J. China Pharm. Univ. 22 (23), 33-35 (2013). Xiangshao Granules are a TCM preparation for the treatment of women’s breast distending pains. For quality control, TLC on silica gel (1) for Cyperus rotundus, with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl acetate 15:1, detection at UV 254 nm; (2) for Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. and atractylone with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl acetate 50:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4, followed by heating until zones are visible; (3) for Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth. et Hook. f. ex Franch. et Sav. and imperatorin with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – diethyl ether 1:1, detection at UV 366 nm; (4) for Epimedium brevicornum Maxim and icariin with ethyl acetate – butanone – formic acid – water 10:1:1:1, detection at UV 366 nm before and after spraying with 3 % aluminium trichloride in ethanol.

Chinese J. Med. Pharm. 4 (1), 120-122 (2014). Caihuang Shuangjia Keli granules are a TCM preparation with antibacterial and antiviral effects especially on influenza virus and adenovirus. For quality control, TLC on silica gel (1) for Rheum palmatum L. with petroleum ether (30-60 °C) – methyl acetate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection at UV 366 nm; (2) for Artemisia carvifolia with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl acetate 3:2, detection at UV 366 nm; (3) for Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and baicalin with ethyl acetate – butanone – formic acid – water 5:3:1:1, detection by spraying with 10 % ferric chloride in ethanol and viewing in daylight; (4) for Isatis indigotica Fortune and indigo blue with toluene – benzene - ethyl acetate – chloroform 2:2:1:4, detection in daylight; (5) for Amomum tsao-ko with toluene - ethyl acetate 9:4, detection by spraying with 10 % aluminum phosphate in ethanol and heating at 105 °C for 5 min and viewing in daylight.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 28, 300-306 (2015). HPTLC of ellagic acid (1), gallic acid (2) and methyl gallate (3) in gall of Quercus infectoria on silica gel with toluene - ethyl acetate - formic acid 12:9:4. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 300 nm. The hRF values for (1) to (3) were 19, 29 and 46, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 590-1181 ng/zone for (1), 691-2114 ng/zone for (2) and 693-2078 ng/zone for (3). LOD and LOQ were 15 and 51 ng/zone for (1), 243 and 812 ng/zone for (2) and 155 and 516 ng/zone for (3), respectively. The intermediate precision was 3.5 % (n=3). Recoveries ranged between 96 and 102 % for (1), 97 and 105 % for (2) and 95 and 97 % for (3).

J. Planar Chromatogr. 28, 452-457 (2015). HPTLC of caffeic acid (1), vanillic acid (2), syringic acid (3) and kaempferol (4) in flowers and flower buds of Bauhinia purpurea L., Bauhinia variegata L., and Bauhinia acuminata L. on silica gel with toluene - ethyl acetate - formic acid 5:4:1. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 350 nm. The hRF values for (1) to (4) were 54, 61, 57 and 64. Linearity was in the range of 100-700 ng/zone for (1) to (4). LOD and LOQ were 40 and 100 ng/zone for all four substances. The intermediate precision was below 1.8 % (n=3). Recovery ranged from 97-99 % for (1), 97-100 % for (2), 99-100 % for (3) and 98-99 % for (4).

J. Planar Chromatogr. 28, 373-379 (2015). TLC of trigonelline in the seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum on silica gel with acetonitrile - methanol - water 3:2:1. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 265 nm. The hRF value for trigonelline was 19. Linearity was in the range of 100-2000 ng/zone. LOD and LOQ were 2 and 7 ng/zone. The intermediate precision was below 0.8 % (n=3). Average recovery was 99 %. Comparable results were obtained with a validated HPLC method.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 29, 256-263 (2016). HPTLC fingerprinting of flavonoids and phenolic acids in seven different Scutellaria species on silica gel with ethyl acetate – toluene – formic acid 50:49:1 for dichloromethane and methanolic extracts. Dichloromethane extracts were also developed on cyano phase with propan-2-ol – n-heptane – formic acid 50:49:1 and methanol – water – formic acid 60:39:1. The methanolic extracts were developed using methanol – water – formic acid 40:59:1. Detection with anisaldehyde reagent. Evaluation by chemometric processing. The best results for chemometric processing were obtained on the cyano phase.

Food Chem. 210, 613-622 (2016). HPTLC fingerprinting of triterpenoids in Siam and Sumatra benzoin balsams on silica gel with n-hexane – methanol – acetic acid 8:2:1. Detection by dipping into anisaldehyde sulfuric acid reagent for 1 s (10 mL of sulfuric acid were carefully added to an ice-cold solution of 170 mL methanol and 20 mL acetic acid, followed by the addition of 1 mL of anisaldehyde (p-methoxybenzaldehyde)), followed by heating at 105 °C for 5 min. Qualitative identification under UV 366 nm. Two specific compounds at approximately hRF 5 (violet band) and 50 (beige band) were detected in the Sumatra sample. Siam benzoin is characterized by two specific compounds at approximately hRF 5 and 10 (brown bands) and two others at approximately hRF 20 and 60 (orange bands).

J. of China Pharm. 23 (8), 26-28 (2014). Compound Pipajiegeng ointment is a herbal TCM preparation for chronic cough, upper respiratory tract inflammation, and bronchitis. For quality control, TLC (1) of Eriobotrya japonica Thunb., on silica gel with chloroform – ethyl acetate – methanol – water 16:38:22:9, detection by spraying with 5 % phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible; (2) of Pericarpium Papaveris, on 2 % NaOH-containing silica gel with toluene – acetone – ethanol - ammonium hydroxide 20:19:3:1, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate solution and viewing in daylight; (3) of Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC., on 0.3 % NaOH-containing silica gel with cyclohexane – chloroform – methanol 15:11:1, detection by spraying with 25 % phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible; (4) of menthol, on silica gel with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 9:2, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 4:1 and heating until the zones are visible. Quantification of morphine by HPLC.