Characteristics of Raw Starch-Digesting α-Amylase of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces badius</Emphasis> DB-1 with Transglycosylation Activity and Its Applications

Streptomyces badius DB-1 produces α-amylase extracellularly, and its production was enhanced 5.1-fold (from 9.47 ± 0.51 to 48.23 ± 1.45 U mL^?1) due to optimization by one-variable-at-a-time and statistical approaches. Soluble starch emerged as the most influential factor that strongly affected enzyme production. The purified enzyme is a monomer with a molecular mass of ~57 kDa and optimally active at 50 °C and pH 6.0. The enzyme hydrolyzes soluble as well as raw starches into simpler sugars with a high proportion (>40.0 %) of maltotetraose. It is optimally active at moderate temperature and generates maltooligosaccharides from starch, thus, useful as an antistale in bread making. It also plays a role in increasing the formation of maltooligosaccharides due to transglycosylation activity, thus, finds application in functional foods. This is the first report on the production of raw starch-digesting α-amylase by S. badius with transglycosylation activity.     

Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating LC Method for Simultaneous Analysis of Aceclofenac and Paracetamol in Conventional Tablets and in Microsphere Formulations

A stability-indicating reversed-phase LC method for analysis of aceclofenac and paracetamol in tablets and in microsphere formulations has been developed and validated. The mobile phase was 80:20 (v/v) methanol–phosphate buffer (10 mM at pH 2.5 ± 0.02). UV detection was at 276 nm. The method was linear over the concentration ranges 16–24 and 80–120 μg mL^?1 for aceclofenac and paracetamol, respectively, with recovery in the range 100.9–102.22%. The limits of detection and quantitation for ACF were 0.0369 and 0.1120 μg mL^?1, respectively; those for PCM were 0.0631 and 0.1911 μg mL^?1, respectively.     

Simultaneous Determination of Paracetamol and Caffeine in Human Plasma by LC–ESI–MS

A rapid, selective and convenient liquid chromatography–mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol and caffeine in human plasma was developed and validated. Analytes and theophylline [internal standard (I.S.)] were extracted from plasma samples with diethyl ether-dichloromethane (3:2, v/v) and separated on a C₁₈ column (150 × 4.6 mm ID, 5 μm particle size, 100 Å pore size). The mobile phase consisted of 0.2% formic acid–methanol (60:40, v/v). The assay was linear in the concentration range between 0.05 and 25 μg mL^?1 for paracetamol and 10–5,000 ng mL^?1 for caffeine, with the lower limit of quantification of 0.05 μg mL^?1 and 10 ng mL^?1, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precision for both drugs was less than 8.1%, and the accuracy was within ±6.5%. The single chromatographic analysis of plasma samples was achieved within 4.5 min. This validated method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol and caffeine in human plasma.     

Simultaneous Determination of Ibuprofen and Diphenhydramine Citrate in Tablets by Validated LC

A stability-indicating LC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of ibuprofen and diphenhydramine citrate in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The chromatographic separation was achieved on an Inertsil ODS 3V, 150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm, column. The mobile phase contained a mixture of 50 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer:acetonitrile:triethylamine:glacial acetic acid (55:45:0.2:0.2, v/v/v/v). This method allowed the determination of 2.85–9.14 mg mL^?1 of ibuprofen and 0.54–1.73 mg mL^?1 of diphenhydramine citrate, in a diluent consisting of pH 7.2, 50 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer:acetonitrile (40:60, v/v). The flow rate was 1.2 mL min^?1 and the detection wavelength was 260 nm. The limit of detection for ibuprofen and diphenhydramine citrate was 1.72 and 0.54 μg mL^?1 and the limit of quantification was 5.73 and 1.64 μg mL^?1, respectively. This method was validated for accuracy, precision and linearity. The method was also found to be stability indicating.     

Rapid LC-APCI-MS-MS Method for Simultaneous Determination of Phenacetin and Its Metabolite Paracetamol in Rabbit Plasma

A highly sensitive liquid chromatographic-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometric method is developed to quantitate phenacetin and its metabolite paracetamol in rabbit plasma. The analytes and internal standard oxazepam are extracted from plasma by liquid–liquid extraction using ethyl acetate, and separated on a Zorbax SB-C₁₈ column (2.1 mm × 150 mm, 5 μm) using acetonitrile–0.1% formic acid in water (40:60 v/v) at a flow of 0.4 mL min^?1. Detection is carried out by multiple reaction monitoring on a ion-trap LC-MS-MS system with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface. The assay is linear over the range 4–1,600 ng mL^?1 for phenacetin and 3–2,000 ng mL^?1 for paracetamol, with a lower limit of quantitation of 4 ng mL^?1 for phenacetin and 3 ng mL^?1 for paracetamol. Intra- and inter-day precision are less than 7.1% and the accuracy are in the range 97.3–103.5%. The validated method is successfully used to analyze the drug in samples of rabbit plasma for pharmacokinetic study.     

Determination of Tangeretin in Rat Plasma by LC-Electrospray-Ion Trap MS

A selective, sensitive, and accurate method has been developed and validated for the quantification of tangeretin in rat plasma. The application of LC-electrospray-ion trap mass spectrometry in full scan and multiple reactions monitoring modes were investigated. Following solid phase extraction using a hydrophilic–lipophilic balance cartridge, the analytes were separated on a C₁₈ column using an isocratic mobile phase composed of acetonitrile/water (50:50, v/v) containing 0.3% formic acid. In full scan mode, the LOQ was 2 ng mL^?1. The standard calibration curve was linear (R ² = 0.9999) over the concentration range 2–200 ng mL^?1. The precision over the concentration range was within 15% (RSD) and the accuracy was ranged from 86 to 115%. In multiple reaction monitoring mode, the LOQ was 1 ng mL^?1 and the standard calibration curve was linear (R ² = 0.9976) over the concentration range 1–100 ng mL^?1 with a precision of 12% and accuracy rangeing from 91 to 113%.     

Synthesis of Lactosucrose Using a Recombinant Levansucrase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brenneria goodwinii</Emphasis>

Lactosucrose is a kind of trisaccharide that functions as a significant prebiotic in the maintenance of gastrointestinal homeostasis for human. In this study, a levansucrase from Brenneria goodwinii was further used for the lactosucrose production. The recombinant levansucrase showed efficiency in the lactosucrose production by transfructosylation from sucrose and lactose, and no other oligosaccharide or polysaccharide was detected in the reaction mixture. The transfructosylation product by this recombinant enzyme was structurally determined to be lactosucrose by FT-IR and NMR. The production condition was optimized as pH at 6.0, temperature at 35 °C, 5 U mL^?1 enzyme, 180 g L^?1 sucrose, and 180 g L^?1 lactose. Under the optimal condition, the enzyme could approximately produce 100 g L^?1 lactosucrose when the reaction reached equilibrium. The recombinant levansucrase could effectively and exclusively catalyze the formation of lactosucrose, which might expand the enzymatic choice for further preparation of lactosucrose.     

HILIC-MS-MS for the Quantification of Pidotimod in Human Plasma

A method for fast, sensitive, and specific hydrophilic interaction chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) was developed for the first time to determine the level of pidotimod in human plasma. With rosiglitazone as internal standard, analysis was carried out on a HILIC column (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 3.5 ??m) using a mobile phase consisting of methanol:0.2% formic acid (60:40, v/v). Detection was carried out by tandem mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization (ESI). Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 11.2?C1.12 × 10⁴ ng mL^?1 for pidotimod, with a lower limit of quantification of 11.2 ng mL^?1. The intra- and inter-day precision values were high, with standard deviations lower than 15%, and the accuracy, in terms of relative error, ranged from ?10.5 to 9.4% at all quality control (QC) levels.     

Characterization of a Novel Organic Solvent Tolerant Protease from a Moderately Halophilic Bacterium and Its Behavior in Ionic Liquids

An extracellular protease was purified from a novel moderately halophilic bacterium Salinivibrio sp. strain MS-7 by the combination of an acetone precipitation (40–80 %) step and a DEAE-cellulose anion exchange column chromatography. Kinetic parameters of the enzyme exhibited V _max and K _m of 130 U/mg and 1.14 mg/ml, respectively, using casein as a substrate. The biochemical properties of the enzyme revealed that the 21-kDa protease had a temperature and pH optimum of 50 °C and 8.0, respectively. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, Pefabloc SC, chymostatin, and also EDTA, indicating that it belongs to the class of serine metalloproteases. Interestingly, Ba²⁺ and Ca²⁺ (2 mM) strongly enhanced the enzyme activity, while Fe²⁺ and Mg²⁺ activated moderately and Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Hg²⁺ decreased the enzyme activity. The effect of organic solvents with different logP on the purified protease revealed complete stability in toluene, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and n-hexane at 10 and 50 % (v/v) and moderate stability even in 50 % of DMSO and ethanol. The behavior of the MS-7 protease in three imidazolium-based ionic liquids exhibited suitable activity in these green solvent systems, especially in 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₆MIM][PF₆]). Comparison of the purified protease with other previously reported proteases suggests that strain MS-7 secrets a novel organic solvent-tolerant protease with outstanding activity in organic solvents and imidazolium-based ionic liquids, which could be applied in low water synthetic section of industrial biotechnology.     

High Level Production of β-Galactosidase Exhibiting Excellent Milk-Lactose Degradation Ability from Aspergillus oryzae by Codon and Fermentation Optimization

A β-galactosidase gene from Aspergillus oryzae was engineered utilizing codon usage optimization to be constitutively and highly expressed in the Pichia pastoris SMD1168H strain in a high-cell-density fermentation. After fermentation for 96 h in a 50-L fermentor using glucose and glycerol as combined carbon sources, the recombinant enzyme in the culture supernatant had an activity of 4,239.07 U mL^?1 with o-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside as the substrate, and produced a total of extracellular protein content of 7.267 g L^?1 in which the target protein (6.24 g L^?1) occupied approximately 86 %. The recombinant β-galactosidase exhibited an excellent lactose hydrolysis ability. With 1,000 U of the enzyme in 100 mL milk, 92.44 % lactose was degraded within 24 h at 60 °C, and the enzyme could also accomplish the hydrolysis at low temperatures of 37, 25, and 10 °C. Thus, this engineered strain had significantly higher fermentation level of A. oryzae lactase than that before optimization and the β-galactosidase may have a good application potential in whey and milk industries.     

Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating LC Method for Curcumin

A simple, isocratic, stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method for quantitative determination of curcumin was successfully developed. The chromatographic separations were achieved using a Hi-Q-Sil C18; 4.6 mm × 250 mm and 10 μm particle size column employing acetonitrile and acetate buffer (pH 3.0; 60: 40, v/v) as the mobile phase. The analyte was subjected to acidic, basic, oxidative, thermal and photo degradation. The method was validated with respect to linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection and limit of quantification. Curcumin was detected by UV-Vis detector at 425 nm whereas the degradation products were detected at 280 nm. The method was linear over the concentration range of 1–10 μg mL^?1. The limit of detection was found to be 0.06 μg mL^?1 and the quantification limit was 0.21 μg mL^?1. Considerable degradation of the analyte was observed when it was subjected to alkaline conditions. Accuracy, evaluated as recovery, was in the range of 97–103%. Intra-day precision and intermediate precision showed relative standard deviations <1% and <2% respectively.     

Production and Partial Characterization of Cellulases and Xylanases from Trichoderma atroviride 676 Using Lignocellulosic Residual Biomass

Trichoderma atroviride 676 was studied to evaluate its efficiency in the production of some lignocellulolytic enzymes, using lignocellulosic residual biomass. Best results were obtained when 3.0 % (w/v) untreated sugarcane bagasse was used (61.3 U mL^?1 for xylanase, 1.9 U mL^?1 for endoglucanase, 0.25 U mL^?1 for FPase, and 0.17 U mL^?1 for β-glucosidase) after 3–4 days fermentation. The maximal enzymatic activity for endoglucanase, FPase, and xylanase were observed at 50–60 °C and pH?4.0–5.0, whereas thermal stability at 50 °C (CMCase and FPase) or 40 °C (xylanase) was obtained after 8 h. Zymograms have shown two bands of 104 and 200 kDa for endoglucanases and three bands for xylanase (23, 36, and 55.7 kDa). The results obtained with T. atroviride strain 676 were comparable to those obtained with the cellulolytic strain Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30, indicating, in the studied conditions, its great potential for biotechnological application, especially lignocellulose biomass hydrolysis.     

Simultaneous Estimation of Atorvastatin Calcium, Ramipril and Aspirin in Capsule Dosage Form by RP-LC

A simple, sensitive, precise and accurate reversed phase liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous estimation of atorvastatin (AT) calcium, ramipril (RA) and aspirin (AS) from capsule dosage form. The method was developed using a Phenomenex Luna C₁₈ (250 mm, 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm) column with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1%, orthophosphoric acid buffer:acetonitrile:methanol (45:50:5 v/v/v), pH 3.3, at a flow rate of 1 mL min^?1. Detection was carried out with ultra-violet detection at 210 nm. The retention times were about 12.19, 2.35, and 3.95 min for AT calcium, RA and AS, respectively. The developed method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantitation and robustness. The linearity ranges were 1–6 µg mL^?1 for AT calcium, 0.5–3 µg mL^?1 for RA and 7.5–45 µg mL^?1 for AS with mean recoveries of 100.59 ± 0.68, 100.62 ± 0.83 and 100.49 ± 0.73% for AT calcium, RA and AS, respectively. Limit of detection obtained were 29.85 ng mL^?1 for AT calcium, 4.71 ng mL^?1 for RA and 85.13 ng mL^?1 for AS. Impurity of salicylic acid was found in capsule dosage form at the retention time of about 4.84 min. The proposed method can be used for the estimation of these drugs in combined dosage forms.     

High-yield bacillus subtilis protease production by solid-state fermentation

A Bacillus subtilis isolate was shown to be able to produce extracellular protease in solid-state fermentations (SSF) using soy cake as culture medium. A significant effect of inoculum concentration and physiological age on protease production was observed. Maximum activities were obtained for inocula consisting of exponentially growing cells at inoculum concentrations in the range of 0.7–2.0 mg g⁻¹. A comparative study on the influence of cultivation temperature and initial medium pH on protease production in SSF and in submerged fermentation (SF) revealed that in SSF a broader pH range (5–10), but the same optimum temperature (37°C), is obtained when compared to SF. A kinetic study showed that enzyme production is associated with bacterial growth and that enzyme inactivation begins before biomass reaches a maximum level for both SF and SSF. Maximum protease activity and productivity were 960 U g⁻¹ and 15.4 U g⁻¹ h⁻¹ for SSF, and 12 U mL⁻¹ and 1.3 U mL⁻¹ h⁻¹ for SF. When SSF protease activity was expressed by volume of enzyme extract, the enzyme level was 10-fold higher and the enzyme productivity 45% higher than in SF. These results indicate that this bacterial strain shows a high biotechnological potential for protease production in solid-state fermentation.     

Integrated Process Production and Extraction of the Fibrinolytic Protease from Bacillus sp. UFPEDA 485

Fibrinolytic proteases are enzymes that degrade fibrin; these enzymes are a promising alternative for thrombolytic therapy, and microorganisms produce them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the optimum conditions for the integrated production and purification of fibrinolytic protease from Bacillus sp. UFPEDA 485. Extractive fermentation was carried out in a culture medium containing soybean flour and by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Na₂SO₄ according to a 2³ experimental design. In all assays, the enzyme preferentially partitioned to the bottom phase (K?<?1), with an optimum activity of 835 U ml^?1 in the bottom phase (salt-rich phase). The best conditions for extractive fermentation were obtained with 18 % PEG 8000 and 13 % Na₂SO₄. Characterization showed that it is a metalloprotease, as a strong inhibition—residual activity of 3.13 %—occurred in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It was also observed that enzymatic activity was stimulated in the presence of ions: CaCl₂ (440 %), MgCl₂ (440 %), FeSO₄ (268 %), and KCl (268 %). The obtained results indicate that the use of a low-cost substrate and the integration of fermentation with an aqueous two-phase system extraction may be an interesting alternative for the production of fibrinolytic protease.     

Validated LC Method for Simultaneous Analysis of Tramadol Hydrochloride and Aceclofenac in a Commercial Tablet

This paper describes development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous analysis of tramadol hydrochloride (TR) and aceclofenac (AC) in a tablet formulation. When the combination formulation was subjected to ICH-recommended stress conditions, adequate separation of TR, AC, and the degradation products formed was achieved on a C₁₈ column with 65:35 (v/v) 0.01 M ammonium acetate buffer, pH 6.5—acetonitrile as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL min^?1. UV detection was performed at 270 nm. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, LOD and LOQ, precision, accuracy, and robustness. The method was specific against placebo interference and also during forced degradation. The linearity of the method was investigated in the concentration ranges 15–60 μg mL^?1 (r = 0.9999) for TR and 40–160 μg mL^?1 (r = 0.9999) for AC. Accuracy was between 98.87 and 99.32% for TR and between 98.81 and 99.49% for AC. Because degradation products were well separated from the parent compounds, the method was stability-indicating.     

Development of a Sensitive LC Assay with Fluorescence Detection for the Determination of Zearalenone in Rat Serum

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatographic assay with fluorescence detection assay was developed for the determination of zearalenone levels in rat serum. The assay utilized a single liquid–liquid extraction with t-butyl methyl ether and isocratic elution using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% triethylamine in distilled water (pH = 6) (50:50, v/v). Linearity was observed over a concentration range from 10 to 1,000 ng mL^?1 (r = 0.9995), with the limit of quantification at 10 ng mL^?1 with 100 μL of rat serum. The validated assay was applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats.     

RP-LC Determination and Pharmacokinetic Study of Ferulic Acid and Isoferulic Acid in Rat Plasma After Taking Traditional Chinese Medicinal-Preparation: Guanxinning Lyophilizer

A sensitive, simple, and accurate method for determination and pharmacokinetic study of ferulic acid and isoferulic acid in rat plasma was developed using a reversed-phase column liquid chromatographic (RP-LC) method with UV detection. Sample preparations were carried out by protein precipitation with the addition of methanol, followed by evaporation to dryness. The resultant residue was then reconstituted in mobile phase and injected into a Kromasil C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm i.d. with 5 μm particle size). The mobile phase was methanol-1% formic acid (33:67, v/v). The calibration plots were linear over the range 5.780–5780 ng·mL^?1 for ferulic acid and 1.740–348.0 ng·mL^?1 for isoferulic acid. Mean recoveries were 85.1% and 91.1%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of within-day and between-day precision were not above 15% for both of the analytes. The limits of quantification were 5.780 ng·mL^?1 for ferulic acid and 1.740 ng·mL^?1 for isoferulic acid. This RP-LC method was used successfully in pharmacokinetic studies of ferulic acid and isoferulic acid in rat plasma after intravenous injection of Guanxinning Lyophilizer.     

Quantitative Determination of Phillyrin in Human Plasma Using HPLC with Fluorescence Detection

A simple, rapid, and selective high-performance liquid chromatography method for determination of phillyrin in human plasma was developed. After extracting from the plasma samples with ethyl acetate, the analyte was chromatographed on a C18 column with methanol–water (50:50, v/v, pH 2.86) as mobile phase. The fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths were 277 and 315 nm, respectively. The linear range of the standard curve of phillyrin was 0.0313–8.0 μg mL^?1 (r > 0.999). The limit of detection was 6.31 ng mL^?1. The average recovery of phillyrin was 101.02% from plasma. The intra- and inter-day variabilities of phillyrin were <10.00%.     

Stability and Detergent Compatibility of a Predominantly β-Sheet Serine Protease from Halotolerant B. aquimaris VITP4 Strain

The present study deals with the characterization of halotolerant protease produced by Bacillus aquimaris VITP4 strain isolated from Kumta coast, Karnataka, India. The studies were performed at 40 °C and pH 8 in Tris buffer. Metal ions such as Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ increased the proteolytic activity of the enzyme by 34 and 30 %, respectively, at 10 mM concentration. Cu²⁺ at 1 mM concentration was found to enhance the enzyme activity by 16 %, whereas inhibition was observed at higher concentration (>5 mM). Slight inhibition was observed even with lower (>1 mM) concentrations of Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ni²⁺, and Co²⁺.The activity of protease was completely inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, indicating that the VITP4 protease is a serine protease. The presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline (>5 mM) moderately inhibited the activity, suggesting that the enzyme is activated by metal ions. The protease was purified to homogeneity with a purification fold of 15.7 with ammonium sulfate precipitation and 46.65 with gel filtration chromatography using Sephadex G-100, resulting in a specific activity of 424?±?2.6 U mg^?1. The VITP4 protease consists of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of 34.7 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight. Among the different substrates used (casein, egg albumin, gelatin, and bovine serum albumin), the activity was higher with casein with V _max, K _m, and k _cat values of 0.817 mg ml min^?1, 0.472 mg ml^?1, and 2.31 s^?1, respectively. Circular dichroism studies revealed that the VITP4 protease has a predominantly β-sheet structure (51.6 %) with a temperature for half denaturation of 85.8 °C in the presence of 1 mM CaCl₂. Additionally, the VITP4 protease was found to retain more than 70 % activity in the presence of 10 mM concentration of different detergents (CTAB, urea, and sodium dodecyl sulfate) and surfactants (Triton X-100, Tween-20, and Tween-80), and the results of wash performance test with various commercial detergents confirmed that it can be used in detergent formulations.