LC Analysis of Lignans from Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils.

Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. A rapid and convenient method to separate and quantify four lignans (schisandrin, schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin, and γ-schizandrin) was established by reversed-phase liquid chromatographic. On a Shimadzu C₁₈ column (Phenomenex, 150 × 4.6 mm; 5 μm particle size), an isocratic flow elution program and a simplified sample pretreatment approach were used in the experiment. Samples from different parts of S. sphenanthera were extracted by chloroform and then separated with methanol and deionized water (70:30 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min⁻¹. The detection wavelength was set at 280 nm. The content of lignans in fruits is the highest, and the quantities of schisantherin A, deoxyschizandrin, and γ-schizandrin from fruits are 0.56, 0.54 and 0.30%, respectively. Schisandrin is not detected in all the plant extracts. This research forms a basic framework for the better use of S. sphenanthera in medicine.

     

Variation of the Lignan Content of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils.

A rapid and convenient extraction technique followed by HPLC analysis has been developed for determination of lignans in Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. Under the optimized conditions the lignans schisandrin, schisantherin, deoxyschisandrin, and γ-schisandrin were extracted from ten samples collected from different regions in China and then quantified by HPLC. The lignan content of the ten samples is different. S. sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. is richer in deoxyschisandrin but there is less schisandrin and γ-schisandrin is not found. S. chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. is usually richer in γ-schisandrin, the maximum amount being 4.263 mg g⁻¹, although one sample contained none. This method is simple, rapid, sensitive, and repeatable, and is suitable for identification and differentiation of samples from different regions of China.     

A simple and sensitive HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of eight bioactive components and fingerprint analysis of Schisandra sphenanthera

A simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography method with photodiode array detection (HPLC-DAD) was developed for simultaneous determination of eight bioactive constituents (schisandrin, schisandrol B, schisantherin A, schisanhenol, anwulignan, deoxyshisandrin, schisandrin B and schisandrin C) in the ripe fruit of Schisandra sphenanthera and its traditional Chinese herbal preparations Wuzhi-capsule by optimizing the extraction, separation and analytical conditions of HPLC-DAD. The chemical fingerprint of S. sphenanthera was established using raw materials of 15 different origins in China. The chromatographic separations were obtained by an Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18 reserved-phase column (250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) using gradient elution with water-formic acid (100:0.1, v/v) and acetonitrile, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹, an operating temperature of 35 °C, and a wavelength of 230 nm. The constituents were confirmed by (+) electrospray ionization LC-MS. The new method was validated and was successfully applied to simultaneous determination of components in 13 batches of Wuzhi-capsule. The results indicate that this multi-component determination method in combination with chromatographic fingerprint analysis is suitable for quantitative analysis and quality control of S. sphenanthera.     

Validated method for bioactive lignans in Schisandra chinensis in vitro cultures using a solid phase extraction and a monolithic column application

A simple and rapid method for determination of six lignans found in plant cell cultures of Schisandra chinensis was developed and validated. The lignans were extracted from plant samples with methanol and the extracts were effectively cleaned by solid‐phase extraction using Strata C18‐E (Phenomenex) cartridges. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Chromolith Performance RP‐18e monolithic column (100 × 4.6 mm, Merck) using an isocratic mobile phase of acetonitrile and water in a 50:50 (v/v) ratio. The eluent was monitored at 220 nm. The baseline separation of schizandrin, gomisin A, deoxyschizandrin, γ‐schizandrin, gomisin N and wuweizisu C was achieved in a relatively short time period (20 min), which was made possible by the relatively high flow rate of the mobile phase (2 mL/min). The lower limit of quantitation was 0.1 mg/L for schizandrin and gomisin A, 0.3 mg/L for deoxyschizandrin, γ‐schizandrin, and gomisin N and 1 mg/L for wuweizisu C. The analysis of spiked samples containing six lignans provided absolute recoveries between 93 and 101% in all cases. The validated method was successfully applied to the determination of lignans in embryogenic plant cell cultures of Schisandra chinensis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a quality evaluation method for Fructus schisandrae by pressurized capillary electrochromatography

A pressurized CEC (pCEC) method with postcolumn detection cell had been developed for quantifying the lignans from Fructus schisandrae extracts. The effects of different experimental conditions, such as the ACN content of the mobile phase, the concentration and pH of the buffer, the applied voltage, and the supplementary pressure were studied. Five lignans (schisandrin, gomisin A, schisantherin C, deoxyschizandrin, schisandrin B) were baseline separated using a mobile phase of ACN-phosphate buffer (pH 5.4; 5 mM) (40:60 v/v) under -4 kV applied voltage. The method showed the satisfactory retention time and peak area repeatability. The calibration curves were linear in the range 50.0-1000.0 microg/mL for schisandrin, 20.0-500.0 microg/mL for gomisin A, 10.0-200.0 microg/mL for schisantherin C, 20.0-500.0 microg/mL for deoxyschizandrin, and 20.0-500.0 microg/mL for schisandrin B. The correlation coefficients were between 0.9978 and 0.9989. With this pCEC system, fingerprints of F. schisandrae were preliminarily established to distinguish two members S. chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. and S. sphenanthera Rehd. Et Wils. of F. schisandrae by characteristic peaks, and evaluate the quality of various sources of raw materials by determining the contents of the five lignans.     

五味子中木脂素类成分的高效液相色谱-电喷雾质谱研究

采用液相色谱-电喷雾质谱联用(HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ)技术, 对北五味子与南五味子中木脂素类成分进行了系统研究. 通过HPLC-ESI-MS技术, 获得了相应化合物的保留时间、紫外光谱和分子量等信息, 利用电喷雾多级串联质谱技术(ESI-MSⁿ), 获得了相应化合物的结构信息. 研究结果表明, 北五味子与南五味子的主要木脂素成分除5个共有成分外其它成分差异较大, 并且其共有成分含量差别较大. 在此基础上, 建立了简便、快速的北五味子与南五味子药材分析鉴定的新方法.     

Homogeneous ionic liquid microextraction of the active constituents from fruits of Schisandra chinensis and Schisandra sphenanthera

Homogeneous ionic liquid microextraction (HILME) was developed for the extraction of schizandrin, schisantherin A and deoxyschizandrin from Schisandra chinensis and Schisandra sphenanthera. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₄MIM][BF₄]) aqueous solution was used as extraction solvent, and ammonium hexafluorophosphate ([NH₄][PF₆]) was used as ion-pairing agent. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄MIM][PF₆]), which is barely soluble in water, was formed in situ, and was used as sample solution. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed for separation and determination of the analytes. The calibration curve showed good linear relationship (r > 0.9998). The recoveries were between 69.71% and 88.33% with RSDs lower than 4.86%. External standard method was adopted in the proposed method, and internal standard method was applied for the evaluation of the proposed method. The two methods were compared and the results indicated that the proposed method was acceptable and simple. The HILME is free of volatile organic solvents, and represents lower expenditures of sample, extraction time and solvent, compared with ultrasonic and Soxhlet extraction. There was no obvious difference in the extraction yields of active constitutions obtained by the three extraction methods.     

Quantitative Determination of Lignan Constituents from Schisandra chinensis by Liquid Chromatography

The fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Schisandraceae/Magnoliaceae) are a traditional oriental medicine possessing diverse biological activities. A simple and specific analytical method for the quantitative determination of eight lignan constituents from the methanolic extract of the fruits of Schisandra chinensis was developed. The lignan constituents present in the fruits of Schisandra chinensis were separated with an acetonitrile-water-reagent alcohol gradient at a flow rate of 1.0 mL per minute. The HPLC separation was performed on a Phenomenex Luna C18 (2) (150 × 4.6 mm I.D., particle size 5 μm) reversed phase column with detection at 215 nm. The limit of detection was in the range from 0.2 to1.5 μg mL^?1. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values for the determination of lignan constituents in fruits of Schisandra chinensis were less than 2.0%. The method was successfully used to analyze different products available in the market containing Schisandra chinensis and also to study the percentage compositions of various lignans present in Schisandra chinensis procured from different regions in S. Korea.     

Enrichment and purification of deoxyschizandrin and γ-schizandrin from the extract of Schisandra chinensis fruit by macroporous resins

In present study, the performance and separation characteristics of 21 macroporous resins for the enrichment and purification of deoxyschizandrin and γ-schizandrin, the two major lignans from Schisandra chinensis extracts, were evaluated. According to our results, HPD5000, which adsorbs by the molecular tiers model, was the best macroporous resin, offering higher adsorption and desorption capacities and higher adsorption speed for deoxyschizandrin and γ-schizandrin than other resins. Columns packed with HPD5000 resin were used to perform dynamic adsorption and desorption tests to optimize the technical parameters of the separation process. The results showed that the best adsorption time is 4 h, the rate of adsorption is 0.85 mL/min (4 BV/h) and the rate of desorption is 0.43 mL/min (2 BV/h). After elution with 90% ethanol, the purity of deoxy-schizandrin increased 12.62-fold from 0.37% to 4.67%, the purity of γ-schizandrin increased 15.8-fold from 0.65% to 10.27%, and the recovery rate was more than 80%.     

Vibrational circular dichroism study for natural bioactive schizandrin and reassignment of its absolute configuration

Bioactive natural product (+)-schizandrin was assigned as (7S,8S) using NMR. Recently, we obtained (+)-schizandrin from TCM Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. Its planar structure was well established using NMR and HR-MS including the reported references. Its absolute configuration is assigned using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD). By careful VCD investigation of (7S,8S) and (7S,8R) using B3LYP/6-311+G(d) methods, absolute configuration of (+)-schizandrin is assigned as (7S,8R). Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) was used for the discussion too and it gave the same conclusion.     

LC Determination of Podophyllum Lignans and Flavonoids in Podophyllum emodi Wall.var.chinesis Sprague

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous separation and determination of nine podophyllum lignans and two flavonoids in Podophyllum emodi Wall.var.chinesis Sprague was established. The separation was performed with the following condition: column, Kromasil-C18, 5 μm, 15 × 0.46 cm; solvent A, 25 mM phosphate buffer, pH 2.5; solvent B, methanol; gradient, 50/50/70% B at 0/13/33 min; flow rate, 0.8 mL min^?1; detection, UV 270 nm. β-Apopicropodophyllin was used as the internal standard. The samples of P. emodi Wall.var.chinesis Sprague from different sources were examined by the developed method. In addition, three methods for sample preparation were discussed. It is shown from the results that refluxing in chloroform displays high extraction efficiency.     

Determination of Monobromobimane-Labeled Phytochelatins by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A new method for phytochelatins by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed based on a condensation reaction with monobromobimane to produce fluorescent derivatives. Glutathione, H-(γ-glutamic acid-cysteine)₂-glycine-OH, H-(γ-glutamic acid-cysteine)₃-glycine-OH, H-(γ-glutamic acid-cysteine)₄-glycine-OH, H-(γ-glutamic acid-cysteine)₅-glycine-OH, and H-(γ-glutamic acid-cysteine)₆-glycine-OH were well separated, with retention times between 14.68 and 22.0 min. The HPLC method had good linearity (r < 0.9991) between 0.1 mg L^?1 and 100 mg L^?1. The limits of quantification for the analytes (S/N = 3) were 0.08, 0.3, 0.05, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.8 mg L^?1, respectively. The recoveries were between 83.0% and 101.33% with relative standard deviations less than 2%. The reported method is simple, accurate, and suitable for the determination of phytochelatins.     

Bioanalytical assay development and validation for simultaneous quantification of five schisandra lignans in rat primary hepatocytes based on LC‐MS/MS: application to a real‐time uptake study for Schisandra Lignan Extract

Schisandra lignans, mainly including schizandrol A, schizandrol B, schisantherin A, schizandrin A, schizandrin B, etc., are the major active ingredients of Schisandra chinensis . In the present study, a robust liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of schisandra lignans in rat primary hepatocytes. Lovastatin was used as an internal standard, and chromatographic separation was achieved on a Shimadzu C₁₈ column with a gradient elution at the flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. All of the analytes were detected in multiple reaction monitoring mode with positive electrospray ionization since the sodium adduct ion [M + Na]⁺ was observed as the most intensive peak in the MS spectrum. For schizandrol A, schisantherin A and schizandrin A, the dynamic range was within 2–1000 ng/mg protein, and the linear range of schizandrol B and schizandrin B was from 5 to 1000 ng/mg protein. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision was <15% and the accuracy (relative error) ranged from −15 to 15%. No significant variation was observed in the stability tests. The validated method was then successfully applied to the time‐dependent uptake study for the Schisandra Lignan Extract in rat primary hepatocytes.     

Determination of the k 0-values for 75Se, 110mAg, 115Cd–115mIn, 131Ba, and 153Sm by irradiation in highly thermalized neutron flux

The k ₀-values were determined for five high Q ₀(n,γ) reactions, including ⁷⁴Se(n,γ) ⁷⁵Se, ¹⁰⁹Ag(n,γ) ^110mAg, ¹¹⁴Cd(n,γ) ¹¹⁵Cd–^115mIn, ¹³⁰Ba(n,γ) ¹³¹Ba, and ¹⁵²Sm(n,γ) ¹⁵³Sm. These determinations were carried out under favorable experiment conditions: the irradiations were performed in a highly thermalized neutron flux, the irradiated target samples were counted at a far distance from HPGe detector with an efficiency carefully calibrated, and the k ₀-values were calculated against an internal comparator. When compared to the new values from this work, the 2003 recommended ^110mAg k ₀-values are confirmed. The other confirmed recommended k ₀-value is that of ⁷⁵Se 400.7 keV line. However, for the other ⁷⁵Se γ-lines, the new k ₀-values are 4–10 % higher. It is assumed that an inaccurate efficiency calibration was used when the recommended k ₀-values were measured. For the other three nuclides, the new k ₀-values are higher by 4 % for the ¹¹⁵Cd–^115mIn γ-lines, lower by 6–8 % for the ¹³¹Ba γ-lines, and lower by 8.8 % for the ¹⁵³Sm 103.2 keV γ-line.     

Inclusion complexes of cyclodextrins with 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimides (part 2)

Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to characterize inclusion compounds between 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimides (ANI) derivatives and different cyclodextrins (CDs). The ANI derivatives employed were N-(12-aminododecyl)-4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide (mono-C₁₂ANI) and N,N′-(1,12-dodecanediyl)bis-4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide (bis-C₁₂ANI). The CDs used here were α-CD, β-CD, γ-CD, HP-α-CD, HP-β-CD and HP-γ-CD. The presence of CDs resulted in pronounced blue-shifts in the emission spectra of the ANI derivatives, with increases in emission intensity. This behavior was parallel to that observed for the dyes in apolar solvents, indicating that inclusion complexes were formed between the ANI and the CDs. Mono-C₁₂ANI formed inclusion complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry with all the CDs studied. Complexes with the larger CDs (HP-β-CD, HP-γ-CD and γ-CD) were formed by inclusion of the chromophoric ANI ring system, whereas the smaller CDs (α-CD, HP-α-CD and β-CD) formed complexes with mono-C₁₂ANI by inclusion of the dodecyl chain. Bis-C₁₂ANI formed inclusion complexes of 1:2 stoichiometry with HP-β-CD, HP-γ-CD and γ-CD, but did not form inclusion complexes with α-CD, HP-α-CD and β-CD. The data were treated in the case of the large CDs using a Benesi-Hildebrand like equation, giving the following equilibrium constants: mono-C₁₂ANI:HP-β-CD (K ₁₁ = 50 M^?1), mono-C₁₂ANI:HP-γ-CD (K ₁₁ = 180 M^?1), bis-C₁₂ANI:HP-β-CD (K ₁₂ = 146 M^?2), bis-C₁₂ANI:HP-γ-CD (K ₁₂ = 280 M^?2).     

Discrimination of the Traditional Chinese Medicine from Schisandra Fruits by Flash Evaporation-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry and Fingerprint Analysis

Flash evaporation-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (FE-GC/MS) with 0.3 mg sample powder in a vertical microfurnace pyrolyzer at 300 °C was applied to analyze Schisandra fruits without any tedious pretreatment. In total, 80 compounds, 74 compounds of which were identified, were observed, including low-molecular-weight compounds, essential oils (especially terpenoids), fatty acids and esters, and lignans, with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the relative percent of peak areas less than 7.79 % (n = 5). 32 compounds of terpenoids and lignans were selected as fingerprint components, since they are the main bioactive constituents in Schisandra fruits. The standard characteristic fingerprints of S. chinensis fruits and S. sphenantherae fruits were established, based on the 32 fingerprint components of 11 genuine S. chinensis fruit samples and 9 genuine S. sphenantherae fruit samples. The discrimination of samples from different growing places was achieved by principle component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. Furthermore, a similarity evaluation method was developed to evaluate the quality of each Schisandra fruit sample on the basis of the 32 fingerprint components. The results proved that the FE-GC fingerprint combined with a chemometric approach is a simple, rapid, and effective method for the origin discrimination and quality control of Schisandra fruits.

     

Cross-section measurement of some deuteron induced reactions on 160Gd for possible production of the therapeutic radionuclide 161Tb

The radionuclide ¹⁶¹Tb (T _1/2 = 6.89 days) is potentially important for internal radiotherapy. It is generally produced through the ¹⁶⁰Gd(n,γ)¹⁶¹Gd → ¹⁶¹Tb route at research reactors. In this work the possibility of its production at a cyclotron was investigated. Determination of the excitation function of the ¹⁶⁰Gd(d,x)¹⁶¹Tb production route and that of the disturbing ¹⁶⁰Gd(d,2n)¹⁶⁰Tb side reaction was done over the deuteron energy range up to 50 MeV using the stacked-foil technique and high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry. A comparison of this production route with the established (n,γ) reaction at a nuclear reactor is made.     

Synthesis and properties of the cationic fluorocarbon emulsifier-free latex in a new micellar system

Cationic fluorocarbon emulsifier-free latex (CFEL) based on hexafluorobutyl methacrylate (FA), styrene, butyl acrylate, and methacrylatoethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride is successfully prepared in a new micellar system in which the fluorinated surface active monomer (FSM) based on isophorone diisocyanate, dodecafluoroheptanol, and allyl polyethylene glycol is used. The chemical structure of FSM is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H-NMR, and its surface-active properties have been investigated by surface tension determinator. Besides, effect of FSM, FA, and also the curing temperature on the latex and film properties has been investigated by the coagulation ratio (W _c ), precipitation ratio (W _p ), Nano-ZS particle sizer, contact angle, and water absorption ratio, respectively. The results show that the FSM is successfully prepared. The CMC of FSM is 2.37 g L^?1 and the γ _CMC is 26.31mN m^?1 accordingly. The more FSM content makes more stable emulsion and have only little adverse effect on its film properties. When the FSM content increases from 1.05 to 13.11 %, the W _c and W _p decrease by 83.5 and 32.1 %, respectively, and the surface free energy (γ) of CFEL film only increases by 8.3 %. The more FA content makes less stable emulsion but have favorable effect on its film properties. When the FA content increases from 0 to 25.11 %, the γ is decreased by 55.1 %. The curing temperature has much impact on film property. For example, the γ from 27.47 to 20.36 mJ?·?m^?2 when the curing temperature rises from 30 to 110 °C.     

Depth profiling of titanium using a resonance in 48Ti(p,γ)49V nuclear reaction

Depth profiling of titanium using the resonances at 1,007, 1,013 and 1,362 keV in ⁴⁸Ti(p,γ)⁴⁹V nuclear reaction (E _γ  = 7.9 MeV) has been investigated. The resonance at 1,362 keV with a detection sensitivity of ~5.1 × 10²⁰ at. cm^?3 (~ 1 at.%), probing depth of ~800 nm and a depth resolution of ~24 nm in silicon is best suited for analytical applications. Lower probing depth and lesser detection sensitivity are the major limitations of the two other resonances. The applicability of the resonance at 1,362 keV is demonstrated by depth profiling Ti in Pd (32 nm)/Ti (57 nm)/Mg (300 nm)/Ti (57 nm)/Si multi-layered coating.     

A high-spin cyanide-bridged Mo6Mn9 cluster: crystal structure and magnetism

A cyanide-bridged bimetallic octacyanomolybdate(V)-based polynuclear cluster, {Mn ₉ ^II [Mo^V(CN)₈]₆(EtOH)₂₄} · 6EtOH · 3i-C₃H₇OH · 3H₂O (1), has been prepared by self-assembling of [Mo(CN)₈]^3? and Mn²⁺ ions. The compound crystallized in the trigonal system with space group R-3 and cell dimensions of a = b = 26.182(15), c = 25.586(14) Å, γ = 120°, and Z = 18. The structure of the complex consists of neutral cluster of 15 metal ions, in which all metal ions are linked by cyanide bridged ligands. Magnetic susceptibilities and magnetization measurements of the complex indicate that the cluster has an S = 39/2 ground state. The intracluster ferrimagnetic interaction has been characterized as well.