J. Strait Pharm. 24 (2), 65-66 (2012). Yishen Antai ointment is a herbal TCM recipe specialized for tonifying the kidney and miscarriage prevention of pregnant woman with marked clinical curative effect. Description of a procedure for the analysis of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz, one of the key components of the preparation. TLC on silica gel with petroleum ether (60-90 ºC) – ethyl acetate 50:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in a solution of ethanol – sulfuric acid 100:1 and heating at 105 °C until the zones were visualized.

Chinese J. Ethnomed. Ethnopharm. (23), 70-71 (2011). Blood ginseng, the dried root of Indigofera stachyoides Lindl. is a traditional Chinese herbal crude drug with special effect in invigorating the circulation of blood, reducing phlegm, treating yin deficiency by reinforcing body fluid and nourishing the blood. It is used clinically to treat encephalalgia, woman’s abdominal pain, and metrorrhagia. For quality control 1) TLC of the extracts on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 6:3:1, detection in daylight; 2) determination of the moisture by drying in the oven; 3) determination of general ash content by firing, and of the acid insoluble ash content by acid pickling; 4) determination of ethanol extract by lixiviating with 50 % ethanol.

J. Jiangxi Univ. of TCM 23 (6), 49-52 (2011). Sangma oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation for clearing heat, opening the inhibited lung-energy, reducing phlegm, relieving a cough, and curing children acute bronchitis. TLC of the extracts of the preparations 1) for Forsythia fruit, on silica gel with chloroform – methanol 7:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible, viewing under daylight; 2) for Baical Skullcap root, on polyamide with toluene – ethyl acetate – methanol – formic acid 10:3:1:2, detection by spraying with 5 % ferric chloride in ethanol and viewing under daylight; 3) for Tatarian Aster root, on silica gel with chloroform – methanol – formic acid 90:10:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible, evaluation under UV 366 nm.

Inner Mongolian J. of Trad. Chinese Med. 10, 35-36 (2012). Jiangding Doukou Qufeng compound oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation prescribed to effectively cure flatulence, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. TLC of the extracts of the preparations on silica gel 1) for Cortex Cinnamomi and Foeniculum vulgare, with petroleum ether (60-90 ºC) – ethyl acetate 17:3, detection by spraying with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine solution in 2N hydrochloric acid and viewing in daylight; 2) for Rhizoma Zingiberis, with petroleum ether (60-90 ºC) – chloroform – ethyl acetate 2:1:1, detection by spraying with 2 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:200 and heating at 105 °C until the zones were visible in daylight.

J. of Modern Trad. Chinese Med. 14 (2), 12-14 (2012). Rubus idaeus, the dried immature fruits of Rubus chingii Hu, is a herbal TCM drug specially effective for tonifying the kidney, controlling nocturnal emission, nourishing the liver, and improving eyesight. It is prescribed clinically to cure spermatorrhea, night emission, enuresis, frequent micturition, sexual impotence and premature ejaculation. TLC of the extracts of the crude drug on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 9:3:1, detection by spraying with 2 % aluminium chloride in ethanol and viewing under UV 366 nm.

Modern J. of Integrated Trad. Chinese & Western Med. 22 (6), 659-661 (2013). Niuhuang Jiedu Ruanjiaonang capsules are a herbal TCM preparation for treating sore throat, gingival swelling and pain, aphthae, swollen red eyes, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Artificial Calculus Bovis and the standards cholic acid and hyodesoxycholic acid, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate – acetic acid – methanol 20:25:2:3, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing under UV 366 nm; 2) for Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, with the upper phase of petroleum ether (30-60 °C) – ethyl formate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 3) for Radix Scutellariae and the standard baicalin, with ethyl acetate – butanone – formic acid – water 5:3:1:1, detection by spraying with 1 % ferric chloride in ethanol and viewing in daylight; 4) for Borneol, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate 4:1, detection by spraying with 1 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight. Quantification of borneol by GC.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 26, 109-113 (2013). Bioautographic fingerprinting of Salvia officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, and Mentha piperita on silica gel with toluene - ethyl acetate 93:7, followed by dipping into bacterial suspensions of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis for 8 s. Detection by spraying with 0.2 % MTT ((3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) aqueous solution, followed by re-incubation at 37 °C for 0.5 h. The hRf values for thymol, menthol, and alpha-thujone were 51, 33 and 29 respectively.

Chinese J. of Guiyang Med. Coll. 37 (6), 605-607 (2012). Gongyanping capsules are a herbal TCM for treating acute and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, irregular menstruation, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Melastoma dodecandrum Lour. and the standard gallic acid, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – formic acid 25:20:4, detection by spraying with 2 % ferric chloride in ethanol and heating mildly, viewing in daylight; 2) for Zanthoxylum nitidum, with n-butanol – glacial acetic acid – water 7:1:2, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in water – hydrochloric acid 200:1 and viewing in daylight; 3) for Radix Angelicae Sinensis and the standard ferulic acid, with toluene – chloroform – glacial acetic acid 6:5:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 4) for Ficus simplicissima Lour. and the standard psoralen, with cyclohexane – toluene – ethyl acetate 10:10:3, detection by spraying with 10 % KOH in ethanol and viewing under UV 366 nm.