Simultaneous qualitative identification of all medicinal herbs in Zaoren Anshen capsule by thin-layer chromatography.

The holistic characterization and quality control of all the medicinal herbs of proprietary Chinese medicines (PCMs) are of great significance to ensure their safety, efficacy, and consistency. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC), a simple and classic approach for qualitatively characterizing and examining quality markers of natural products, has been widely used in the characterization and quality control of traditional Chinese medicines. Zaoren Anshen (ZRAS) capsule, prepared from three medicinal herbs of fried Ziziphi Spinosae Semen, Salvia Miltiorrhiza Radix et Rhizoma, and vinegar-processed Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus, is a famous PCM in China for the treatment of insomnia, amnesia, and dizziness in clinical practice. However, no effective method is available so far for simultaneous identification and examination of all the three medicinal herbs of ZRAS capsule. In the present study, we developed a TLC method via twice-development and visualization by UV light or chromogenic agent, which could be used for simultaneous qualitative identification of all the three medicinal herbs of ZRAS capsule in one plate. Moreover, the sample preparation method was optimized. The developed TLC method was rapid, simple, low-cost, and effective, and thus it could be used for quality control of ZRAS capsule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]