New Metabolites of Aconitine in Rabbit Urine

A sensitive analytical method to identify and determine aconitine and its metabolites in rabbit urine was developed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS^n). In this method,aconitine and its four metabolites in rabbit urine were isolated and deduced as 16-O-demethylaconine (M1), benzoylaconine (M2),16-O-demethylbenzoylaconine (M3) and aconine(M4).M1 and M3 are new metabolites of aconitine and M2 and M4 are first identified in rabbit urine.     

A New Method for Preparation and Characterization of Lipo-aikaloid

A simple route for the preparation of lipo-alkaloid is presented. When aconitine or one of its analogues is heated with a fatty acid for 20 min at 100℃ in water, the C8 acetyl group of aconitine is displaced by a long chain fatty acyl group. The structures of the products were characterized by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.     

Investigation of Aconitine-type Alkaloids from Processed Tuber of Aconitum carmiechaeli by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS~n

Introduction Aconitine-type alkaloids isolated from the roots of Aconitum carmiechaeli show a potential toxicity and a broad spectrum of bioactivity[1-4].On the basis of the C8-substituent of C19-diterpenoid skeleton,aconitine-type alkaloids can be divided into diester-diterpenoid alkaloids(DDAs),monoester-diterpenoid alkaloids(MDAs),and lipo-alkaloids(Fig.1).     

Enhanced Acid/Base Catalysis in High Temperature Liquid Water

High temperature liquid water (HTLW), as an environmentally benign medium, has drawn increasing attention for organic chemical reactions and biomass conversion1-3. HTLW has a strong tendency to ionize and can act as an acid and/or base catalyst. In addition, HTLW can dissolve organic compounds to some extent allowing for a homogenous reaction within an aqueous phase. Extensive researches4-10 have been pursued on acid/base-catalysis reactions in HTLW without addition of acid or base. Howe…     

Four new diterpenoid alkaloids with antitumor effect from Aconitum nagarum var. heterotrichum

Four new diterpenoid alkaloids,nagaconitines A-D(1-4),were isolated from the roots of Aconitum nagarum var.heterotrichum.Their structures were elucidated as 8-(4'-hydroxylbutyryl) aconitine(1),15-oxo-13-deoxyludaconitine(2),15-hydroxyldelphisine(3),and 14-hydroxyl-2- acetoxyspiradine C(4)based on extensive UV,IR,MS,1D NMR and 2D NMR analyses.Compounds 3-4 showed inhibition of cancer cell line SK-OV-3 with 31%(IC_(50) 43.78 μmol/L) and 24%(IC_(50) 32.14 μmol/L),respectively.     

Refinement of the Crystal Structure of Aconitine

The crystal of aconitine has been obtained through an unexpected spontaneous change of the solid power of aconitine in air and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and elemental analysis. Crystallographic data: orthorhombic, space group P2_12_12_1 with a = 17.0745(6), b = 15.5990(6), c = 12.2443(6) ?, V = 3261.2(2) ?~3, Z = 4, C_(34)H_(47)NO_(11), M_r = 645.73, D_c = 1.315 g/cm~3, F(000) = 1384, μ(MoKa) = 0.098 mm~(-1), R = 0.0605 and wR = 0.1311. Aconitine is diester diterpenoid alkaloid, and its main structure is composed of four six-membered and two five-membered rings. The intramolecular and intermolecular O–H···O and C–H···O hydrogen bonds extend the adjacent molecules into a one-dimensional chain and a two-dimensional framework, which may be the essential reason for the change.     

Determination of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in food and feed using gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

A method was developed on a gas chromatograph coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer(GC-MS/MS) for trace level determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls(DL-PCBs) in food and feed. The results demonstrated good sensitivity and repeatability for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs at an extremely low level(10 pg mL~(-1) for 2,3,7,8-TCDD/F), as well as wide linear response of over 3 or 4 orders of magnitude in concentration ranges; 0.5–200 ng mL~(-1) for PeCDD/F and 0.2–2000 ng mL~(-1) for DL-PCBs. The method detection limits for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs were in the range from 0.018–0.17 pg g~(-1) to 0.13–0.36 pg g~(-1), respectively. The performance of the GC-MS/MS for food and feed sample analysis showed high precision and accuracy compared to the high resolution gas chromatograph/high resolution mass spectrometer. The results indicated the feasibility of GC-MS/MS as a confirmatory method for the measurement of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in food and feed as required by European Union legislation.     

Turn-on fluorescence probe for selective detection of Hg(Ⅱ)by calixpyrrole hydrazide reduced silver nanoparticle: Application to real water sample

A simple and quick method for the synthesis of water dispersible stable silver nanoparticles has been developed. Calix[4]pyrrole octahydrazide(CPOH), has been successfully used as a reducing as well as stabilizing agent for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. CPOH-AgNps have been duly characterized by SPR, PSA, TEM and EDX-ray. The ability of CPOH-AgNps as selective and sensitive sensor for various ions(Pb(Ⅱ), Cd(Ⅱ), Mn(Ⅱ), Fe(Ⅲ), Ni(Ⅱ), Zn(Ⅱ), Hg(Ⅱ), Co(Ⅱ), Cu(Ⅱ)) by colorimetry and spectrofluorimetry has been explored. CPOH-AgNps were found to be selective only for Hg(Ⅱ) ions. Nanomolar concentration of Hg(Ⅱ) ions can also be determined by spectrofluorimetry by increase in fluorescence intensity. Linear range of detection of Hg(Ⅱ) ions in water was found to be from 1 nmol/L to 1 μmol/L. The method has been successfully applied for determination of Hg(Ⅱ) ions in ground water and industrial effluent waste water samples.     

Defect density engineering for better graphene performance

Graphenes are emerging electrode materials used in many technologies such as electronics,sensors,as well as energy conversion and storage.The pristine graphenes,due to the elimination of density of states(DOS)at/near the Dirac point(Fermi level),have limited activities for charge transfer and storage.Fortunately,introduction of structural defects and disorders in graphenes can increase the DOS near the Fermi level by forming mid-gap and/or defect states,     

Development of a novel HPLC‐MS/MS method for the determination of aconitine and its application to in vitro and rat microdialysis samples

A sensitive and selective LC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of aconitine in microdialysate and rat plasma. Extraction of plasma sample was conducted by use of 1% trichloracetic acid and acetonitrile solution with 10 ng/mL internal standard (propafenone) spiked. Microdialysates were analyzed without sample purification. After sample preparation, 2 µL were injected and separated with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile:0.1% formic acid (60:40, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The Agilent G6410A triple quadrupole LC/MS system was operated under the multiple‐reaction monitoring mode (MRM) using the electrospray ionization technique in positive mode. Overall, the assay exhibited good precision and accuracy. The diffusion properties of aconitine investigated in in vitro microdialysis experiments revealed unfavourable concentration dependence avertable by keeping a constant pH 5.77 using isotonic phosphate buffer solution as perfusate. The mean relative recoveries were 48.23% [coefficient of variation (CV 4.47%)] and 55.38% (CV 2.89%) for retrodialysis and recovery experiments, respectively. The in vivo recovery of aconitine was 34.48% (CV 3.05%) and was stable over the 6 h study period. Following characterization of aconitine both in vitro and in vivo microdialysis, the developed setting is suitable for application in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics studies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detection and validated quantification of toxic alkaloids in human blood plasma--comparison of LC-APCI-MS with LC-ESI-MS/MS

Poisonings with toxic plants may occur after abuse, intentional or accidental ingestion of plants. For diagnosis of such poisonings, multianalyte procedures were developed for detection and validated quantification of the toxic alkaloids aconitine, atropine, colchicine, coniine, cytisine, nicotine and its metabolite cotinine, physostigmine, and scopolamine in plasma using LC-APCI-MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS. After mixed-mode solid-phase extraction of 1 ml of plasma, the analytes were separated using a C8 base select separation column and gradient elution (acetonitrile/ammonium formate, pH 3.5). Calibration curves were used for quantification with cotinine-d(3), benzoylecgonine-d(3), and trimipramine-d(3) as internal standards. The method was validated according to international guidelines. Both assays were selective for the tested compounds. No instability was observed after repeated freezing and thawing or in processed samples. The assays were linear for coniine, cytisine, nicotine and its metabolite cotinine, from 50 to 1000 ng/ml using LC-APCI-MS and 1 to 1000 ng/ml using LC-ESI-MS/MS, respectively, and for aconitine, atropine, colchicine, physostigmine, and scopolamine from 5 to 100 ng/ml for LC-APCI-MS and 0.1 to 100 ng/ml for LC-ESI-MS/MS, respectively. Accuracy ranged from -38.6 to 14.0%, repeatability from 2.5 to 13.5%, and intermediate precision from 4.8 to 13.5% using LC-APCI-MS and from -38.3 to 8.3% for accuracy, from 3.5 to 13.8%, for repeatability, and from 4.3 to 14.7% for intermediate precision using LC-ESI-MS/MS. The lower limit of quantification was fixed at the lowest calibrator in the linearity experiments. With the exception of the greater sensitivity and higher identification power, LC-ESI-MS/MS had no major advantages over LC-APCI-MS. Both presented assays were applicable for sensitive detection of all studied analytes and for accurate and precise quantification, with the exception of the rather volatile nicotine. The applicability of the assays was demonstrated by analysis of plasma samples from suspected poisoning cases.     

Ultra‐fast LC–ESI‐MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of six highly toxic Aconitum alkaloids from Aconiti kusnezoffii radix in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A fast, sensitive, and efficient ultra‐fast LC–ESI‐MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous quantitation of six highly toxic Aconitum alkaloids, that is, aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine, and benzoylhypaconine, in rat plasma after oral administration of crude ethanol extracts from Aconiti kusnezoffii radix by ultrasonic extraction, reflux extraction for 1 h, and reflux extraction for 3 h, respectively. The separation of six Aconitum alkaloids and aminopyrine (internal standard) was performed on an InertSustain® C₁₈ column, and the quantification of the analytes was performed on a 4000Q ultra‐fast LC–MS/MS system with turbo ion spray source in the positive ion and multiple‐reaction monitoring mode. Absolute recoveries ranged within 65.06–85.1% for plasma samples. The intra‐ and interday precision and accuracy of analytes were satisfactory. The methods were validated with sensitivity reaching the lower LOQ for aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine, and benzoylhypaconine, which were 0.025, 0.025, 0.050, 0.025, 0.025, and 0.100 ng/mL, respectively. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of six Aconitum alkaloids in rat plasma after oral administration of crude ethanol extracts from the raw root of Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb. by three different extraction processes.     

Development and validation of an on-line two-dimensional reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of prostaglandins E(2) and F(2alpha) and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F(2alpha) levels in human plasma

We developed and validated an on-line reverse-phase two-dimensional LC/MS/MS (2D-LC/MS/MS) system for simultaneous determination of the levels of prostaglandin (PG) E(2) as well as PGF(2alpha) and its metabolite 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF(2alpha) (F(2alpha)-M) in human plasma. Analytes were extracted by a three-step solid-phase extraction. Samples were then analyzed by on-line 2D-LC/MS/MS with electrospray ionization in negative mode. The 2D-LC system is composed of two reverse-phase analytical columns with a trapping column linking the two analytical columns. While an acidic buffer was used for both separation dimensions, differing organic solvents were employed for each dimension: methanol for the first and acetonitrile for the second to increase resolving power. The 2D-LC/MS/MS method was highly selective and sensitive with a significantly lower limit of quantitation (0.5 pg/mL for PGE(2) and 2.5 pg/mL for PGF(2alpha) and F(2alpha)-M, respectively). Linearity of the 2D-LC/MS/MS system was demonstrated for the calibration ranges of 0.5-50 pg/mL for PGE(2) and 2.5-500 pg/mL for PGF(2alpha) and F(2alpha)-M, respectively. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained throughout the calibration curve ranges. This highly selective and sensitive method was successfully utilized to determine the endogenous levels of PGE(2), PGF(2alpha), and F(2alpha)-M in plasma samples from six (four male and two female) normal volunteers. The mean concentrations for each analyte were 0.755 pg/mL for PGE(2), 5.70 pg/mL for PGF(2alpha) and 9.48 pg/mL for F(2alpha)-M.     

乳腺癌代谢物组模式特征发现方法及HPLC/M S/M S分析

提出一种基于单独最优特征组合和BP神经网络的代谢物组模式特征发现方法,并用其寻找到尿样中与乳腺癌最为相关的4种核苷,组成一组特异性检测参数.经HPLC/MS/MS联用法鉴定,它们是乳清酸核苷、1-甲酰化腺苷、S-腺苷-L-蛋氨酸及N²-甲酰化鸟苷.将这4种核苷作为输入变量,用BP神经分类网络建立乳腺癌诊断模型.留一法交叉验证和独立验证结果表明,该模型预测准确率达到90%以上.     

尿样中神经性毒剂代谢产物的HPLC/Q-TOFMS/MS检测方法研究

建立了尿样中甲基膦酸单乙酯(EMPA)、甲基膦酸单异丙酯(IMPA)、甲基膦酸频哪基酯(PMPA)3种神经性毒剂代谢产物的HPLC/Q-TOFMS/MS检测方法。以StrataSi-1型固相萃取小柱对尿样中的3种神经性毒剂代谢产物进行分离,HPLC/Q-TOFESIMS/MS进行测定,内标法定量。该方法对EMPA、IMPA、PMPA的线性范围均为5～320μg/L,相关系数均不低于0.9974;EMPA、IMPA、PMPA的加标回收率分别为57%、98%、81%;检出限(S/N≥3)均为0.1μg/L,定量下限(S/N≥10)均为1μg/L。并将该方法应用于禁化武组织(OPCW)首次生物医学样品分析演练未知尿样的检测,结果满意。     

Recently developed GC/MS and LC/MS methods for determining NSAIDs in water samples

Pharmaceuticals have become major targets in environmental chemistry due to their presence in aquatic environments (following incomplete removal in wastewater treatment or point-source contaminations), threat to drinking water sources and concern about their possible effects to wildlife and humans. Recently several methods have been developed for the determination of drugs and their metabolites in the lower nanogram per litre range, most of them using solid-phase extraction (SPE) or solid-phase microextraction (SPME), derivatisation and finally gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ES/MS/MS). Due to the elevated polarity of non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDs), analytical techniques based on either liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after a previous derivatisation step are essential. The most advanced aspects of current GC-MS, GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS methodologies for NSAID analysis are presented.     

质谱法分析季铵盐型阳离子表面活性剂

以电子轰击质谱法(EI/MS)与电喷雾质谱法(ESI/MS)相结合,分析季铵盐型表面活性剂。由于阳离子表面活性剂在水溶液中离解成正离子,可用电喷雾质谱的正离子模式(ESI /MS)对其结构及组成进行鉴定,同时可判别季铵盐所含的Cl-、Br-、NO3-等阴离子。     

Comparison of different mass spectrometry techniques in the measurement of L‐[ring‐13C6]phenylalanine incorporation into mixed muscle proteins

Precise measurement of low enrichment of stable isotope labeled amino‐acid tracers in tissue samples is a prerequisite in measuring tissue protein synthesis rates. The challenge of this analysis is augmented when small sample size is a critical factor. Muscle samples from human participants following an 8 h intravenous infusion of L‐[ring‐¹³C₆]phenylalanine and a bolus dose of L‐[ring‐¹³C₆]phenylalanine in a mouse were utilized. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), gas chromatography (GC) MS/MS and GC/MS were compared to the GC‐combustion‐isotope ratio MS (GC/C/IRMS), to measure mixed muscle protein enrichment of [ring‐¹³C₆]phenylalanine enrichment. The sample isotope enrichment ranged from 0.0091 to 0.1312 molar percent excess. As compared with GC/C/IRMS, LC/MS/MS, GC/MS/MS and GC/MS showed coefficients of determination of R² = 0.9962 and R² = 0.9942, and 0.9217 respectively. However, the precision of measurements (coefficients of variation) for intra‐assay are 13.0%, 1.7%, 6.3% and 13.5% and for inter‐assay are 9.2%, 3.2%, 10.2% and 25% for GC/C/IRMS, LC/MS/MS, GC/MS/MS and GC/MS, respectively. The muscle sample sizes required to obtain these results were 8 µg, 0.8 µg, 3 µg and 3 µg for GC/C/IRMS, LC/MS/MS, GC/MS/MS and GC/MS, respectively. We conclude that LC/MS/MS is optimally suited for precise measurements of L‐[ring‐¹³C₆]phenylalanine tracer enrichment in low abundance and in small quantity samples. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.