Abstract:Objective:To set up a method for TLC identification of the Devil Claw Extract and its tablets,and make a quantitative analysis of harpagoside the main active constituent in the Extract.Method:A characteristic TLC chromatogram was obtained by using pre coated silica gel 60F254plate,chloroform ethyl acetate methanol water as the solvent system and 5% vanillin sulfuric acid solution or 10% sulfuric acid ethanol solution as the spray reagent;and quantitative analysis was carried out using silica gel plate modified by 1% sodium hydroxide,and UV absorptive scannig at 283nm.Result:The regression equation is Y=20.33X+92.72,r=0.9993,linear range between 16.8~151.2ng,and average recovery 101.2%.Conclusion:This method has been validated by linearity,stability,sensitivity and reproducibility tests,and proved to be accordant with the requirement for quantitative analysis of the herbal medicine in question.