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Planta Med 2009; 75(7): 776-783
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185686
Plant Analysis
Mini-Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Recent Advancements and Applications in the Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicines

Markus Ganzera1
  • 1Institute of Pharmacy – Pharmacognosy, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Further Information

Publication History

received January 21, 2009 revised March 11, 2009

accepted March 24, 2009

Publication Date:
08 May 2009 (online)

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Abstract

One of the general hurdles limiting the application and development of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) is their occasional poor or inconsistent quality. Being multi-component mixtures, however, assuring the quality of such preparations is a challenging task. In recent years significant analytical advancements and innovations were made in relation to this particular problem among others. This review summarizes respective reports within the last five years, and reflects the multitude of current methods the analyst can choose from. Besides established techniques, such as HPLC or CE, analytical methods also include more “exotic” ones like HSCCC, CEC, biologically based assays, and the use of IR spectroscopy. Fingerprinting techniques, which are especially popular for analyzing TCM remedies, are also mentioned. Selected examples for currently observable trends will be presented and briefly discussed so that the current status of TCM analysis is clearly visualized.

Key words

traditional Chinese medicine - TCM - analysis - quality control

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Priv. Doz. Dr. Markus Ganzera

Institute of Pharmacy – Pharmacognosy
University of Innsbruck

Innrain 52

6020 Innsbruck

Austria

Phone: + 43 51 25 07 53 07

Fax: + 43 51 25 07 29 39

Email: markus.ganzera@uibk.ac.at