The chat script in JMC uses perl regular expression, that may help you in what you seek.
Code:
var global = /^(\\[ .* (gossip(s)?|auction(s)?|sing(s)?|auction(s)?|warn(s)?|newbie(s)?|yell(s)?|shout(s)?) \\]:|\\[\\*\\] .* flame(s)? \\[\\*\\]) \'.*\'$/;
var local = /^.* say(s)?, \'.*\'$/;
var system = /^## .*[\\.|!]+?$/;
var tells = /^.* tell(s)? .*, \'.*\'$/;
var misc = /^\\[ .* \\]: \'.*\'$/;
var guard = /^\\<<.*>>(:)? \'.*\'$/;
var clan = /^\\[ >>> .* <<< \\]/;