Chinese J. of Prac. Med. 8 (25), 1-3 (2013). Gangmei Ganmaoling keli granule is herbal TCM for the treatment of colds, upper respiratory tract infections etc. For quality control TLC on silica gel 1) for Holly roots, with toluene – ethyl acetate – glacial acetic acid 10:3:1, detection under UV 366 nm and under daylight after exposing to ammonia vapors; 2) for Dendranthema indicum and the standard buddleoside, with ethyl acetate – butanone – chloroform – formic acid – water 15:15:6:4:1, detection by spraying with 2 % aluminum trichloride in ethanol and heating until the zones are visible under UV 365 nm; 3) for Isatis tinctoria and the standard arginine, with n-butanol – glacial acetic acid – water 19:5:5, detection by spraying with 2 % ninhydrin in acetone and heating at 105 ˚C until the zones are visible in daylight.

Chinese J. of Henan Agr. Sci. (1), 45-47 (2014). Baogan is a herbal TCM effective in improving liver function, regulating immune function and is prescribed for the treatment of liver stasis and spleen deficiency syndrome, primary carcinoma of liver, liver cirrhosis, liver ascites etc. For quality control, TLC of the sample extract and the standard chrysophanol on silica gel 1) for Rheum palmatum L., with petroleum ether (30-60 °C) – ethyl formate – formic acid 15:5:1, detection a) under UV 366 nm, b) in daylight after exposure to ammonia vapors; 2) for Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge and the standard astragaloside IV, 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; 3) for Lignum sappan, with chloroform – acetone – formic acid 14:4:1, detection a) in daylight after letting the plates stand for 6 hours, b) under UV 366 nm; 4) for Radix bupleuri and the standard saikosaponin A, with ethyl acetate – ethanol – water 8:2:1, detection by spraying with 2 % p-diethylaminobenzaldehyde in 40 % sulfuric acid and heating at 60 °C until the zones are visible in daylight.

J. of China Pharm. 22 (17), 32-33 (2013). Guiqi Tongru Heji compound oral liquid is a herbal TCM preparation for the treatment of postpartum hypogalactia. For quality control, TLC on silica gel 1) for Vaccaria segetalis, with chloroform – methanol – water 15:7:2, detection by spraying with fresh solution of (bismuth subnitrate - glacial acetic acid – water 17:200:800) – 40 % potassium iodate – glacial acetic acid – water 1:1:4:15, evaluation in daylight; 2) for Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl., with ethyl acetate - methanol – formic acid – glacial acetic acid - water 30:1:2:2:4, detection by spraying with 1 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C until the zones were visible in daylight; 3) for Angelica sinensis, with n-hexane – ethyl acetate 4:1, detection under UV 366 nm.

leaves by high-performance thin-layer chromatography. J. Planar Chromatogr. 27, 357-361 (2014). HPTLC of (1) lawsone, (2) methylene-3,3'-bilawsone, and (3) lawsone methyl ether on silica gel with n-butyl acetate – chloroform – glacial acetic acid 60:40:1. Quantitative determination by absorbance measurement at 280 nm. The hRF values for (1) to (3) were 23, 15 and 36, respectively. Linearity was between 5 and 15 μg/zone for each substance. The intermediate intra-day and inter-day precisions were below 2 % (n=3). The LOD and LOQ were 200 and 600 ng/zone for (1) to (3), respectively.

Chinese J. Food & Drug 16 (2), 116-119 (2014). Tibetan Wuwei Ganluyaoyu Tangsan powder is a TCM for the treatment of rheumatism, rheumatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, hemiplegia, skin diseases, women's postpartum disease, etc. For quality control, HPTLC on silica gel (1) for Ephedra sinica Stapf, (1R,2S)-(-)-ephedrine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride with chloroform – methanol – concentrated ammonia 4:1:0.1, detection by spraying with 0.1 % ninhydrin in acetone and heating at 105 °C until the spots were visible; (2) for Rhododendron anthopogonoides Maxim. with petroleum ether (60-90 °C) – ethyl acetate 9:1, detection by spraying with 5 % vanillin in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C until the spots were visible; (3) for Juniperus formosana Hayata with dichloromethane – methanol – formic acid 5:0.7:0.5, detection at UV 366 nm after spraying with 3% aluminum trichloride in ethanol and heating at 105 °C; (4) for Artemisia sieversiana Ehrhart ex Willd. with cyclohexane – acetone 5:6, detection as before.

J. Beijing Univ. Agr. 29 (2), 33-35 (2014). Qishen Koufuye oral solution is a TCM preparation for the treatment of chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcer, etc. For quality control, TLC on silica gel (1) for Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge. and astragaloside A with ethyl acetate – butanone – formic acid – water 5:3:1:1, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C for 5 min, evaluation under white light and at UV 366 nm; (2) for Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. with cyclohexane - ethyl acetate 7:3, detection by spraying with 5 % p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde in sulfuric acid – ethanol 1:4 and heating at 105 °C for 5 min, evaluation at UV 366 nm; (3) for Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. with ethyl acetate – formic acid – glacial acetic acid – water 15:1:1:2, detection by spraying with 10 % sulfuric acid in ethanol and heating at 105 °C for 5 min, evaluation under white light and at UV 366 nm. Identification of Radix Codonopsis by HPLC.

J. Planar Chromatogr. 28, 256-261 (2015). HPTLC of picroside-I (1) and picroside-II (2) in Picrorhiza kurroa on silica gel with ethyl acetate - methanol - acetic acid 80:10:1. Detection by dipping into anisaldehyde - sulfuric acid, followed by heating at 120 °C for 5 min. Quantitative fluorescence measurement at UV 366 nm. The hRF values for (1) and (2) were 57 and 66, respectively. Linearity was in the range of 200-4000 ng/zone. LOD and LOQ were 16 and 47 ng/zone for (1) and 16-48 ng/zone for (2). The intermediate precision was below 11 % (n=3).

J. Ethnopharmacol. 174, 178-186 (2015). HPTLC of magnolol (1) and honokiol (2) in the cortex of Magnolia officinalis and aristolochic acid I (3) and II (4) in the radix of Aristolochia baetica on silica gel with methanol - ethyl acetate - toluene 1:2:30 for (1) and formic acid - water - ethyl acetate - toluene 1:1:10:20 for (2). Detection of (1) and (2) by spraying with vanillin reagent, followed by heating at 110 °C for 5 min. Detection of (3) and (4) by spraying with stannous chloride 100 g/L in diluted hydrochloric acid, followed by heating at 100 °C for 1 min. Identification under UV light at 365 nm for (3) and (4). The hRF values for (1) to (4) were 40, 50, 46 and 54, respectively.