Development of a bioanalytical method for the quantification of sinococuline in human plasma and its application in phase I clinical pharmacokinetic study

A selective, highly sensitive, precise, and novel bioanalytical method has been developed and validated to quantify sinococuline, an active constituent present in the phytopharmaceutical drug product containing Cocculus hirsutus plant extract, in vivo. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Luna Omega Polar-C18 bonded analytical column maintained at 45°C. The isocratic mobile phase consisted of methanol and ammonium formate buffer (60:40, v/v) at acidic pH with a low flow rate of 0.250 mL/min. Detection was performed on an API 4000 mass spectrometer using electrospray ionization in positive polarity and multiple reaction monitoring mode to achieve a lower limit of quantification of 1.50 ng/mL. Excellent accuracy and precision were obtained after extracting the analyte from plasma samples using a chemical analogue as an internal standard in the absence of an isotope-labeled compound. The extraction efficacy was evidenced from recovery study, and the analyte was found to be stable in plasma. Validation study demonstrated linearity with coefficient of correlation, r ≥ 0.99, and minimal matrix effect. This bioanalytical method was successfully applied to evaluate pharmacokinetic parameters of sinococuline from a phase I clinical trial of an aqueous extract of C. hirsutus in healthy human volunteers.     

One-pot Synthesis,Crystal Structures and Antimicrobial Activities of Two New 1,4-Disubstituted 1,2,3-Triazole-4-Carboxylates

Two new 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles-4-carboxylates were synthesized via click reaction. Compound 1a was synthesized by the interaction of 6-nitro-tetrazolo[1.5-a]-pyridine with ethyl propynoate at room temperature in the presence of Cu(OAc)2 as a catalyst and THF as solvent. Compound 1b was also synthesized by the same manner except that tert-butyl propionate, instead of ethyl propynoate, was used. The compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1a(C10H9N5O4) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1 with a = 5.0894(9), b = 8.9834(13), c = 13.089(2) ?, α= 83.041(7), β= 80.256(7), γ=87.296(8)°, V = 585.24(16)?3, Z = 2, Mr = 263.22, crystal size(mm) = 0.37 × 0.20 ×0.18,(I 2σ(I)) = 8557, 2493, 1229, Rint = 0.057. Compound 1b(C12H13N5O4) crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a = 6.8854(5), b = 21.783(2), c = 9.3986(8) ?,β = 93.239(4)°, V = 1407.4(2)?3, Z = 4, Mr = 291.27, crystal size(mm) = 0.38 × 0.22 × 0.20,(I 2σ(I)) = 11842, 3172, 1866, Rint = 0.047. Antimicrobial assay results showed that the title compounds display excellent activities to different bacterial and fungal strains.     

Numerical Modeling of Solitons in a Low Birefringent Optical Fiber

A numerical investigation, based on the split-step Fourier transform algorithm of all optical switching of solitons in a low birefringent optical fiber is presented. The numerical algorithm is described in detail. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Titanium(IV) tungstosilicate and titanium(IV) tungstophosphate: two new inorganic ion exchangers

Crystalline phases of Ti(IV) tungstosilicate and Ti(IV) tungstophosphate have been synthesised. The ion-exchange capacities of Ti(IV) tungstosilicate and Ti(IV) tungstophosphate have been reported as 0.44 and 0.80 mequiv./g, respectively. Both materials show monofunctional ion-exchange characteristic and are stable in 0.1 M solutions of HNO3, HCl, H2SO4 and acetone and benzene. Ti(IV) tungstosilicate is found to be more stable thermally than Ti(IV) tungstophosphate (loss in ion-exchange capacity was found as 58 and 80%, respectively for samples heated at 200 degrees C). The Kd values for heavy metals such as Pb, Hg, Cd, Sb, Co, Zn, Ni, Fe, Cr etc. have been reported in demineralised water and two surfactant media by batch processes. Cr3+, Fe3+ and Sn4+ are totally adsorbed on both the materials in demineralised water while a decrease in Kd value with increase in concentration of two surfactants is reported. On the basis of Kd values for metal ions, thirteen binary separations and five ternary separations on Ti(IV) tungstosilicate and thirteen different binary separations and four different ternary separations on Ti(IV) tungstophosphate have been achieved. Separation of methylamine from ethylamine has been done by GC on a column packed with Ti(IV) tungstophosphate.     

Aminopropylcellulose,synthesis and derivatization

The preparation of 3-aminopropylcellulose from cyanoethylcellulose is readily achieved. Reduction of the cyano groups with borane-dimethyl sulfide in tetrahydrofuran or a borane-tetrahy-drofuran complex proceeds quantitatively in 3 h to a corresponding 3-aminopropylcellulose. The presence of primary amine functions is confirmed by spectroscopy and a positive ninhydrin test; the concentration of amino substituents, as ascertained by titration, ranged from 1.2 to 6.4 meq/g. Because the derivatives are neither soluble nor excessively swollen in water, applications as ion-exchange resins or chromatographic supports can be envisioned. Treatment of 3-aminopropyl-cellulose with acetyl chloride, phenyl isocyanate, or p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate produced 3-acetamido-, 3-(N′-phenyluredo)-, or 3-(N′-p-toluenesulfonyluredo)-N-propylcellulose. Alkylation with methyl chloride yielded a water-soluble quaternary ammonium salt.     

Determining the chromophore in the amylopectin–iodine complex by theoretical and experimental studies

A partial hydrolysis of amylose followed by the addition of iodine provides a spectrum almost identical to that of the amylopectin–iodine (API) complex suggesting the involvement of smaller “amylose-like” units in the API complex. Our theoretical studies on different polyiodine and polyiodide species suggest that a nearly linear I₄ unit stabilized within the cavity of a small “amylose-like” helix is responsible for the characteristic API spectrum. Since there are 2.75 anhydroglucose residues (AGU) for every iodine atom in the amylose–iodine (AI) complex and a structural similarity exists between the API and the AI (amylose–iodine) complexes, we identify (C₆H₁₀O₅)₁₁I₄ to be the chromophore in the API complex. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High temperature reactions of titanium(IV) oxide with some alkali persulfates and their decomposition products

The solid state reactions between TiO₂ and Na₂S₂O₈ or K₂S₂O₈ have been investigated using TG, DTG, DTA, IR, and X-ray diffraction studies in the range of 20 to 1000°C.It has been shown that TiO₂ reacts stoichiometrically (1 : 1) with Na₂S₂O₈ in the range of 160 and 220°C forming the complex sodium monoperoxodisulfato—titanium(IV) as characterized by IR and X-ray analysis. The new complex then decomposes into the reactants above 190°C.An exothermic reaction has been observed between TiO₂ and molten K₂S₂O₇ at mole ratio 1:2 respectively and higher, in the range of 280 and 350°C. The IR and X-ray analyses have shown the formation of a complex namely, potassium tetrasulfato titanium(IV) for which the formula and structure have been proposed. This complex decomposes at higher temperatures into K₂SO₄ and a mixed sulfate of potassium and titanium. The mixed sulfate melts at 620°C and decomposes into K₂SO₄, TiO₂, and the gaseous SO₃.On the other hand, Na₂S₂O₈ decomposes in a special mode producing a polymeric product of Na₁₀S₉O₃₂. Decomposition of this species occurs after melting at 560°C into Na₂SO₄ and sulfur oxides. The decomposition reaction has been proved to be catalysed by TiO₂ itself.