Lancifodilactone G: a unique nortriterpenoid isolated from Schisandra lancifolia and its anti-HIV activity

[structure: see text]. Lancifodilactone G (1), a novel, highly oxygenated nortriterpenoid featuring a partial enol structure and a spirocyclic moiety, was isolated from the medicinal plant Schisandra lancifolia. Its structure and stereochemistry were determined from extensive one- and two-dimensional NMR and mass spectral data, coupled with single-crystal X-ray analysis. Compound 1 exerted minimal cytotoxicity against C8166 cells (CC50 > 200 microg/mL) and showed anti-HIV activity with EC50 = 95.47 +/- 14.19 microg/mL and a selectivity index in the range of 1.82-2.46.     

Development of a novel method based on liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection for the direct determination of streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin in raw materials, pharmaceutical formulations, culture media and plasma

A novel method for the non-derivatization liquid chromatographic determination of streptomycin (STR) and dihydrostreptomycin (DHSTR) was developed and validated based on evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). Utilizing a ThermoHypersil BetaBasic C18 analytical column, evaporation temperature of 50 degrees C and pressure of nebulizing gas (nitrogen) of 3.5 bar, the optimized mobile phase was 1.25 mL L(-1) TFA aqueous solution, in an isocratic mode at a rate of 1.0 mL min(-1). STR was eluted at 5.6 min and DHSTR at 7.8 min with a resolution of 4.4. Linear calibration curves were obtained from 2 to 120 microg mL(-1) (r > 0.9990) for STR and 2-75 microg mL(-1) (r > 0.9994) for DHSTR, with a LOD equal to 0.7 and 0.5 microg mL(-1), respectively. The developed method was applied for the assay of STR and DHSTR (sulfate) in pharmaceutical raw materials and formulations, while the simultaneous direct determination of sulfate was feasible (tR = 2.5 min, LOD = 1.4 microg mL(-1), double logarithmic calibration curve in the range of 4-50 microg mL(-1), r > 0.9998). Modified isocratic mobile phase (H2O-ACN, 90:10, v/v, containing 1.25 mL L(-1) TFA), was used for the determination of streptomycin B impurity in STR sulfate raw material and a gradient mobile phase (H2O-ACN containing TFA) was used for the determination of DHSTR in the presence of penicillinG procaine. The developed method was also applied for the assay of commercial formulations (STR powder and DHSTR injection solution and suspension) (%recovery 98-102, %RSD < 1.3, n = 3 x 3), for the determination of STR in bacteria culture medium (%recovery 99.6, %RSD = 0.8, n = 3 x 3), and for the determination of DHSTR in human plasma (2.0-23.0 microg mL(-1)) after solid phase extraction using carboxylate cartridges (%recovery 98.4-101.8, %RSD = 3.2, n = 3 x 3).     

Triangulene C, a new cubitane-based diterpenoid from the soft coral Sinularia triangula

A new cubitane-based diterpenoid, triangulene C (1), was isolated from the soft coral Sinularia triangula and its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compound 1 was not cytotoxic (IC50 > 20 microg/mL) toward the four human cancer cell lines tested (HL60, MDA-MB-231, HCT-116 and DLD-1).     

Maoecrystal V, cytotoxic diterpenoid with a novel C19 skeleton from Isodon eriocalyx (Dunn.) hara

Maoecrystal V (1), a novel C(19) diterpenoid possessing a unique 6,7-seco-6-nor-15(8-->9)-abeo-5,8-epoxy-ent-kaurane skeleton, was isolated from the leaves of a Chinese medicinal herb, Isodon eriocalyx. Its structure was determined by comprehensive NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. Compound 1 showed remarkable inhibitory activity toward HeLa cells with IC(50) = 0.02 microg/mL (cis-platin: IC(50) = 0.99 microg/mL).     

Structure and anti-HIV activity of micrandilactones B and C, new nortriterpenoids possessing a unique skeleton from Schisandra micrantha

Two new highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids with a unique norcycloartane skeleton, micrandilactones B and C, were isolated from Schisandra micrantha; micrandilactone C exhibited an EC50 value of 7.71 microg/mL (SI > 25.94) against HIV-1 replication with minimal cytotoxicity, and the potent anti-HIV-1 activity and unique structural features of make it a promising lead for therapeutic development of a new generation of anti-HIV drug.     

Validation of a simple HPLC method for DRF-4848, a novel COX-2 inhibitor suitable for pharmacokinetic application in rats

For pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic purpose a simple HPLC-UV method has been developed and validated for the estimation of DRF-4848, a novel COX-2 inhibitor in rat plasma. A liquid-liquid extraction was used to extract DRF-4848 and internal standard (IS, DRF-4367) from rat plasma. The analysis was performed on a C(18) column with UV detection at 285 nm. The isocratic mobile phase, 0.01 M potassium dihydrogen ortho phosphate (pH 3.2) and acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) was run at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The retention times of DRF-4848 and IS were 6.8 and 11.2 min, respectively. Absolute recovery for analyte and IS was >80% from rat plasma. A linear response was observed over a concentration range 0.1-20 microg/mL. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of DRF-4848 was 0.1 microg/mL. The inter- and intra-day precisions in the measurement of quality control (QC) samples, 0.1, 0.3, 8.0 and 15.0 microg/mL, were in the range 1.74-8.70% relative standard deviation (RSD) and 0.75-8.43% RSD, respectively. Accuracy in the measurement of QC samples was in the range 93.29-116.51% of the nominal values. Analyte and IS were stable in the battery of stability studies viz., benchtop, autosampler, long-term and freeze/thaw cycles.     

Direct method for determination of Sudan I in FD&C Yellow No. 6 and D&C Orange No. 4 by reversed-phase liquid chromatography

A reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method was developed to determine parts-per-million and higher levels of Sudan 1, 1-(phenylazo)-2-naphthalenol, in the disulfo monoazo color additive FD&C Yellow No. 6 and in a related monosulfo monoazo color additive, D&C Orange No. 4. Sudan I, the corresponding unsulfonated monoazo dye, is a known impurity in these color additives. The color additives are dissolved in water and methanol, and the filtered solutions are directly chromatographed, without extraction or concentration, by using gradient elution at 0.25 mL/min. Calibrations from peak areas at 485 nm were linear. At a 99% confidence level, the limits of determination were 0.008 microg Sudan I/mL (0.4 ppm) in FD&C Yellow No. 6 and 0.011 microg Sudan I/mL (0.00011%) in D&C Orange No. 4. The confidence intervals were 0.202 +/- 0.002 microg Sudan I/mL (10.1 +/- 0.1 ppm) near the specification level for Sudan I in FD&C Yellow No. 6 and 20.0 +/- 0.2 microg Sudan I/mL (0.200 +/- 0.002%) near the highest concentration of Sudan I found in D&C Orange No. 4. A survey was conducted to determine Sudan I in 28 samples of FD&C Yellow No. 6 from 17 international manufacturers over 3 years, and in a pharmacology-tested sample. These samples were found to contain undetected levels (16 samples), 0.5-9.7 ppm Sudan I (0.01-0.194 microg Sudan I/mL in analyzed solutions; 11 samples including the pharmacology sample), and > or =10 ppm Sudan I (> or = 0.2 microg Sudan I/mL; 2 samples). Analyses of 21 samples of D&C Orange No. 4 from 8 international manufacturers over 4 years found Sudan I at undetected levels (8 samples), 0.0005 to < 0.005% Sudan I (0.05 to < 0.5 microg Sudan I/mL in analyzed solutions; 3 samples, including a pharmacology batch), 0.005 to <0.05% Sudan I (0.5 to <5 microg Sudan I/mL; 9 samples), and 0.18% Sudan I (18 microg Sudan I/mL; 1 sample).     

Coriatone and corianlactone, two novel sesquiterpenes from Coriaria nepalensis

Both coriatone (1). a novel highly oxygenated picrotoxane-type sesquiterpene, and corianlactone (2). with an unprecedented sesquiterpene basic skeleton, named coriane, were isolated from Coriaria nepalensis Wall. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by analysis of their two-dimensional NMR data, and the structure of 2 was confirmed by X-ray analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 showed no remarkable inhibitory activity toward K(562) cells. They are cytotoxic with IC(50) > 50 microg/mL (cis-platinim: IC(50) = 0.49 microg/mL).     

Anthecularin: a novel sesquiterpene lactone from Anthemis auriculata with antiprotozoal activity

Anthecularin (1), a minor sesquiterpene lactone with a novel ring system was isolated from Greek Anthemis auriculata (Asteraceae). Its structure was elucidated by means of NMR, HRMS, and X-ray crystallography. Anthecularin showed antitrypanosomal (IC50=10.1 microg/mL) and antiplasmodial activity (IC50=23.3 microg/mL) and inhibited two key enzymes of the plasmodial type II fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, PfFabI and PfFabG (IC50 values=14 and 28.3 microg/mL, respectively). A probable biogenesis of 1 is also proposed and discussed.     

Composition of three essential oils, and their mammalian cell toxicity and antimycobacterial activity against drug resistant-tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria strains

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most ancient epidemic disease in the world and a serious opportunistic disease in HIV/AIDS patients. The increase in multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB, XDR-TB) demands the search for novel antimycobacterial drugs. Essential oils (EOs) have been widely used in medicine and some EOs and their major components have been shown to be active against M. tuberculosis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antimycobacterial and cell toxicity activities of three EOs derived from Salvia aratocensis, Turnera diffusa and Lippia americana, aromatics plants collected in Colombia. The EOs were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS techniques. The EOs were tested against 15 Mycobacterium spp using a colorimetric macrodilution method and against mammalian Vero and THP-1 cells by MTT. The activity was expressed as minimal concentration in microg/mL that inhibits growth, and the concentration that is cytotoxic for 50 or 90% of the cells (CC50 and CC90). The major components were epi-alpha-cadinol (20.1%) and 1,10-di-epi-cubenol (14.2%) for Salvia aratocensis; drima-7,9(11)-diene (22.9%) and viridiflorene (6.6%) for Turnera diffusa; and germacrene D (15.4%) and trans-beta- caryophyllene (11.3%) for Lippia americana. The most active EO was obtained from S. aratocensis, with MIC values below 125 microg mL(-1) for M. tuberculosis Beijing genotype strains, and 200 to 500 microg mL(-1) for nontuberculous mycobacterial strains. The EOs were either partially or non toxic to Vero and THP-1 mammalian cells with CC50 values from 30 to > 100 microg mL(-1), and a CC90 > 100 microg mL(-1). The EOs obtained from the three aromatic Colombian plants are an important source of potential compounds against TB. Future studies using the major EO components are recommended.     

Cytotoxic lignans from the stems of Styrax camporum (Styracaceae)

An ethanolic extract from the stems of Styrax camporum Pohl (Styracaceae), a plant traditionally used for gastrointestinal diseases, was fractionated and subjected to flash chromatography and afforded two benzofuran lignans, egonol and homoegonol, and one furofuran lignan, (+/-)syringaresinol, which were identified by spectral data interpretation. Their cytotoxic activities against Hep-2 (larynx epidermoid carcinoma), HeLa (human cervix carcinoma) and C6 (rat glioma) cell lines were evaluated using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay at several concentrations for 24h. Activities could be observed for egonol against C6 (IC50 = 3.2 microg/mL) and Hep-2 (IC50 = 3.6 microg/mL) cell lines, and for homoegonol against C6 (IC50 = 4.9 microg/mL) and HeLa (IC50 = 5.3 microg/mL) cells.     

Development and validation of a stereoselective HPLC method for the determination of the in vitro transport of nateglinide enantiomers in rat intestine

A simple stereoselective high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of the in vitro transport of the enantiomers of nateglinide (N-(trans-4-isopropylcyclohexyl-carbonyl)-phenylalanine) in the rat intestine using a Chiralcel OJ-RH column (150 x 4.0 mm, 5 microm). The effects of the mobile phase composition, pH, the flow rate, and the temperature on the chromatographic separation were investigated. The enantioseparation was achieved at 33 degrees C using a mobile phase containing 100 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate, pH 2.5, and ACN (32:68 v/v) delivered at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The analytes were monitored at 210 nm and linearity (r >0.99) was obtained for a concentration range of 0.5-50 microg/mL. The LOD and LOQ were 0.2 and 0.5 microg/mL for the R-enantiomer and 0.2 and 0.8 microg/mL for the S-enantiomer, respectively. Both, the intra- and interday accuracy and precision of the calibration curves were determined. The method was successfully applied to estimate the in vitro passage of the enantiomers and the racemate of nateglinide in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of rats. Generally, higher concentrations of nateglinide and the S-enantiomer were observed when the racemate was administered compared to administration of the individual enantiomers of nateglinide.     

Antiparasitic and antimicrobial isoflavanquinones from Abrus schimperi

The EtOH extract of Abrus schimperi (Fabaceae), collected in Kenya, demonstrated significant activity against Leishmania donovani promastigotes with IC50 value of 3.6 microg/mL. Bioassay-guided fractionation of CHCl3 fraction using Centrifugal Preparative TLC afforded two antiparasitic isoflavanquinones, namely amorphaquinone (1) and pendulone (2). They displayed IC50 values of 0.63 microg/mL and 0.43 microg/mL, respectively, against L. donovani promastigotes. Both the compounds were also evaluated against L. donovani axenic amastigotes and amastigotes in THPI macrophage cultures. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 showed antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum D6 and W2 strains, while 2 displayed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (each IC50 1.44 microg/mL). The 1H and 13C data of 1, not fully assigned previously, were unambiguously assigned using 1D and 2D NMR HMBC and HMQC experiments. In addition, the absolute stereochemistry of the isolated compounds 1 and 2 was revised as C-(3S) based on Circular Dichroism experiments. This appears to be the first report of amorphaquinone (1) and pendulone (2) from the genus Abrus.     

Determination of ceftriaxone in cerebrospinal fluid by ion-pair liquid chromatography

An ion-pair liquid chromatographic assay was developed and validated for the determination of ceftriaxone in cerebrospinal fluid. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column (125 x 4 mm, 5 microm) with detection at 270 nm, a 1 mL/min flow rate and a 50 microL loop. The mobile phase consisted of 300 mL acetonitrile, 50 mL 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), 3.2 g tetrabutylammonium bromide as the ion-pairing agent, and dilution with distilled deionized water to 1 L. Cephradine was used as the internal standard. The assay was linear for ceftriaxone concentrations of 0.5-50 microg/mL. The coefficients of variation for precision were <4.61%. The accuracy ranged from 96.07 to 102.42%. The detection and quantitation limits were 0.019 and 0.065 microg/mL, respectively. This method was used to quantify ceftriaxone in the cerebrospinal fluid of children with meningitis. The results showed that the method described here is useful for the determination of ceftriaxone in cerebrospinal fluid.     

以睾酮为探针采用高效液相色谱法测定细胞色素CYP450 3A4的酶活性

建立了一种快速、高效的以睾酮作为探针药物评价细胞色素P450 3A4(CYP3A4)酶活性的高效液相色谱-紫外检测方法。采用的色谱柱为Phenomenex C18柱(4.6 mm×150 mm,5 μm),梯度洗脱,流速1.0 mL/min,紫外检测波长245 nm,柱温30 ℃。睾酮与大鼠肝微粒体温孵后,过已活化好的C18固相萃取小柱,收集甲醇洗脱液,于37 ℃水浴中通N2吹干,用50%甲醇复溶后进样分析测定。研究结果表明,6β-羟基睾酮的 保留时间为11.60 min,线性范围为0.5～32 μg/mL,最低检出质量浓度为0.02 μg/mL,提取率为88.41%～92.73%,方法的回收率为99.07%～101.30%;睾酮的保留时间为19.27 min,线性范围为0.5～40 μg/mL,最低检出质量浓度为0.01 μg/mL,提取率为89.59%～92.66%,方法的回收率为96.50%～98.03%。两者的日内、日间相对标准偏差均小于10%,温孵体系中的其他内源性物质不干扰测定。该方法快速、稳定、灵敏度高,适合体外睾酮及其代谢物6β-羟基睾酮的测定,可应用于体外CYP3A4酶活性的评价及酶动力学的研究。     

Simultaneous quantitation of etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen, nimesulide and celecoxib in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection

A specific, accurate, precise and reproducible high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen, nimesulide and celecoxib in human plasma. The method employed a simple liquid-liquid extraction of etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen, nimesulide and celecoxib and internal standard (IS, DRF-4367) from human plasma (500 microL) into acetonitirile. The organic layer was separated and evaporated under a gentle stream of nitrogen at 40 degrees C. The residue was reconstituted in the mobile phase and injected onto a Kromasil KR 100-5C18 column (4.6 x 250 mm, 5 microm). The chromatographic separation was achieved by gradient elution consisting of 0.05 M formic acid (pH 3)-acetonitrile-methanol-water at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The eluate was monitored using an ultraviolet (UV) detector set at 235 nm. The ratio of peak area of each analyte to IS was used for quantification of plasma samples. Nominal retention times of etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen, nimesulide, IS and celecoxib were 15.63, 17.20, 21.66, 24.95, 26.27, 30.24 and 32.22 min, respectively. The standard curve for etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen and celecoxib was linear (r2 > 0.999) in the concentration range 0.1-50 microg/mL and for nimesulide (r2 > 0.999) in the concentration range 0.5-50 microg/mL. Absolute recovery was >83% from human plasma for all the analytes and IS. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of nimesulide was 0.5 microg/mL and for etoricoxib, salicylic acid, valdecoxib, ketoprofen and celecoxib the LLOQ was 0.1 microg/mL. The inter- and intra-day precisions in the measurement of QC samples, 0.1, 0.3, 15.0 and 40.0 microg/mL (for all analytes except nimesulide), were in the range 2.29-9.37% relative standard deviation (RSD) and 0.69-10.28% RSD, respectively. For nimesulide the inter- and intra-day precisions in the measurement of quality control (QC) samples, 0.5, 1.5, 15.0 and 40.0 microg/mL, were in the range 3.21-7.37% RSD and 0.97-7.06% RSD, respectively. Accuracy in the measurement of QC samples for all analytes was in the range 91.03-106.38% of the nominal values. All analytes including IS were stable in the battery of stability studies, viz. bench top, autosampler and freeze-thaw cycles. Stability of all analytes was established for 21 days at -20 degrees C. The application of the assay in an oral pharmacokinetic study in rats co-administered with celecoxib and valdecoxib is described.     

Head-column field-amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis for the determination of cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, and ranitidine-HCl in plasma.

In this study, low concentrations of histamine2-receptor (H2-)antagonists were effected across a water plug, with separation taking place in a binary buffer comprising ethylene glycol and NaH2PO4 (pH 5.0), and detection at 214 nm. Liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate- isopropanol is shown to provide extracts that are sufficiently clean. The calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 0.1-2.00 microg/mL cimetidine, 0.2-5.0 microg/mL ranitidine-HCl, 0.3-5.0 microg/mL nizatidine, and 0.1-3.0 microg/mL famotidine. Mean recoveries were > 82%, while the intra- and interday relative standard deviations (RSDs) and relative errors (REs) were all < 13%. The method is sensitive with a detection limit of 3 ng/mL cimetidine, 30 ng/mL ranitidine HCl, 50 ng/mL nizatidine and 10 ng/mL famotidine (S/N = 3, electric-driven injection 90 s). This newly developed capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was applied for the determination of analytes extracted from plasma taken from a volunteer dosing a cimetidine, ranitidine, and nizatidine tablet simultaneously. These three H2-antagonists can be detected in real samples by this method, excluding the low dosing of famotidine tablet.     

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of mitragynine in serum and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in rats

A simple HPLC technique for determining mitragynine levels in serum was developed. The separation system consisted of a C18 column heated to 35 degrees C, a methanol-water (80:20, v/v) mobile phase, a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min and detection in the ultraviolet at 225 nm. Mitragynine, with a retention time of 10.09 min, was well resolved from any interferences in human serum and the internal standard peak. The calibration curve was linear from 0.1 to 10 microg/mL (r = 0.9995). Extraction of mitragy-nine from alkalinized serum using diethyl ether gave a high recovery (>or=85%). The intra- and inter-day precisions of the method were 4.29-5.88%RSD and 7.06-8.45%RSD, respectively. The accuracy ranged from -9.54 to +0.67%DEV. The limit of detection was 0.03 microg/mL and the lower limit of quantification was 0.1 microg/mL. Mitragynine in the stock solution was stable during 30 days of storage at 4 degrees C. This method was successfully applied to determine the pharmacokinetic characteristics of mitragynine levels in the serum of rats after it was administered orally.     

Alkaloids from some amaryllidaceae species and their cholinesterase activity

Alkaloid extracts of four Amaryllidaceae species were studied with respect to their acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and alkaloid patterns. Twenty-one alkaloids were determined by GC/MS, and seventeen of them identified from their mass spectra and retention times. The GC/MS analysis of the alkaloid extract of Nerine filamentosa is the first phytochemical investigation of this species. Promising erythrocytic acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity was demonstrated by the alkaloid extracts of Narcissus poeticus var recurvus, Nerine filifolia and N. filamentosa (IC(50,HuAChE) = 6.0 +/- 0.1 microg/mL; IC(50,HuAChE) = 18.5 +/- 0.8 microg/mL, IC(50,HuAChE) = 21.6 +/- 1.1 microg/mL). The most potent inhibitory activity against serum butyrylcholinesterase was shown by extracts of Sternbergia lutea and Nerinefilamentosa (IC(50,HuBuChE) = 3.7 +/- 0.1 microg/mL; IC(50.HuBuChE) = 13.0 +/- 0.7 microg/mL).     

A simple HPLC method for the quantification of mizoribine in human serum: pharmacokinetic applications

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the quantification of mizoribine in human serum. After the addition of 70% perchloric acid and 3-methylxanthine (50 microg/mL, internal standard) to human serum, the samples were mixed and centrifuged at 12,000 rpm (1432 g) for 10 min. The supernatant was injected onto a C(18) column eluted with a mobile phase of 20 mm Na2HPO4 and methanol (93:7, v/v, pH 3) containing 0.04% octanesulfonic acid and detected utilizing an ultraviolet detector at 275 nm. The linear calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range of 0.1-4.0 microg/mL and the lower limit of quantification was 0.1 microg/mL. This method was validated with selectivity, linearity, precision and accuracy. In addition, the method was successfully applied to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters of mizoribine in Korean subjects following an oral administration of 100 mg mizoribine (two Bredinine 50 mg tablets). The maximum serum concentration (C(max)) of 2.30 +/- 0.83 microg/mL was reached 2.27 +/- 0.66 h after an oral dose. The mean AUC(0-12 h) and the elimination half-life (t(1/2)) were 13.2 +/- 4.79 microg h/mL and 3.10 +/- 0.74 h, respectively.