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.     

Multielemental characterisation of cobalt by glow discharge quadrupole mass spectrometry

Multielemental determination and the assessment of purity of cobalt metal used in the preparation of Ni-based super-alloys have been carried out by glow discharge quadrupole mass spectrometry (GD-QMS). Relative sensitivity factors (RSF) generated from certified iron matrix reference samples (NIST 663 and 664 low alloy steel pin standards) could be used for the determination of different trace element constituents of the sample. Different wet chemical procedures were also carried out for the determination of the trace constituents in the sample. The GD-QMS results are in reasonably good agreement with those obtained from wet chemical procedures, validating the use of the RSF values generated on low alloy steel standards for the computation of trace element concentrations in cobalt metal. A variety of molecular ions formed through the reaction of cobalt (matrix) with the discharge gas (argon) were also detected.     

Synthesis and structural characterisation of a novel tris-methylene bridged compound (NO) 4Fe2 Se(μ-CH2)3

The tris-methylene bridged compound (NO)₄Fe₂Se(μ-CH₂)₃ has been isolated. It has been characterised by IR and ¹H, ¹³C, and ⁷⁷Se NMR spectroscopy. Its structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The structure consists of a heavy atom triangle consisting of one Se and two Fe atoms. The Fe-Fe and the two Fe-Se edges are bridged by methylene groups.     

Conversion of ammonia to dinitrogen in wastewater by Nitrosomonas europaea

Because Nitrosomonas europaea contains ammonia-oxidizing enzyme, nitrite reductase, and nitrous oxide reductase, the conversion of ammonia to dinitrogen was tried with different reaction conditions. In aerobic reaction conditions, ammonium was converted to nitrite (NO ₂ ⁻ ), while under oxygen-limiting or oxygen-free conditions, NO ₂ ⁻ -N formed from ammonia oxidation by N. europaea was reduced to N₂O and dinitrogen with 22% conversion. During denitrification, optimal pH for the production of N₂O and dinitrogen was found to be 7.0–8.0. Dinitrogen was not produced in acidic pH<7.0. A low partial oxygen pressure as well as oxygen-free conditions are favorable for high production of dinitrogen.     

4-t-Butylphenoxo complexes of oxovanadium(V)

Summary Complexes of composition [VOCl₂(OC₆H₄Bu-t-4)] (1) and [VOCl(OC₆H₄Bu-t-4)₂] (2) have been synthesized by the reaction of VOCl₃ with equimolar and bimolar amounts, respectively, of 4-t-BuC₆H₄OSiMe₃ in CCl₄ and characterized by physio-chemical techniques. The complexes react with -hydroxyaldehydes and ketones such as 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (salicylaldehyde, salH), and 2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetophenone (benzoin, benzH), 2-hydroxyacetophenone (hapH) and also with the potassium salt of p-chlorobenzohydroxamic acid (KBHACl) in 11 and 12 molar ratios, to yield five- and six-coordinate complexes.     

Cyphostemmins A-B, two new antifungal oligostilbenes from Cyphostemma crotalarioides (Vitaceae)

Two new antifungal resveratrol dimers, cyphostemmins A-B (1–2), have isolated from the roots of Cyphostemma crotalarioides planch (Vitaceae) together with resveratrol 3 and previously known reseveratrol dimers (4–7). Structures of these new compounds have been established on the basis of their MS and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data.     

The application of levulinic acid and 5-nitro-2-furylmethylene diacetate in the total synthesis of some novel biologically active (5-nitro-2-furyl)azomethines

Summary The syntheses andin vitro antibacterial and antifungal evaluation of certain (5-nitro-2-furyl)azomethines with different heterocyclic nuclei are described.

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Die Anwendung von Lävulinsäure und 5-Nitro-2-furylmethylendiacetat in der Totalsynthese einiger neuer biologisch aktiver (5-Nitro-2-furyl)azomethine

Zusammenfassung Es wird die Synthese und diein-vitro-antibakterielle und antifungale Wirksamkeit für bestimmte (5-Nitro-2-furyl)azomethine mit verschiedenen heterocyclischen Kernen beschrieben.

     

Protective properties of redox polymer film deposited on stainless steel

We propose a novel composite organic-inorganic coating in the form of a redox polymer film for protection of stainless steel against general corrosion in strong acid medium (2 M H₂SO₄). We utilize an anion exchange polymer, protonated poly(4-vinylpyridine), into which hexacyanoferrate anions have been introduced. Owing to the presence of Fe(CN)₆^3–/4– at the interface formed by the film and the steel, a sparingly soluble metal hexacyanoferrate (mostly Prussian blue, PB) is formed as an overcoating on the steels surface, presumably on the passive (metal oxide) layer. The redox polymer film on the steel seems to act as a composite three-dimensional bilayer-type coating in which hexacyanoferrate(III,II) anions (that are capable of effective charge storage) exist in the outer portions of the film, whereas the inner PB layer improves the systems overall adherence and stability. By analogy to a conducting polymer (e.g. polyaniline, polypyrrole), introduction of the redox polymer composite film leads to stabilization of the steel substrates potential within the passive range.Contribution to the 3rd Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Gdansk-Sobieszewo, Poland, 23–26 April 2003Dedicated to the memory of Harry B. Mark, Jr. (28 February 1934–3 March 2003)     

Biosensors designed for environmental and food quality control based on screen-printed graphite electrodes with different configurations

Graphite electrodes fabricated by screen-printing have been used as amperometric detectors in biosensors based on NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases, tyrosinase, or genetically modified acetylcholinesterases. The mono-enzyme sensors have been optimized as disposable or reusable devices for detection of a variety of substrates important in the food industry ( D-lactic acid, L-lactic acid, acetaldehyde) or in environmental pollution control (phenols and dithiocarbamate, carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides). The sensors were prepared in four configurations differing in enzyme confinement, enzyme immobilization and location of the immobilization agent in the biosensor assembly. Tests on real samples have been performed with the biosensors; D-lactic acid and acetaldehyde have been detected in wine and phenols in air.