Chinese J. of Ethnomed. & Ethnopharm. 20, 30-32 (2012). Inula nervosa Wall is a herbal TCM drug with anti rheumatism effects. It is frequently used as key component in herbal TCM preparations for the treatment of rheumatism. For quality control, TLC of the volatile oil (obtained by steam distillation of the crude drug) diluted 1:100 with acetone, and the standards thymol and thymyl isobutyrate, on homemade layers (coated using a slurry of silica gel in 1 % NaOH solution), with cyclohexane – toluene 3:4, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:200 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight.

Chinese J. of Guide for Trad. Chinese Med. & Pharm. 18 (11), 80-82 (2012). Zhining Xiji lotion is a herbal TCM preparation for treating inflammatory external hemorrhoids, incarcerated hemorrhoids, and the postoperative perianal edema. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, with toluene – acetone – methanol 16:6:3 after chamber saturation with ammonia for 15 min, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in hydrochloric acid – water 0.5:100 and viewing in daylight; 2) for Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis, developed with n-butanol – glacial acetic acid – water 7:1:2, detection under UV 366 nm. Quantification of berberine hydrochloride by HPLC.

J. of China Pharm. 27 (7), 725-728 (2013). Fufang Hafangji Keli granules, with Aristolochia fangchi as key component drug, are a herbal TCM preparation for improving the liver function, and are used for treatment of acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and fatty liver. TLC of the extracts and standards (+)-tetrandrine and fangchinoline on silica gel with cyclo hexane – chloroform – acetone – methanol 10:6:1:1, detection by spraying with (bismuth subnitrate – glacial acetic acid – water 1:10:40) – potassium iodide – glacial acetic acid – water 1:1:4:20. Quantification of (+)-tetrandrine and fangchinoline by HPLC.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 27, 19-22 (2014). HPTLC of maltose and fructose, dextrose, galactose and mannose on silica gel with ethyl acetate - propionic acid 1:1. Detection by dipping into orcinol solution (250 mg orcinol, 7.5 mL conc. sulfuric acid, 200 mL ethanol, and 50 mL water), followed by heating at 110 ºC for 5-10 min. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement. The LOD for fructose, dextrose and mannose was 8 μg/zone and for maltose and galactose 2 μg/zone. Selective separation of maltose from other sugars was achieved using a mobile phase more suitable for the environment.

J. Liq. Chromatogr. Relat. Technol. 37, 2915-2918 (2014). HPTLC of danofloxacin on silica gel with methanol – acetone – 1M citric acid – triethylamine 28:20:2:5. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 280 nm. The hRF value for danofloxacin was 30. Linearity was in the range of 1250-3750 ng/zone. The intermediate/interday/intra-day precisions were below 1 % (n=3). The LOD and LOQ were 1.3 and 3.8 ng/zone, respectively. Recovery was in the range of 97.3-95.6 %.

Chinese J. of Inform. on TCM 21 (1), 88-90 (2014). Ziyin Mingmu pian tablet is herbal TCM for promoting blood circulation which is used for the treatment of primary pigmentary degeneration of retina and other eye diseases. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Paeonia suffruticosa Andr., with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate – glacial acetic acid 40:10:1, detection by spraying with 2 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:10 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight and under UV 366 nm; 2) for Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc., with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 40:8:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; 3) for Notopterygium incisum, with cyclohexane – benzene - ethyl acetate 2:1:1, detection by spraying with 1 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and under UV 366 nm; 4) Acorus tatarinowii, with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl acetate 4:1, detection under UV 366 nm. Quantification of salvianolic acid B by HPLC.

J. of China Pharm. 27 (7), 722-724 (2013). Xihuang Wan pill is a herbal TCM prescribed for treatment and adjuvant therapy of various cancers. Huoxue Zhitong San powder is a herbal TCM prescribed for traumatic injury and ecchymoma. In the drug market fraud rosin was found to be added to the key ingredient olibanum. For quality control, HPTLC of the sample extracts and the standards acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (AKBA), 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid (KBA), beta-boswellic acid (beta-BA), acetyl-beta-boswellic acid (beta-ABA), and abietic acid (LOD=1.0 µg), on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate – heptane – formic acid 80:20:10:3 with chamber saturation for 20 min, detection 1) under UV 254 nm and UV 366 nm; 2) by spraying with a fresh solution of anisaldehyde – sulfuric acid – acetic acid 1:10:1000 and heating at 105 °C until the zones were visible in daylight. Verification of abietic acid from added rosin by HPLC. The method was used for the analysis of 63 batches of Xihuang Wan pills sampled from 13 pharmaceutical factories and 10 batches of Huoxue Zhitong San powder from 4 factories.

J. of China Pharm. 22 (3), 13-15 (2013). Gushangling Jiaonang capsule is a herbal TCM for post traumatic functional recovery, prescribed to treat muscle atrophy, bone hyperplasia, neck and lumbar diseases, nerve injuries etc. For quality control, HPTLC on silica gel 1) for Paeonia lactiflora Pall., with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 200:25:50:1, detection by spraying with 3 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – water 1:200 and heating mildly until the zones are visible in daylight; 2) for Angelica sinensis, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate – 9:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 3) Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge., with 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 in daylight.