Objective: To establish an identification of the oily Chinese materia medica by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Method: Thirtysix samples of oily Chinese materia medica were collected

saponified with 5% KOH in methanol

and made test solutions at a concentration of 1 g crude drug in 1 mL ethyl acetate. α-Spinasterol

β-sitosterol

oleanolic acid

and karounidiol were taken as reference solutions. The spots on the TLC chromatogram were identified. Result: All of the oily Chinese materia medica has a good TLC chromatogram. Impatientis Semen

Arctii Fructus

Leonuri Fructus

Myristaticae Semen

Cnidii Fructus

Ligustri lucidi Fructus

and Trichosanthis Semen show a spot of α-spinasterol. All of the Chinese materia medica shows a spot of β-sitosterol but Impatientis Semen

Momordicae Semen

and Seed of Trichosanthes kirilowii. Myristaticae Semen

Ligustri lucidi Fructus

and Trichosanthis Semen show a spot of oleanolic acid. Trichosanthis Semen

seeds of both Trichosanthes kirilowii and Trichosanthes rosthornii

show a spot of karounidiol. Conclusion: It’s the first study to demonstrate that Arctii Fructus

Leonuri Fructus

Myristaticae Semen

Cnidii Fructus

and Ligustri lucidi Fructus contain α-spinasterol

Myristaticae Semen and Trichosanthis Semen contains oleanolic acid

and Semen Pruni contain β-sitosterol. The oily Chinese materia medica can be identified by the TLC under same condition.