Quantitative Determination of Four Water-Soluble Compounds in Herbal Drugs from Lamiaceae Using Different Chromatographic Techniques

HPTLC-densitometric and HPLC–UV techniques were used for qualitative and quantitative determination of luteolin-7-O-glucuronide, lithospermic acid, rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid in several herbal drugs from the Lamiaceae family: Thymi herba, Serpylli herba, Majoranae herba and Menthae piperitae folium. Unmodified silica gel (HPTLC Si60) and silica gel chemically modified with aminopropyl groups (HPTLC NH₂) were used during the investigation process. Among HPTLC methods the best resolution and selectivity was achieved with mobile phases: diisopropyl ether–acetone–formic acid–water (50:30:10:10, v/v/v/v) and acetone–formic acid (85:15, v/v), respectively. Plates were densitometrically evaluated. Contents of analyzed compounds in the studied aqueous extracts prepared from herbal drugs were established using both techniques. The results from the HPTLC-densitometric analysis have been compared with those from HPLC–UV on a C18 column with acetonitrile–water–formic acid as a mobile phase. The chromatographic methods were validated for linearity, LOD, LOQ, repeatability, intermediate precision and recovery. An analysis of variance showed that the HPTLC-densitometric and HPLC–UV methods are equivalent and sufficiently precise for the estimation of polyphenolic compounds mentioned above, in investigated herbal drugs. All of the suggested methods (HPTLC NH₂, HPTLC Si60 and HPLC RP18) give results with good agreement.     

A comparison of the cellulolytic activities of rumen ciliate protozoa grown under different conditions

Cell-free extracts of rumen Entodiniomorphid protozoa were prepared by gentle sonication (under conditions such that the associated bacteria were not disrupted) and centrifuged (5500g, 30 min) to produce a clear, bacteria-free supernatant fluid. These preparations contained enzymes that were active against a number of cellulose preparations. They released dye from cellulose azure, produced cellobiose from or loss of turbidity of phosphoric acid-reprecipitated cellulose, produced reducing material from and loss of viscosity of carboxymethylcellulose, and produced reducing material from microcrystalline cellulose. Unfortunately with all methods the relationship between product formed and enzyme concentration was a curve with steadily decreasing slope and activities were always expressed in terms of concentration of an extract from the rumen ciliate,Epidinium ecaudatum caudatum, a series of concentrations of which were always run in parallel with other samples. Results have been calculated as specific activities relative to that of rumen-grownEpi. ec. caudatum taken as 100. Comparison has been made, where possible, between protozoa grown as a single species in the rumen of a sheep (ration 1000g hay and 100g oats/d) (referred to as R-grown), protozoa grown in culture on dried grass alone (CG-grown) and protozoa grown in culture on dried grass and ground wheat (CGW-growri) (Coleman, 1978). WithEudiplodinium maggii, the highest activity (106–135%) was obtained with CG-grown, 23–65% with R-grown, and 5–8% with CGW-grown protozoa. WithEremoplastron bovis the values were 41–49% with R-grown, 26–43% with CG-grown and 16–23% with CGW-grown protozoa. WithOstracodinium obtusum bilobum the activities were 90–210% with R-grown, 92–134% with CG-grown, and 85–110% with CGW-grown.Ophryoscolex caudatus would not grow under condition CG but had activities of 54–125% under the other two conditions.Diploplastron affine also would not grow well under condition CG, but had 20–40% activity when R-grown and 100–110% when CGW-grown. These results show that there is no consistent pattern of enzyme activities under the growth conditions used and that there may be important species differences.     

Synthesis and properties of poly(amide–imide)s containing a N-methylcarbazole group

A new dicarboxylic acid monomer containing the N-methylcarbazole and imide structures, 3,6-bis(trimellitimido)-N-methylcarbazole (I), was prepared from the condensation of 3,6-diamino-N-methylcarbazole (c) and trimellitic anhydride. The diamine c was synthesized in three steps starting from the methylation of carbazole, followed by nitration and catalytic hydrazine reduction. A series of N-methylcarbazole-containing poly(amide–imide)s were synthesized by direct polycondensation from the diimide–diacid I with various aromatic diamines. These poly(amide–imide)s had inherent viscosities of 0.66–1.47 dl/g and were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents, including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Transparent, flexible, and tough films of these polymers could be cast from DMAc solutions, and these films exhibited excellent mechanical strength. The glass-transition temperatures of these poly(amide–imide)s were in the range 317–362 °C. All the poly (amide–imide) did not degrade noticeably below 480 °C in nitrogen, and the 10% weight loss temperatures and char yields at 800 °C were above 520 °C and 60% in nitrogen, respectively, indicating high thermal stability. Received: 8 February 2000/Accepted: 23 March 2000     

Chemical composition and physicochemical characteristics of fixed oils from algerian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nigella sativa</Emphasis> seeds

The fatty acids, sterols, and polyphenols from the fixed oils of Nigella sativa seeds originating from four locations were determined. The seeds contained respectively 30.63–34.27% and 25.66–32.77% of fixed oils using hexane and isopropyl alcohol in solvent extraction. Linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids formed the main proportion using the two solvents, respectively: hexane 54.47–61.28%, isopropanol 56.98–67.30%; hexane 19.62–22.94%, isopropanol 18.85–21.96%, and hexane 11.17–13.60%, isopropanol 9.20–14.18%. Other minor unsaturated fatty acids were identified. Eight phytosterols were isolated and identified in the fixed oils by GC and GC/MS analysis, wherein β-sitosterol was the dominating compound that inhibits the absorption of dietary cholesterol, followed by stigmasterol, campesterol, and Δ⁵-avenasterol.     

Electrospun cellulose acetate fibers: effect of solvent system on morphology and fiber diameter

This paper reports an investigation of the effects of solvent system, solution concentration, and applied electrostatic field strength (EFS) on the morphological appearance and/or size of as-spun cellulose acetate (CA) products. The single-solvent systems were acetone, chloroform, N,N -dimethylformamide (DMF), dichloromethane (DCM), methanol (MeOH), formic acid, and pyridine. The mixed-solvent systems were acetone–DMAc, chloroform–MeOH, and DCM–MeOH. Chloroform, DMF, DCM, MeOH, formic acid, and pyridine were able to dissolve CA, forming clear solutions (at 5% w/v), but electrospinning of these solutions produced mainly discrete beads. In contrast, electrospinning of the solution of CA in acetone produced short and beaded fibers. At the same solution concentration of 5% (w/v) electrospinning of the CA solutions was improved by addition of MeOH to either chloroform or DCM. For all the solvent systems investigated smooth fibers were obtained from 16% (w/v) CA solutions in 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 (v/v) acetone–DMAc, 14–20% (w/v) CA solutions in 2:1 (v/v) acetone–DMAc, and 8–12% (w/v) CA solutions in 4:1 (v/v) DCM–MeOH. For the as-spun fibers from CA solutions in acetone–DMAc the average diameter ranged between 0.14 and 0.37 μm whereas for the fibers from solutions in DCM–MeOH it ranged between 0.48 and 1.58 μm. After submersion in distilled water for 24 h the as-spun CA fibers swelled appreciably (i.e. from 620 to 1110%) but the physical integrity of the fibrous structure remained intact.     

Synthesis of o-carborane-C-carboxylates of certain natural terpene alcohols, sterols, phenols, and camphar oxime

Previously unreported esters 1b–20b were synthesized from natural terpene alcohols, sterols, plant phenols, and camphar oxime (1a–20a) by reaction with o-carborane-C-carboxylic acid chloride. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 434–436, September–October, 2006.     

Molecular Structure and Conformational Composition of 1-[(Methylthio)methyl]-2-nitrobenzene (MTMNB): A Theoretical and Experimental Study

The conformational composition of gaseous MTMNB and the molecular structures of the rotational forms have been studied by electron diffraction at 130^∘C aided by results from ab initio and density functional theory calculations. The conformational potential energy surface has been investigated by using the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) method. As a result, six minimum-energy conformers have been identified. Geometries of all conformers were optimized using MP2/6-31G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ methods. These calculations resulted in accurate geometries, relative energies, and harmonic vibrational frequencies for all conformers. The B3LYP/cc-pVTZ energies were then used to calculate the Boltzmann distribution of conformers. The best fit of the electron diffraction data to calculated values was obtained for the six conformer model, in agreement with the theoretical predictions. Average parameter values (r_a in angstroms, angle α in degrees, and estimated total errors given in parentheses) weighted for the mixture of six conformers are r(C–C) = 1.507(5), r(C–C)_{ring, av} = 1.397(3), r(C–S)_av = 1.814(4), r(C–N) = 1.495(4), r(N–O)_av = 1.223(3), ∠(C–C–C)_ring = 116.0–122.5, ∠ C6–C4–C7 = 118.2(4), ∠ C–C–S = 113.6(6), ∠ C–S–C = 98.5(12), ∠ N–C–C4 = 121.9(3), ∠(O–N–C)_av = 116.8(3), ∠ O–N–O = 127.0(4). Torsional angles could not be refined. Theoretical B3LYP/cc-pVTZ torsional angles for the rotation about C–N bond, φ_C−N, were found to be 30.5–36.5^∘ for different conformers. As to internal rotation about C–C and C–S bonds, values of φ_C−C = 68–118^∘ and φ_C−S = 66–71^∘ were obtained for the three most stable conformers with gauche orientation with respect to these bonds. Some conclusions of this work were presented in a short communication in Russ. J. Phys. Chem. 2005, 79, 1701.     

Kinetic parameters determination in non-isothermal conditions for the crystallisation of a silica-soda-lead glass

Two integral isoconversional methods (Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose) and the invariant kinetic parameters method (IKP) were used in order to examine the kinetics of the non-isothermal crystallisation of a silica-soda-lead glass. The objective of the paper is to show the usefulness of the IKP method to determine both the activation parameters and the kinetic model of the investigated process. Thismethod associated with the criterion of coincidence of kinetic parameters for all heating rates and some procedures of the evaluation of the parameter from Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Erofeev–Kolmogorov (JMAEK) equation led us to the following kinetic triplet: activation energy, E=170.5±2.5 kJ mol^–1 , pre-exponential factor, A=1.178±0.350·10 10 min^–1 and JMAEK model (A _m) m=1.5.     

Biosynthesis of Cd-bound phytochelatins by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaeodactylum tricornutum</Emphasis> and their speciation by size-exclusion chromatography and ion-pair chromatography coupled to ICP–MS

Cd-bound phytochelatins (Cd–PCs) have been synthesised by incubation of Phaeodactylum tricornutum cell cultures with Cd and purified by size-exclusion chromatography–UV–Vis. These complexes, which were identified in previous work, have now been used as model substances to develop and optimise ion-pair chromatography (IPC) coupled to inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) for analysis of Cd–PCs. Subsequent analysis of samples taken from Silene vulgaris plants cultivated under heavy metal stress conditions revealed Cd signals but no Cd–PC signals. By use of isotopically enriched ¹¹⁶Cd–PCs the sample preparation steps were verified to determine the stability of the analytes. We observed species transformation between Cd–PCs and other unidentified Cd complexes. Consequently, the kinetic and thermodynamic lability of Cd–PCs are decisive factors in their detection.     

Simultaneous Determination of Tramadol and Acetaminophen in Human Plasma by LC–ESI–MS

This study presents a high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometric (LC–ESI–MS) method for the simultaneous determination of tramadol and acetaminophen in human plasma using phenacetinum as the internal standard. After alkalization with saturated sodium bicarbonate, both compounds were extracted from human plasma with ethyl acetate and were separated by HPLC on a Hanbon LiChrospher CN column with a mobile phase of 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer containing 0.5% formic acid–methanol (40:60, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL min⁻¹. Analytes were determined using electrospray ionization in a single quadrupole mass spectrometer. LC–ESI–MS was performed in the positive selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode using target ions at [M+H]⁺ m/z 264.3 for tramadol, [M+H]⁺ m/z 152.2 for acetaminophen and [M+H]⁺ m/z 180.2 for phenacetinum. Calibration curves were linear over the range of 5–600 ng mL⁻¹ for tramadol and 0.03–16 μg mL⁻¹ for acetaminophen. The inter-run relative standard deviations were less than 14.4% for tramadol and 12.3% for acetaminophen. The intra-run relative standard deviations were less than 9.3% for tramadol and 7.9% for acetaminophen. The mean plasma extraction recovery for tramadol and acetaminophen were in the ranges of 82.7–85.9 and 83.6–85.3%. The method was applied to study the pharmacokinetics of a new formulation of tramadol/acetaminophen tablet in healthy Chinese volunteers.     

New oligomeric proanthocyanidin glycosides platanoside-A and platanoside-B from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platanus orientalis</Emphasis> trunk bark

Two new oligomeric proanthocyanidin glycosides were isolated from trunk bark of Platanus orientalis. Their structures and relative configurations were found to be 7-O-β-D-Glcp-(–)-epicatechin-(4β-8)-(–)-epicatechin(4β-8)-(–)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (platanoside-A) and 7-O-β-D-Glc \textp\xrightarrow6 {\text{p}}\xrightarrow{6} galloyl-(+)-catechin-3-O-gallate(4α-8)-(–)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate-(4β-8)-(–)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate-(4β-8)-5-O-β-D-Glcp-(–)epicatechin-3-O-gallate (platanoside-B).     

Thermodynamic properties of an alternating copolymer of bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene and carbon monoxide in a region from <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis> → 0 to 550 K

The temperature dependence of the heat capacity of an alternating copolymer of bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene and carbon monoxide in the temperature range 6–550 K (with an error of 0.2–0.5% at 6–350 K and 0.5–1.5% at 330–550 K) was studied by the adiabatic vacuum and dynamic calorimetry. Physical transformations of the copolymer in the studied temperature region were identified, and their thermodynamic characteristics were determined. The combustion energy of the copolymer at 298.15 K was measured in a calorimeter with a static bomb and isothermal jacket. The thermodynamic functions for a region of 0–550 K, enthalpy of combustion, and thermodynamic parameters of copolymer formation from simple substances at T = 298.15 K and p = 101.325 kPa were calculated from the obtained experimental data. The new results and earlier published data were used for the calculation of the thermodynamic characteristics of the alternate copolymerization of bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene and CO under standard pressure for a region of 0–350 K for the bulk reaction. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1483–1487, June, 2005.     

Reactivity ratio of novel acrylic copolymer by NMR spectroscopy

The monomer 4-methylcoumarylacrylate (4-MCA) was synthesized from 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin and characterized by conventional methods. Homo and copolymers of 4-methylcoumarylacrylate and styrene were synthesized with different feed ratios using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent and 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator at 70°C.The resulting polymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy. Copolymer compositions were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined by applying the conventional linearization method of Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tudos. The reactivity ratios values of 4-methylcoumarylacrylate and styrene obtained from F–R plot are 1.36 and 0.62, respectively, and from K–T plot 1.24 and 0.58, respectively.     

Immobilization of Yarrowia lipolytica Lipase—a Comparison of Stability of Physical Adsorption and Covalent Attachment Techniques

Lipase immobilization offers unique advantages in terms of better process control, enhanced stability, predictable decay rates and improved economics. This work evaluated the immobilization of a highly active Yarrowia lipolytica lipase (YLL) by physical adsorption and covalent attachment. The enzyme was adsorbed on octyl–agarose and octadecyl–sepabeads supports by hydrophobic adsorption at low ionic strength and on MANAE–agarose support by ionic adsorption. CNBr–agarose was used as support for the covalent attachment immobilization. Immobilization yields of 71, 90 and 97% were obtained when Y. lipolytica lipase was immobilized into octyl–agarose, octadecyl–sepabeads and MANAE–agarose, respectively. However, the activity retention was lower (34% for octyl–agarose, 50% for octadecyl–sepabeads and 61% for MANAE–agarose), indicating that the immobilized lipase lost activity during immobilization procedures. Furthermore, immobilization by covalent attachment led to complete enzyme inactivation. Thermal deactivation was studied at a temperature range from 25 to 45°C and pH varying from 5.0 to 9.0 and revealed that the hydrophobic adsorption on octadecyl–sepabeads produced an appreciable stabilization of the biocatalyst. The octadecyl–sepabeads biocatalyst was almost tenfold more stable than free lipase, and its thermal deactivation profile was also modified. On the other hand, the Y. lipolytica lipase immobilized on octyl–agarose and MANAE–agarose supports presented low stability, even less than the free enzyme.     

Chemotypical Variability of Leaf Oils in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elephantopus scaber</Emphasis> from 12 Locations in China

The chemical constituents of leaf oils of Elephantopus scaber L. from 12 locations in Southern China, including three provinces and Hong Kong, were investigated using GC/MS. A total of 24 compounds were detected, of which 20 were identified by their mass spectra fragmentation patterns. The major compounds include hexadecanoic acid (8.19–39.22%), octadecadienoic acid (trace - 29.22%), five alkane homologues, i.e., n-tetradecane (1.19–5.26%), n-pentadecane (3.22–12.05%), n-hexadecane (2.38–16.26%), n-heptadecane (2.48–15.32%), and n-octadecane (1.39–9.59%), as well as tetramethylhexadecenol (2.06–4.31%). Hierarchical cluster analysis classified the leaf oils into two groups. Two main chemotypes of leaf oils in E. scaber were thus identified, one rich in hexadecanoic acid and octadecadienoic acid, and the other rich in the five alkane homologues. __________ Published in Kimiya Prirodnikh Soedinenii No. 5, pp. 403–404, September–October, 2005.     

Isolation of biocidal peptides from Anethum graveolens seeds

Three peptides with fungicidal activity with molecular weights 4–8 kDa were isolated from Anethum graveolens L. seeds. The cationic peptides were tested in vitro and inhibited the pathogenic strain Verticillium dahliae. The effective concentrations required for 50% inhibition (IC₅₀) growth of fungi were in the range 1.3–31 μg/mL. Peptide D-AFP-3 was the most active biocidal peptide. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 474–476, September–October, 2006.     

Ternary phase diagrams of DNTF and TNAZ and their eutectics

The eutectic ternary phase diagrams of some typical volatilizable energetic materials have been investigated by high pressure differential scanning calorimeter (PDSC). The ternary H–X phase diagrams for TNT/TNAZ/DNTF (TTD) and TNAZ/DNTF/RDX (TDR) systems were constructed by the correlation of the apparent fusion heat with the composition (H–X method). And, the ternary T–X phase diagrams (the temperature dependence on composition) for the two ternary systems were constructed by calculating from the data of the five T–X binary phase diagrams. The eutectic compositions (mol%) of TTD and TDR ternary systems were obtained to be 52.3/27.3/20.4 (H–X method), 53.2/25.8/21.0 (T–X method) and 54.9/39.6/5.5 (H–X method), 55.1/42.2/2.7 (T–X method), respectively. The eutectic temperatures of the ternary systems were obtained by PDSC determination and T–X method calculation to be 76.5 and 76.7 °C, 47.5 and 50.2 °C, respectively. It is shown that the results obtained by two methods are in agreement and the error in measuring or calculating eutectic compositions and temperatures for the two ternary systems are within allowable ranges of ±3 mol% and ±3 °C, respectively. Moreover, by means of constructing two ternary H–X phase diagrams with different fixed composition of a component and comparing the apparent fusion heat of eutectics with calculated one, the results obtained from H–X method for TTD system were proved. The results showed that the gasification or volatilization of easy volatile materials could be efficiently restrained by high pressure atmosphere, and the perfectly and ideally H–X ternary phase diagrams can be constructed. In comparison with T–X method, H–X method has as a virtue of being quick and simple, especially on constructing ternary phase diagram.     

Structure of a new xanthone from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Securidaca inappendiculata</Emphasis>

A new xanthone (1, 1,7-dihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone), in addition to the known metabolites 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone (2), 24(R)-stigmast-7,22 (E)-dien-3α-ol (3), and 1,7-dimethoxyxanthone (4), was isolated from the roots of Securidaca inappendiculata. Compounds 1–4 were evaluated by anti-HIV assay and 1–3 showed anti-HIV-1inhibitory activity in vitro. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 348–349, July–August, 2008.     

Thermochemical study of the solid complex Ho(PDC)3 (o-phen)

A novel solid complex, formulated as Ho(PDC)₃ (o-phen), has been obtained from the reaction of hydrate holmium chloride, ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and 1,10-phenanthroline (o-phen·H₂O) in absolute ethanol, which was characterized by elemental analysis, TG-DTG and IR spectrum. The enthalpy change of the reaction of complex formation from a solution of the reagents, Δ_rH_m^θ (sol), and the molar heat capacity of the complex, c_m, were determined as being –19.161±0.051 kJ mol^–1 and 79.264±1.218 J mol^–1 K^–1 at 298.15 K by using an RD-496 III heat conduction microcalorimeter. The enthalpy change of complex formation from the reaction of the reagents in the solid phase, Δ_rH_m^θ(s), was calculated as being (23.981±0.339) kJ mol^–1 on the basis of an appropriate thermochemical cycle and other auxiliary thermodynamic data. The thermodynamics of reaction of formation of the complex was investigated by the reaction in solution at the temperature range of 292.15–301.15 K. The constant-volume combustion energy of the complex, Δ_cU, was determined as being –16788.46±7.74 kJ mol^–1 by an RBC-II type rotating-bomb calorimeter at 298.15 K. Its standard enthalpy of combustion, Δ_cH_m^θ, and standard enthalpy of formation, Δ_fH_m^θ, were calculated to be –16803.95±7.74 and –1115.42±8.94 kJ mol^–1, respectively.     

Triterpene glycosides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astragalus</Emphasis> and their genins. LXXVI. Glycosides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. sieversianus</Emphasis>

Nine compounds including six cycloartane glycosides cyclosieversiosides A, B, F, G, and H and astrasieversianin IX; β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol β-D-glucopyranoside, and D-3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol were isolated and identified from roots of Astragalus sieversianus Pall. (Leguminosae) growing in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Presented at the 6th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Compounds (SCNC, Ankara, Turkey, June 28–29, 2005. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 253–256, May–June, 2008.