Anti‐inflammatory bioactive equivalence of combinatorial components β‐carboline alkaloids identified in Arenaria kansuensis by two‐dimensional chromatography and solid‐phase extraction coupled with liquid–liquid extraction enrichment technology

Bioactive equivalent combinatorial components play a critical role in herbal medicines. However, how to discover and enrich them efficiently is a question for herbal pharmaceuticals researchers. In our work, a novel two‐dimensional reversed‐phase/hydrophilic interaction high‐performance liquid chromatography method was established to perform real‐time components trapping and combining for preparation and isolation of coeluting components. Arenaria kansuensis was taken as an example, and solid‐phase extraction coupled with liquid–liquid extraction as a simple and efficient method for enriching trace components, reversed phase column coupled with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography XAmide column as two‐dimensional chromatography technology for isolation and preparation of coeluting constituents, enzyme‐linked immune‐sorbent assay as bio‐guided assay, and anti‐inflammatory bioactivity evaluation for bioactive constituents. A combination of 12 β‐carboline alkaloids was identified as anti‐inflammatory bioactive equivalent combinatorial components from A. kansuensis , which accounts for 1.9% w/w of original A. kansuensis . This work answers the key question of which are real anti‐inflammatory components from A. kansuensis and provides a fast and efficient approach for discovering and enriching trace β‐carboline alkaloids from herbal medicines for the first time. More importantly, the discovery of bioactive equivalent combinatorial components could improve the quality control of herbal products and inspire a herbal medicine based on combinatorial therapeutics.     

Simultaneous determination of eight alkaloids and oleandrin in herbal cosmetics by dispersive solid‐phase extraction coupled with ultra high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

We utilized ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and dispersive solid‐phase extraction to develop a new method for the detection of nine analytes (scopolamine, cephaeline, strychnine, hyoscyamine, brucine, hydrastine, ajmalicine, colchicine, and oleandrin) in herbal cosmetics. Acetonitrile/water and 2‐propylaminoethylamine were used to disperse and purify during the dispersive solid‐phase extraction step. The analytes were separated by a Waters UPLC HSS T3 column and detected through electrospray ionization source in the positive mode with multi‐reaction monitoring conditions. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.2–100.0 μg/L with the correlation coefficients higher than 0.995. The method limit of quantitation (S/N = 10) were 5.0 μg/kg for oleandrin and 1.0 μg/kg for the other eight alkaloids. The mean recoveries at three spiked concentration levels of 1.0–10.0 μg/kg were in the range of 86.9–116.5% with the intra‐day relative standard deviations (n  = 6) ranging from 2.4 to 8.8%, and inter‐day relative standard deviations ranging from 2.7 to 5.7%. This method is accurate, simple and rapid, and has been applied to the quality supervision of herbal cosmetics in Guangzhou.     

Pipette‐tip solid‐phase extraction based on deep eutectic solvent modified graphene for the determination of sulfamerazine in river water

A green and novel deep eutectic solvent modified graphene was prepared and used as a neutral adsorbent for the rapid determination of sulfamerazine in a river water sample by pipette‐tip solid‐phase extraction. Compared with conventional graphene, deep eutectic solvent modified graphene can change the surface of graphene with wrinkled structure and higher selective extraction ability. The properties of deep eutectic solvent modified graphene and graphene were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Static adsorption showed deep eutectic solvent modified graphene had a higher adsorption ability (18.62 mg/g) than graphene. Under the optimum conditions, factors such as kinds of washing solvents and elution solvents and volume of elution solvent were evaluated. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.01 and 0.03 μg/mL, respectively. The method recoveries of sulfamerazine were in the range of 91.01–96.82% with associated intraday relative standard deviations ranging from 1.63 to 3.46% and interday relative standard deviations ranging from 0.68 to 3.84%. Deep eutectic solvent modified graphene showed satisfactory results (recovery was 95.38%) and potential for rapid purification of sulfamerazine in river water sample in combination with the pipette‐tip solid‐phase extraction method.     

Rapid determination of lipophilic vitamins in human serum by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography using a fluorinated column and high‐throughput miniaturized liquid–liquid extraction

A high‐throughput miniaturized liquid–liquid extraction procedure followed by a simple ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography method coupled with fluorescence detection for bioanalytical analysis of all tocopherol isomers and retinol in human serum has been developed and validated. In the extraction procedure, a synthetic internal standard tocol was used, which does not occur in the human body. The separation of structurally related vitamins was achieved using a new generation of pentafluorophenyl propyl core–shell stationary phase with elution using methanol and an aqueous solution of ammonium acetate. The fluorescence of retinol and tocopherol isomers was detected at λ_ex = 325, 295 nm and λ_em = 480, 325 nm, respectively. The rapid baseline separation of all analytes was accomplished within 4.0 min. The sensitivity of method was demonstrated with lower limits of quantification: retinol 0.01 μM, α‐tocopherol 0.38 μM, β‐tocopherol 0.18 μM, γ‐tocopherol 0.14 μM, and δ‐tocopherol 0.01 μM. Possible application of this method in clinical practice was confirmed by the analysis of human serum samples from healthy volunteers. Finally, the simultaneous determination of retinol and all tocopherol isomers in human serum can enable the clarification of their role in metabolism and in diseases such as cancer.     

Application of a dispersive solid‐phase extraction method using an amino‐based silica‐coated nanomagnetic sorbent for the trace quantification of chlorophenoxyacetic acids in water samples

Herein, an amino‐based silica‐coated nanomagnetic sorbent was applied for the effective extraction of two chlorophenoxyacetic acids (2‐methyl‐4‐chlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) from various water samples. The sorbent was successfully synthesized and subsequently characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The analytes were extracted by the sorbent mainly through ionic interactions. Once the extraction of analytes was completed, they were desorbed from the sorbent and detected by high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. A number of factors affecting the extraction and desorption of the analytes were investigated in detail and the optimum conditions were established. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 1–250, and based on a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3, the method detection limits were determined to be 0.5 μg/L for both analytes. Additionally, a preconcentration factor of 314 was achieved for the analytes. The average relative recoveries obtained from the fortified water samples varied in the range of 91–108% with relative standard deviations of 2.9–8.3%. Finally, the method was determined to be robust and effective for environmental water analysis.     

Directly‐coupled‐column ultra‐fast liquid chromatography with diode array detection method for the rapid quantification of allergenic disperse dyes in water preconcentrated by magnetic solid‐phase extraction

A directly‐coupled‐column ultra‐fast liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection method for the determination of 12 allergenic disperse dyes in river water at sub‐ppb levels has been developed and successfully validated. The analytical method is based on the use of two different reversed‐phased columns connected through a two‐position switching valve. A baseline separation was achieved by proper selection of stationary phases, mobile phases, and the use of a gradient elution in both dimensions. Furthermore, an easy‐to‐handle magnetic solid‐phase extraction procedure was developed for the preconcentration of 12 allergenic disperse dyes from river water. An enrichment factor of 100 times was obtained. The results showed excellent performance in terms of trueness (76.8–99.0%), precision (intraday: 2.2–8.0%, interday: 3.3–8.2%), and sensitivity (limits of determination, 0.027–1.46 μg/L). Twenty real samples collected from the outfalls in the Yaojiang, Yongjiang and Fenghuajiang estuary were analyzed, and three of the studied compounds were found in one collected sample (12.6 μg/L for disperse blue 7, 11.6 μg/L for disperse blue 106, and 0.22 μg/L for disperse blue 3).     

Sulfonated poly(styrene‐divinylbenzene) modified with amines and the application for pipette‐tip solid‐phase extraction of carbendazim in apples

Sulfonated poly(styrene‐divinylbenzene) modified with five kinds of amine functional groups was applied to the determination of carbendazim in apple samples with a pipette‐tip solid‐phase extraction method. The structures of the polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Five different modifications of the solid‐phase extraction sorbent based on sulfonated poly(styrene‐divinylbenzene) were tested under static and pipette‐tip solid‐phase extraction conditions. The polymer modified with p‐methoxyaniline showed the best recognition capacity and adsorption amount for carbendazim. Under the optimum conditions, 3.00 mg of the adsorbent, 1.00 mL of ethyl acetate as washing solvent, and 1.00 mL of ammonia/acetonitrile (5:95, v/v) as elution solvent were used in the pretreatment procedure of apple samples. The calibration graphs of carbendazim in methanol were linear over 5.00–200.00 μg/mL, and the limits of detection and quantification were 0.01 and 0.03 μg/mL, respectively. The method recoveries of carbendazim were in the range of 91.31–98.13% with associated intraday relative standard deviations of 0.76–2.13% and interday relative standard deviations of 1.10–1.85%. Sulfonated poly(styrene‐divinylbenzene) modified with p‐methoxyaniline showed satisfactory results (recovery: 97.96%) and potential for the rapid purification of carbendazim in apple samples combined with the pipette‐tip solid‐phase extraction.     

Dispersive admicelle solid‐phase extraction based on sodium dodecyl sulfate coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles for the selective adsorption of three alkaloids in Gegen‐Qinlian oral liquid before high‐performance liquid chromatography

A novel dispersive admicelle solid‐phase extraction method based on sodium dodecyl sulfate‐coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was developed for the selective adsorption of berberine, coptisine, and palmatine in Gegen‐Qinlian oral liquid before high‐performance liquid chromatography. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by a chemical coprecipitation method and characterized by using transmission electron microscopy. Under acidic conditions, the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was coated with sodium dodecyl sulfate to form a nano‐sized admicelle magnetic sorbent. Owing to electrostatic interaction, the alkaloids were adsorbed onto the oppositely charged admicelle magnetic nanoparticles. The quick separation of the analyte‐adsorbed nanoparticles from the sample solution was performed by using Nd‐Fe‐B magnet. Best extraction efficiency was achieved under the following conditions: 800 μL Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles suspension (20 mg/mL), 150 μL sodium dodecyl sulfate solution (10 mg/mL), pH 2, and vortexing time 2 min for the extraction of alkaloids from 10 mL of diluted sample. Four hundred microliters of methanol was used to desorb the alkaloids by vortexing for 1 min. Satisfactory extraction recoveries were obtained in the range of 85.9–120.3%, relative standard deviations for intra‐ and interday precisions were less than 6.3 and 10.0%, respectively. Finally, the established method was successfully applied to analyze the alkaloids in two batches of Gegen‐Qinlian oral liquids.     

Polypyrrole‐magnetite dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction combined with ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometry for the determination of rhodamine 6G and crystal violet in textile wastewater

Polypyrrole‐magnetite dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction method combined with ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometry was developed for the determination of selected cationic dyes in textile wastewater. Polypyrrole‐magnetite was used as adsorbent due to its thermal stability, magnetic properties, and ability to adsorb Rhodamine 6G and crystal violet. Dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction parameters were optimized, including sample pH, adsorbent amount, extraction time, and desorption solvent. The optimum polypyrrole‐magnetite dispersive micro‐solid phase‐extraction conditions were sample pH 8, 60 mg polypyrrole‐magnetite adsorbent, 5 min of extraction time, and acetonitrile as the desorption solvent. Under the optimized conditions, the polypyrrole‐magnetite dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction with ultraviolet‐visible method showed good linearity in the range of 0.05–7 mg/L (R ² > 0.9980). The method also showed a good limit of detection for the dyes (0.05 mg/L) and good analyte recoveries (97.4–111.3%) with relative standard deviations < 10%. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of dyes in textile wastewater samples where the concentration found was 1.03 mg (RSD ±7.9%) and 1.13 mg/L (RSD ± 4.6%) for Rhodamine 6G and crystal violet, respectively. It can be concluded that this method can be adopted for the rapid extraction and determination of dyes at trace concentration levels.     

Analysis of microcystins using high‐performance liquid chromatography and magnetic solid‐phase extraction with silica‐coated magnetite with cetylpyridinium chloride

Microcystins (MCs), produced by freshwater cyanobacteria, can be serious water pollutants, so it is important to monitor their concentration in drinking water. We have developed a method for rapid and accurate determination of microcystin levels in environmental water, using magnetic solid‐phase extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The magnetic composite material, which was combined with cetylpyridinium chloride, was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The optimal extraction of microcystins in water sample was achieved by optimizing the amount of adsorbent, time of adsorption, ratio of eluting solvent, and volume of eluent. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection of MC‐LR was 0.001 μg/L, and the limit of quantification was 0.0028 μg/L. The limit of detection of MC‐RR was 0.001 μg/L, and the limit of quantification was 0.003 μg/L. These values are far lower than those established by the International Health Organization for the maximum concentration of microcystins in drinking water. The magnetic solid‐phase extraction adsorbent used in this method has the advantages of simple preparation, low price, and easy solid–liquid separation, and it can be used for the rapid and sensitive monitoring of trace microcystins in environmental water samples.