ABSTRACT
Objective To make a qualitative and a quantitative control on the Calculus Bovis in Houzao Niuhuang Powder.Methods Hyodeoxycholic acid and bilirubin in Calculus Bovis were separately identified by TLC,and the cholic acid content was determined by TLCS with the scan wavelength of ?s=380 nm,?R=650 nm.Results TLC can be used for the identification in-vitro cultured Calculus Bovis and artificial Calulus Bovis,the samples containing cultured Calulus Bovis showed the specific spots of bilirubin but no hyodeoxycholic acid spot while the samples containing artifical Calulus Bovis showed the hyodeoxycholic acid spot but no bilirubin spot.TLC-scanning can be used to measure the quantity of cholic acid,with the linear range being 0.2～1.8 ?g,average recovery rate of 99.5 %,and RSD being 3.3 %(n=6),and the results accorded with the criterion of the cultured Calculus Bovis in Chinese pharmacopoeia.Conclusion The methods can effectively control the quality of Calculus Bovis in Houzao Niuhuang Powder.