Kaurenoic acid extracted from Sphagneticola trilobata reduces acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity through inhibition of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in mice

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug that is safe at therapeutic doses. However, acetaminophen overdose can be fatal. Currently, the only treatment available is the N-acetyl cysteine. The diterpene kaurenoic acid (ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, KA) is the major constituent of Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski. KA presents anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and antioxidant properties. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of KA in a model of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. KA increased, in a dose-dependent manner, the survival rate after acetaminophen overdose. KA reduced acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis and ALT and AST levels. KA decreased acetaminophen-induced neutrophil and macrophage recruitment, oxidative stress and the production of IL-33, TNF-α and IL-1β, alongside with normalisation of IL-10 levels in the liver. Therefore, KA showed preclinical efficacy in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity and lethality.     

HPLC profiling of phenolics and flavonoids of Adonidia merrillii fruits and their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties

In this study the antioxidant and cytotoxicity activity of the Adonidia merrillii fruits were investigated using different solvent polarities (methanol, ethyl acetate and water). The results showed that the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extract was higher compare with other extract with respective values of 17.80 ± 0.45 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight (DW) and 5.43 ± 0.33 mg rutin equivalents/g DW. Beside that The RP-HPLC analyses indicated the presence of gallic acid, pyrogallol, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, naringin and rutin. In the DPPH, NO2 and ABTS scavenging assays, the methanolic extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity as compared to the ethyl acetate and water extracts. The extracts exhibited moderate to weak cytotoxic activity in the assays using human hepatocytes (Chang liver cells) and NIH/3T3 (fibroblasts cell) cell lines. The findings showed the Adonidia merrillii fruit extracts to possess considerable antioxidant and cytotoxicity properties. The fruit, therefore, is a potential candidate for further work to discover antioxidant and cytotoxic drugs from natural sources.     

RESEARCH ON DYNAMIC MECHANICAL RESPONSE AND CONSTITUTIVE MODEL OF PORCINE LIVER

在交通事故中,腹部器官常因冲击载荷作用而受到伤害,严重时甚至危及生命.肝损伤是腹部损伤中最为常见的一种,致死率很高,了解肝脏的动态力学性能对于事故中肝脏的损伤评估及防护设计有着重要的意义.从新鲜的猪肝组织中取肝实质部分制作试样,利用英斯特朗材料试验机对其进行两种加载率（0.004 s^-1,0.04 s^-1）和两种加载方向（垂直肝脏表面和平行于肝脏表面）的准静态压缩试验,并压缩至破坏.利用改进的分离式霍普金森压杆（split Hopkinson pressure bar,SHPB）实验装置沿平行于肝脏表面方向进行三种高应变率（1 300 s^-1,2 400 s^-1,4 500 s^-1）的动态压缩试验.结果表明：所有应变率下的猪肝压缩应力应变曲线都呈非线性凹向上特征,初始阶段应力值很低,应变约30%后应力幅值显著增大;准静态压缩时,两种应变率（0.004 s^-1,0.04 s^-1）和两种加载方向下肝脏组织破坏应力和破坏应变等力学性能无显著不同,平均破坏应变为48%,平均破坏应力为0.45 MPa.高应变率下肝脏组织的流动应力明显高于准静态下的流动应力,表现出一定的率敏感性.采用Yeoh型超弹性本构模型描述猪肝组织准静态力学性能,基于黏超弹性模型理论,提出了一个能描述肝脏组织从低应变率到高应变率范围力学性能的率相关本构模型,该模型与实验结果有很好的一致性.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法测定动物肝脏中黄曲霉毒素

建立了动物肝脏中黄曲霉毒素G2、G1、B2、B1的高效液相色谱-串联质谱检测方法。样品经体积比为84∶16的乙腈-水溶液提取,离心后通过真菌毒素多功能净化柱,净化液氮气吹干,用流动相定容,采用C18柱分离,10mmol/L的甲酸铵溶液和甲醇作为流动相,以50∶50比例等度洗脱,在多重反应监测(MRM)正离子模式下进行分析。各组分在9min内完全分离,方法线性关系良好,黄曲霉毒素G2、G1、B2、B1的检出限分别为0.030、0.026、0.016、0.027μg/kg,三个加标水平下平均回收率在81%～98%之间,相对标准偏差小于2%。该方法简便快速,准确可靠,可用于动物肝脏中黄曲霉毒素的测定。     

Determination of metabolic profile of anti-malarial trioxane CDRI 99/411 in rat liver microsomes using HPLC

CDRI 99/411 is a potent 1,2,4‐trioxane anti‐malarial candidate compound of the Central Drug Research Institute, India. This study aimed to conduct comprehensive in vitro metabolic investigations of CDRI 99/411 to corroborate its preclinical investigations. Preliminary in vitro metabolic investigations were performed to assess the metabolic stability [in vitro half‐life (t_1/2) and in vitro hepatic intrinsic clearance (Cl_int)] of CDRI 99/411 in male Sprague–Dawley rat and human liver microsomes using validated high‐performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector. The observed in vitro t_1/2 of the compound in rat and human liver microsomes was 13 min with in vitro Cl_int 130.7 ± 25.0 μL/min/mg and 19 min with in vitro Cl_int 89.3 ± 17.40 μL/min/mg. These observations suggested moderate metabolic degradation and in vitro Cl_int with insignificant difference (p > 0.05) in the metabolic stability profile in rat and human. Hence, in vitro metabolic investigations were performed with rat liver microsomes. It was observed that CDRI 99/411 exhibited sigmoidal kinetics. At nonlinear regression (r ≥ 0.99) EC₅₀ and Hill slope values were 17 µm and 1.50, respectively. The metabolism of CDRI 99/411 was primarily mediated by CYP3A2 and was inferred by CYP reaction phenotyping with known potent inhibitors. Two metabolites of CDRI 99/411 were detected which were undetectable on incubation with 1‐aminobenzotriazole and ketoconazole. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

15Nmethacetin test to control liver function of infants with formerly very low birth weight

Abstract

Hepatic detoxification capacities of three groups of infants aged about two were estimated using the [¹⁵N]methacetin elimination test, as well as standard serum parameters:

1. Formerly hypotrophically born infants still too small for their age (n = 23)

2. Patients suffering from severe liver diseases (n = 15)

3. Patients without liver diseases (n = 14).

17 of the infants of group 1 showed ¹⁵N elimination rates as low as the rates of the liver-diseased patients of group 2. Compared to the infants of group 3, who had normal values, the findings reflect diminished hepatic monooxygenases activities in groups 1 and 2. On the other hand, the serum parameters of the infants of group 1 did not deviate from normal values estimated in group 3. Here only group 2 showed pathological values. Consequently, the [¹⁵N]methacetin test seems to be more sensitive in controlling hepatic parameters of growth retardations than the usual serum parameters used here. Further investigations have to answer the question to which proportion intrauterine malnutrition and postnatal effects, such as environmental living conditions, contribute to the retardation of liver function development in combination with growth retardation.     

13C-Leucin-Atemtest zur Beurteilung der anabolen Verwertung von diätetischen Aminosäurengemischen bei Phenylketonurie

It is essential to establish whether and how environmental factors affect the reliability of [¹³C]methacetin breath test (¹³C-MBT). In 12 healthy volunteers (smokers), a standard ¹³C-MBT with 75 mg [¹³C]methacetin was performed twice in random order: on a control day without smoking and on another day with smoking two cigarettes antecedently. A considerable flattening of the curve of the momentary ¹³C recovery within the expiratory air was observed when the ¹³C-MBT was performed after smoking. The maximum of the momentary ¹³C recovery, D _max, decreased from 37.20±2.58 to 25.39±2.29% dose/h (p=0.00052). Moreover, the time to reach D _max was prolonged after cigarette smoking (26.5±3.1 vs. 16.5±1.9 min, p=0.0199). The curve of the cumulative ¹³C recovery on the cigarette smoking day appeared to be shifted downwards, and statistically significant differences relative to the control situation were found between the 24th and 75th minute following [¹³C]methacetin administration. Smoking cigarettes immediately prior to the ¹³C-MBT diminishes the ability of the liver to handle methacetin, and hence a possibility of such an interaction should be excluded in order to interpret the results of the test correctly.     

In vitro metabolism of corydaline in human liver microsomes and hepatocytes using liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry

Corydaline is a pharmacologically active isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Corydalis tubers. It exhibits the antiacetylcholinesterase, antiallergic, antinociceptive, and gastric emptying activities. The purposes of this study were to establish in vitro metabolic pathways of corydaline in human liver microsomes and hepatocytes by identification of their metabolites using liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry. Human liver microsomal incubation of corydaline in the presence of an NADPH-generating system resulted in the formation of nine metabolites, namely, four O-desmethylcorydaline [M1 (yuanhunine), M2 (9-O-desmethylcorydaline), M3 (isocorybulbine), and M4 (corybulbine)], three di-O-desmethylcorydaline [M5 (9,10-di-O-desmethylcorydaline), M6 (2,10-di-O-desmethylcorydaline), and M7 (3,10-di-O-desmethylcorydaline)], M8 (hydroxyyuanhunine), and M9 (hydroxycorydaline). Incubation of corydaline in human hepatocytes produced four metabolites including M1, M5, M6, and M9. O-Demethylation and hydroxylation were the major metabolic pathways for the metabolism of corydaline in human liver microsomes and hepatocytes.     

Active Site Titration of Horse Liver Alcohol Dehydro-Genase by Dual Wavelength Specthophotomethy

Abstract

A simple dual wavelength spectrophotometric method for determining the active site concentration of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase is described. The method is rapid, sensitive, accurate and requires minute amounts of enzyme. A comparison between this new application of the dual wavelength technique and the conventional methods, ordinary photometry and spectrofluorometry is furthermore discussed.     

猪肝脏和肌肉组织中β-兴奋剂克伦特罗的高效液相色谱电喷雾质谱分析研究

建立了猪肉和肝组织中克伦特罗的高效液相色谱电喷雾质谱(HPLC—ESI／MS)分析方法。在最佳色谱条件下克伦特罗的保留时间为16min,样品空白无干扰。定量分析的线性范围为2—100mg／L;最低检出限为0．75mg／L;方法回收率为95％-98％;RSD小于2．0％。利用ESI／MS／MS对β-兴奋剂克伦特罗进行了质谱解析,选择特征离子峰m／z277、259和203作为准确定性的依据。对实际生物样品猪瘦肉和肝进行检测结果表明,当样品中克伦特罗残留含量较高时,可以利用紫外检测数据对其进行准确定量。当残留含量低于最低检出限时,可以根据HPLC／ESI／MS结果中有无特征峰出现,给出较准确的定性结果。