J. of China Pharm. 22 (9), 14-16 (2013). Sanyu Xugu Tie plaster is a herbal TCM preparation for the treatment of traumatic injury, contusion, stasis of blood and innominate toxic swelling. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Radix Cynanchi paniculati and the standard 2'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyacetopheone, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate 3:1, detection by spraying with 5 % ferric chloride in ethanol and heating until the zones are visible in daylight; 2) for Oleum eucalypti and the standard cineole, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate 19:1, detection by spraying with 1 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; 3) for Herba sarcandrae and the standard isofraxidin, with toluene – ethyl acetate – formic acid 9:4:1, detection under UV 366 nm; 4) for Kusnezoff monkshood root and the standard acetylbenzoylaconine, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate diethylamine 12:8:1, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in water – hydrochloric acid 200:1 and viewing in daylight.

Chinese J. Mod. Drug Appl. 7 (17), 228-229 (2013). Zhuangyao Zhitong Heji compound oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation to treat deficiency of the kidney and liver, chills and pain of the waist and knee, wind-cold-dampness arthralgia and low back injury. For quality control, TLC on silica gel with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 9:1, detection under UV 366 nm. Identification of Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong and Saposhnikovia divaricata roots by fingerprint comparison with reference drugs.

Chinese J. of Northern Pharmacy 10 (3), 5-6 (2013). Fufang Huoxue Tongluojiu liquor is a herbal TCM preparation for easing traumatic injury, soft tissue injury, arthralgia, and muscle soreness. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Caesalpiniaceae, with chloroform – acetone – formic acid 8:4:1, detection by heating at 105 °C until the zones are visible in daylight; 2) for Rhizoma Corydalis and the standard tetrahydropalmatine, with toluene – acetone 9:2, detection by exposure to iodine vapors for 3 min and viewing under UV 366 nm; 3) for Flos Carthami, with chloroform – ethyl acetate – glacial acetic acid 5:4:1, detection under UV 254 nm; 4) for semi quantification of aconitine, with chloroform – ethyl acetate 1:1, detection by saturation with ammonia vapors and spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in hydrochloric acid – water 1:200 and viewing in daylight. Semi quantitative analysis by comparison with aconitine.

Chinese J. of Ethnomed. & Ethnopharm. 3, 41-43 (2012). Yufukang Jiaonang capsules are a herbal TCM preparation for the treatment of numbness of the tongue, language disadvantage, choke and cough when eating, aphasia, etc. For quality control, identification of the main component crude drug, the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza and the standard tanshinone llA by TLC on silica gel with toluene – ethyl acetate 19:1, detection in daylight.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 27, 42-46 (2014). HPTLC of beta-sitosterol in the root cultures of Clitoria ternatea on silica gel with n-hexane - acetone 4:1. Detection by dipping into 5 % methanol - sulfuric acid reagent, followed by heating at 105 ºC for 3 min. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 414 nm. The hRF value for beta-sitosterol was 31. Linearity was in the range of 100-500 ng/zone. The intermediate/interday/intra-day precisions were below 2 % (n=3). The LOD and LOQ were 40 and 100 ng/zone, respectively. Recovery was between 97.2 and 98.5 %.

J. of China Pharm. 21 (11), 32-34 (2012). Jianxin Jiaonang capsule is a herbal TCM for cardiovascular diseases, such as viral myocarditis, arrhythmia, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge and the standard astragaloside A, 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; 2) for Radix Sophorae flavescentis and the standard matrine, with benzene – acetone - ethyl acetate – concentrated ammonia 10:15:20:1, detection by spraying with 5 % potassium iodobismuthate in water – hydrochloric acid 200:1, detection in daylight. TLC of astragaloside A in extracts of the formulation on silica gel with chloroform – methanol – acetone 2:1:2, detection as mentioned. Quantification of astragaloside A by densitometry at 510 nm. The linearity was in the range of 0.54-5.4 μg/zone (r=0.9991, n=6), the stability of the same spot within 2 hours was 2.1 % (%RSD, n=9), precision within plate (%RSD, n=5) was 2.7 %, repeatability (%RSD, n=5) was 3.8 %, and recovery was 97.6 % (%RSD=2.1 %, n=5).

J. Trad. Chinese Veterinary Med. 47 (9), 32-33 (2012). In veterninary TCM Cangzhu Xianglian San powder is prescribed for the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea of livestocks. For quality control TLC on silica gel 1) for Atractylodes lancea, with petroleum ether (60-90°C) – acetone 9:2, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating mildly until the zones are clearly visible in daylight; 2) for Radix Aucklandiae, with cyclohexane – ethyl acetate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating mildly until the zones are clearly visible in daylight.

Chinese J. of Spectroscopy & Spectral Anal. 34 (4), 990-993 (2014). In recent years, some frauds were discovered on the drug market, e.g. chemical drugs with similar effect were illegally added to herbal TCM for hypertension which may cause a variety of adverse reactions and even endanger life. To ensure the safety of patients a method is presented for rapid screening of antihypertensive drugs. TLC on silica gel with dichloromethane – methanol – water 90:10:1, detection under UV 254 nm. Identification of nicardipine hydrochloride, doxazosin mesylate, propranolol hydrochloride and hydrochlorothiazide by comparison of the corresponding hRf values of standards. Qualitative analysis of the sample target zones by adding a few drops of silver glue solution onto each zone and then detection by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) using a portable Raman spectrometer at the integration time of 10 s and the laser power of 100 mW with a minimum detection amount of 5, 5, 50 and 50 ng, respectively. The TLC method was optimized regarding mobile phase, sample application volume, the concentration of silver glue solution, etc. The method was used for the analysis of 10 commercial products from the drug market. Two products contained illegally added nicardipine hydrochloride and doxazosin mesylate, and one product contained propranolol hydrochloride and hydrochlorothiazide.