This manual, to be published in two volumes, provides a condensed overview of the analytical investigation of 80 Chinese Herbal Drugs which are most frequently in use. Thin layer chromatographic-, high pressure liquid chromatographic- and gas chromatographic-fingerprint analytical techniques allow the detection of all main low-molecular constituents of a plant drug and even single constituents can be visualized. Analytical results thereof are shown in numerous color figures. The quality proof of the investigation meets the standard of the European Drug Regulatory Authority. Furthermore, this volume gives a detailed description of the analytical methods used for several drugs. Bioactive constituents, pharmacological and biological activities of several single herbal drugs as well as their therapeutic applications are discussed.

Volume III of this manual provides an overview of the analytical investigation of 23 additional Chinese Herbal Drugs, which are most commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Together with Volumes I and II this current volume represents the most comprehensive overview to analytical studies of those herbal drugs. The quality proof of the investigation meets the standard of the European Drug Regulatory Authority. The authors refer to the bioactive constituents, pharmacological and biological activities of all single herbal drugs, as well as their therapeutic applications. Analytical methods applied are described in detail.

Volume V of this manual provides an overview of the analytical investigation of numerous additional Chinese herbal drugs that are commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It illustrates the detailed chromatographic analysis of the main compounds with colored TLC photographs and HPLC peak profiles, and also discusses the bioactive properties, pharmacological and biological activity as well as the therapeutic applications of all single herbal drugs. Together with Volumes I-IV this volume represents the most comprehensive overview of analytical studies of these drugs listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010. All the experimental requirements, including the extraction procedure for the Chinese drugs and the solvent systems used for the development of the TLC and HPLC analytical monographs, were adapted according to the latest findings published in international journals and the high standards of the European Drug Regulatory Authority. Therefore Volume V is also a must-have manual for researchers and pharmaceutical laboratories dedicated to TCM.

Volume V of this manual provides an overview of the analytical investigation of numerous additional Chinese herbal drugs that are commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It illustrates the detailed chromatographic analysis of the main compounds with colored TLC photographs and HPLC peak profiles, and also discusses the bioactive properties, pharmacological and biological activity as well as the therapeutic applications of all single herbal drugs. Together with Volumes I-IV this volume represents the most comprehensive overview of analytical studies of these drugs listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010. All the experimental requirements, including the extraction procedure for the Chinese drugs and the solvent systems used for the development of the TLC and HPLC analytical monographs, were adapted according to the latest findings published in international journals and the high standards of the European Drug Regulatory Authority. Therefore Volume V is also a must-have manual for researchers and pharmaceutical laboratories dedicated to TCM.

Evidence based herbal drugs are on hi-acceptance day by day due to health friendly nature compared to synthetic drugs. The active ingredients in herbal drugs are different chemical classes, e.g. alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, steroids, terpenes etc., are identified at molecular level using current analytical practices, which are unique characteristic, as finger, so known as fingerprints. The fingerprints are used for assessment of quality consistency and stability by visible observation and comparison of the standardized fingerprint pattern, have scientific potential to decipher the claims made on these drugs for authenticity and reliability of chemical constituents, with total traceability, which starts from the proper identification, season and area of collection, storage, their processing, stability during processing, and rationalizing the combinational in case of polyherbal drugs. These quality oriented documents have ample scientific logics so well accepted globally by regulatory authorities and industries, to determine intentional/ unintentional contamination, adulteration, pollutants, stability, quality, etc. parameters. Based on geo-climatic factors, a same plant species has different pharmacological properties due to different ingredients; such regional and morphological variations are identified by fingerprints, at the time of collection of the medicinal herb. The chromatographic (TLC, HPTLC, HPLC, GC,) and spectral (UV-Vis., FTIR, MNR, MS, LC-MS, GC-MS etc.) techniques have world-wide strong scientific approval as validated methods to generate the fingerprints of different chemical classes of active ingredients of herbal drugs. Presently there is a need for a book having all the fingerprinting techniques for herbal drugs at a place with theory, case studies and art to discover patentable forms. The present book is a mile stone in the subject, to be utilized by Scientists, Medical Doctors, Technicians, Industrialists, Researchers, and Students both in PG and UG levels.

The present edited book is the presentation of 18 in-depth national and international contributions from eminent professors, scientists and instrumental chemists from educational institutes, research organizations and industries providing their views on their experience, handling, observation and research outputs on HPTLC, a multi-dimensional instrumentation. The book describes the recent advancements made on TLC which have revolutionized and transformed it into a modern instrumental technique HPTLC. The book addresses different chapters on HPTLC fundamentals: principle, theory, understanding; instrumentation: implementation, optimization, validation, automation and qualitative and quantitative analysis; applications: phytochemical analysis, biomedical analysis, herbal drug quantification, analytical analysis, finger print analysis and potential for hyphenation: HPTLC future to combinatorial approach, HPTLC-MS, HPTLC-FTIR and HPTLC-Scanning Diode Laser. The chapters in the book have been designed in such away that the reader follows each step of the HPTLC in logical order.

The authors of this thematic issue provide a comprehensive summary of most recent knowledge and references on quality control in wide fields. Quality control is essential for natural products like natural medicine and related food products. In this issue fifteen chapters have been included, discussing in detail various aspects of quality control. It will certainly prove useful not only for phytochemical researchers, but also many scientists working in numerous fields. Much effort has been invested by the contributors to share current information. Without their efforts and input 'Quality Control of Herbal Medicine and Related Areas' could not exist.