Chinese J. of Lishizhen Trad. Med. & Pharm. 23 (5), 1180-1181 (2012). Elaeagnus gonyanthes Benth. is a medicinal herb which grows in southern China. The crude drug is used in folk medicine for treating asthma, chronic bronchitis, arthritis, low back pain, traumatic swelling, etc. For identification, TLC of the extracts of different plant parts (leaf, stem) and the standards oleanic acid and ursolic acid on silica gel with cyclohexane – chloroform – ethyl acetate – glacial acetic acid 200:50:80:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C, viewing in daylight. Quantification of oleanic acid and ursolic acid by HPLC.

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, 289-293 (2013). TLC of guaianolides and four other types of sesquiterpenoids, namely germacranolides, seco-pseudoguaianolides, and pseudoguaianolides, as well as two phytoecdysteroids in the aerial parts of Centaurea bella, Dugaldia hoopesii, Inula aschersoniana, Serratula wolffii, Stizolophus balsamita and Zoegea baldschuanica on silica gel with mixtures of methylene chloride and acetone in ratios 8:1, 7:1, 5:1, 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1 for sesquiterpenes and methylene chloride - acetone 1:2 as well as methylene chloride - methanol 5:1 for the separation of ecdysones. Detection by spraying with anisaldehyde reagent (anisaldehyde 0.5 mL; acetic acid 10 mL; methanol 85 mL; sulfuric acid 4.5 mL), followed by heating at 103 ºC for 3 min. The color evaluation allowed for correlation with the presence of substituents on the sesquiterpene ring with high probability.

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.

Chinese J. of Inform. on TCM 19 (6), 55-57 (2012). Huayu Shengji Gao ointment is a herbal TCM preparation for treating pain of surgery wounds, burn ulcer, and fester. For quality control, TLC on silica gel for 1) Angelica sinensis, with n-butanol – ethyl acetate 9:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 2) for Lithospermum erythrorhizon, with cyclohexane – toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 50:50:5:1, detection in daylight; 3) for A. dahurica (Fisch.) Benth. et Hook, with petroleum ether (30-60 °C) – diethyl ether 3:2, detection under UV 366 nm. Quantification of ferulic acid by HPLC.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 27, 157-161 (2014). HPTLC of withanoside V (1), withaferine A (2), 1,2-deoxywithastramonolide (3), withanone (4), withanolide A (5), and withanolide B (6) on silica gel with dichloromethane - toluene - methanol - acetone - diethyl ether 13:14:8:3:1. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 235 nm. The hRF values for (1) to (6) were 7, 55, 61, 63, 66 and 77, respectively. Precision was below 2 % (n=3). The LOD and LOQ were 60 and 250 ng/zone for (1), 120 and 350 ng/zone for (2), 80 and 300 ng/zone for (3), (4) and (6), and 60 and 250 ng/zone for (5), respectively. Average recoveries for (1) to (6) were 97, 98, 99, 98, 98 and 99 %, respectively.

J. of China Pharm. 22 (Z1), 67-68 (2013). Xiaochaihutang Peifangkeli granule is a herbal TCM developed based on the classical Xiaochaihutang decoction prescription and is used for treatment of children's anorexia and vomiting, typhoid fever, malaria, jaundice, women’s hyperemesis gravidarum, and infections or inflammatory diseases. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix codonopsis, with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid – water 140:40:5:1, detection under UV 254 nm and by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; 2) for Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., with chloroform – methanol – water 40:10:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight and under UV 366 nm. Quantification of baicalin by HPLC.