed in processing single formulations. A method is presented to investigate the change of the chemical composition of the extracts obtained by separate and mixed decoction of two kinds of drugs. Preparation of the analytes by decocting, separately, of Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (A), Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim (B) and combined decoction of the two (C), then extracting, separately, with petroleum ether (30—60 °C) producing extracts A1, B1, C1 and with n-butanol producing extracts A2, B2, C2. TLC on silica gel with the upper phase of n-butanol – ethyl acetate – water 4:1:5, detection 1) under UV 366 nm; 2) by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and viewing under UV 366 nm. By investigation of 5 batches of the drug sample, significant difference was found between the analytes from single drug decoction and those from mixed drug decoction. The unknown ingredients found in the mixed decoction will be further characterized and analyzed. This study provides an experimental base for exploration of the mechanism of the interaction among the ingredients released from the two drugs.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 26, 452-454 (2013). Optimization of temperature and duration required for detection of terpene trilactones. TLC of ginkgolides A, B and C and bilobalide on silica gel with ethyl acetate - hexane 9:1. Detection by spraying with acetic anhydride followed by heating at 80, 100, 120 and 140 ºC. The formation of alpha, beta-unsaturated gamma-lactone from ginkgolides was detected even at low temperatures for a respective heating time.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 26, 209-214 (2013). HPTLC of pioglitazone hydrochloride on silica gel with chloroform - methanol 10:1. Detection by spraying with 0.5 % o-phthalaldehyde in ethanol, followed by heating at 70 ºC for 15 min. Quantitative determination by scanning with a flatbed scanner and a gel analysis software. Linearity was in the range of 200-3000 ng/zone. LOD and LOQ were 65 and 197 ng/zone, respectively. Recovery was in the range of 98-102 %. Intermediate/interday/intra-day precision was below 2 %.