Determination of Phytomarkers in Pharmaceutical Preparations of Hemidesmus indicus Roots by Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography was applied to the determination of the major phytomarkers, namely 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, of Hemidesmus indicus root, an Indian medicinal plant. H. indicus bioactive preparations were analyzed by reverse flow micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) using sodium taurodeoxycholate as the surfactant. A pH 2.5 phosphate buffer (50 mM) was supplemented with 65 mM of sodium taurodeoxycholate to produce the MEKC pseudostationary phase; because of the suppression of the electroosmotic flow, the migration of the partitioned analytes was toward the capillary anodic end. The use of a short fused-silica capillary (8.5 cm effective length; 50 μm i.d.) allowed the separation of phytomarkers, including vanillin and salicylaldehyde (reported as additional metabolites of H. indicus roots), in less than 8 min. The method showed good validation parameters and was applied to the analysis of methanol extracts and a root decoction of H. indicus, a promising botanical drug. The obtained results were compared to those from an independent high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method. The 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid, and 3-hydroxy 4-methoxybenzaldehyde were found in all samples confirming their roles as phytomarkers. The absence of vanillin and salicylaldehyde suggested that these latter compounds should not be regarded as characteristic components of the bioactive preparations from the plant roots.     

Artificial neural network‐based drug design for diabetes mellitus using flavonoids

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease involving the failure to regulate glucose blood levels in the body and has been linked with numerous detrimental complications. Studies have shown that these complications can be linked to the activities of aldose reductase (AR), an enzyme of the polyol pathway. Flavonoids have been identified as good AR inhibitors (ARIs) and are also strong antioxidants with radical scavenging (RS) activity. As such, flavonoids show potential to become a better class of ARIs because they are able to concurrently address the oxidative stress issue. In this article, we carried out quantitative structure‐activity relationship analysis of flavones and flavonols (members of flavonoid family) using artificial neural networks. Three computer experiments were conducted to study the influence of hydrogen (H), hydroxyl (? OH), and methoxyl (? CH₃) functional groups on eight substitution sites of the lead flavone molecule and to predict potential ARIs. Of 6561 possible flavones and flavonols, in experiment 1, we predicted 69 potent ARIs, and in experiment 2, we predicted 346 compounds with strong RS activity. In experiment 3, we combined these results to find overlapping compounds with both strong AR inhibition and RS activity and we are able to predict 10 potent compounds with strong AR inhibition (IC₅₀ < 0.3 μM) and RS activity (IC₂₅ < 1.0 μM). These 10 compounds show promise of being good therapeutic agents in the prevention of diabetic complications and is suggested to undergo further wet bench experimentation to prove their potency. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011     

Chemical profile and antihyperlipidemic effect of Portulaca oleracea L. seeds in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Hypolipidemic effect of Portulaca oleracea L. seed extract and its fractions have been studied on streptozotocin (STZ) at dose 75 mg/kg b.wt. After fractionation of the alcoholic extract; petroleum ether fraction was the most active fraction that decreased different hyperlipidemia biochemical parameters. After chromatographic analysis; oleamide, ethylpalmitate, β-amyrin, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were identified. The GLC analysis of unsaponifiable matter revealed the presence of; lignoceric acid as a major constituent in the most bioactive fraction. In conclusion, petroleum ether fraction possessed a hypolipidemic effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats, which may be attributed to its phytosterols, fatty acid and amide compounds. The finding of the present investigation strongly demonstrates the potential of non-polar fraction of P. oleracea L. seed in combating hyperlipidemia in diabetic condition. So the petroleum ether fractions and its constituents can be used as hypolipdemic supplement in the developing countries towards the development of new therapeutic agents.     

Molineria recurvata Ameliorates Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy through Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways

Molineria recurvata (MR) has been traditionally used to manage diabetes mellitus in India. However, the molecular mechanism of MR on the diabetic-induced nephropathy has not been clearly investigated. Thus, this study investigates the protective effects of the MR extract on nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was instigated by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (45 mg/kg) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Once the diabetes was successfully induced, the MR extract (200 mg/kg/day) or metformin (200 mg/kg/day) was orally administered for 14 days. Renal function, morphology changes and levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured. Blood glucose concentrations were considerably reduced in STZ-induced diabetic rats following treatment with the MR extract. The administration of the MR extract substantially restored the abnormal quantity of the oxidative DNA damage marker 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde, glutathione, oxidized glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The urinary excretion of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), selenium binding protein 1 (SBP1), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) was significantly reduced in diabetes rats after administration of the MR extracts. In the kidneys of STZ-induced diabetic rats, the MR extracts markedly downregulated the expression of fibronectin, collagen-1, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). In particular, the MR extracts markedly increased the level of SIRT1 and SIRT3 and reduced claudin-1 in the kidney. These results suggest that the MR extracts exhibits therapeutic activity in contrast to renal injury in STZ-induced diabetic rats through repressing inflammation and oxidative stress.     

A new antifungal eudesmanolide glycoside isolated from Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. (Family Compositae)

A new antifungal eudesmanolide glycoside 11,13-dihydro-3-O-(β-digitoxopyranose)-7α-hydroxy eudasman-6,12-olide (2) in addition to known compounds 1 and 3, has been isolated from Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. Its structure was determined by spectral analysis (UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrum).     

Potential Effect of Polyphenolic-Rich Fractions of Corn Silk on Protecting Endothelial Cells against High Glucose Damage Using In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches

Endothelial cell dysfunction is considered to be one of the major causes of vascular complications in diabetes. Polyphenols are known as potent antioxidants that can contribute to the prevention of diabetes. Corn silk has been reported to contain polyphenols and has been used in folk medicine in China for the treatment of diabetes. The present study aims to investigate the potential protective role of the phenolic-rich fraction of corn silk (PRF) against injuries to vascular endothelial cells under high glucose conditions in vitro and in vivo. The protective effect of PRF from high glucose toxicity was investigated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The protective effect of PRF was subsequently evaluated by using in vivo methods in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Results showed that the PRF significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of glucose by restoring cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. PRF was also able to prevent the histological changes in the aorta of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Results suggested that PRF might have a beneficial effect on diabetic patients and may help to prevent the development and progression of diabetic complications such as diabetic nephropathy and atherosclerosis.     

Efficient Synthesis of a Water-Soluble Glucoamide Inhibitor Against Human Aldose Reductase by Click Chemistry

While D-glucose is the natural substrate of aldose reductase (AR) in the polyol pathway, the K _m value of D-glucose against AR is large. A glucoamide 1 was designed as a tool to investigate whether AR has a strong affinity for the open form of D-glucose. Glucoamide 1 was synthesized in high yield by modification of the reaction condition for click chemistry. It was found that our modified condition was applicable for highly polar alkynes and gave coupling products in excellent yield (90% to 100%). Although weak inhibitory activity against AR was observed, kinetic studies showed that AR does not accept glucoamide 1 in its active site.     

Identification and characterization of in vitro and in vivo fidarestat metabolites: Toxicity and efficacy evaluation of metabolites

The progression of diabetic complications can be prevented by inhibition of aldose reductase and fidarestat considered to be highly potent. To date, metabolites of the fidarestat, toxicity, and efficacy are unknown. Therefore, the present study on characterization of hitherto unknown in vitro and in vivo metabolites of fidarestat using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS/MS) is undertaken. In vitro and in vivo metabolites of fidarestat have been identified and characterized by using LC/ESI/MS/MS and accurate mass measurements. To identify in vivo metabolites, plasma, urine, and feces samples were collected after oral administration of fidarestat to Sprague–Dawley rats, whereas for in vitro metabolites, fidarestat was incubated in human S9 fraction, human liver microsomes, and rat liver microsomes. Furthermore, in silico toxicity and efficacy of the identified metabolites were evaluated. Eighteen metabolites have been identified. The main in vitro phase I metabolites of fidarestat are oxidative deamination, oxidative deamination and hydroxylation, reductive defluroniation, and trihydroxylation. Phase II metabolites are methylation, acetylation, glycosylation, cysteamination, and glucuronidation. Docking studies suggest that oxidative deaminated metabolite has better docking energy and conformation that keeps consensus with fidarestat whereas the rest of the metabolites do not give satisfactory results. Aldose reductase activity has been determined for oxidative deaminated metabolite (F‐1), and it shows an IC50 value of 0.44 μM. The major metabolite, oxidative deaminated, did not show any cytotoxicity in H9C2, HEK, HEPG2, and Panc1 cell lines. However, in silico toxicity, the predication result showed toxicity in skin irritation and ocular irritancy SEV/MOD versus MLD/NON (v5.1) model for fidarestat and its all metabolites. In drug discovery and development research, it is distinctly the case that the potential for pharmacologically active metabolites must be considered. Thus, the active metabolites of fidarestat may have an advantage as drug candidates as many drugs were initially observed as metabolites.     

Cancer-Related Somatic Mutations in Transmembrane Helices Alter Adenosine A1 Receptor Pharmacology

Overexpression of the adenosine A₁ receptor (A₁AR) has been detected in various cancer cell lines. However, the role of A₁AR in tumor development is still unclear. Thirteen A₁AR mutations were identified in the Cancer Genome Atlas from cancer patient samples. We have investigated the pharmacology of the mutations located at the 7-transmembrane domain using a yeast system. Concentration–growth curves were obtained with the full agonist CPA and compared to the wild type hA₁AR. H78L^3.23 and S246T^6.47 showed increased constitutive activity, while only the constitutive activity of S246T^6.47 could be reduced to wild type levels by the inverse agonist DPCPX. Decreased constitutive activity was observed on five mutant receptors, among which A52V^2.47 and W188C^5.46 showed a diminished potency for CPA. Lastly, a complete loss of activation was observed in five mutant receptors. A selection of mutations was also investigated in a mammalian system, showing comparable effects on receptor activation as in the yeast system, except for residues pointing toward the membrane. Taken together, this study will enrich the view of the receptor structure and function of A₁AR, enlightening the consequences of these mutations in cancer. Ultimately, this may provide an opportunity for precision medicine for cancer patients with pathological phenotypes involving these mutations.     

Mononuclear and Binuclear Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) Complexes of 3,4′-Dihydroxyazobenzene-3′,4-dicarboxylic Acid and 3-Carboxy-4-hydroxyphenylazo-3-carboxy-4-hydroxynaphthalene

Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes of the title azodyes have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, TGA, DTA, magnetic susceptibility measurements, IR, electronic and ESR spectral studies. The spectral studies suggest an octahedral geometry for Fe(III) and Co(II) complexes but a square planar geometry for Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes. The kinetics of the catalysed oxidation of N,N,N,N-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (TMPPD) with mononuclear and binuclear copper complexes were studied to check the activity of these copper complexes in oxidizing organic amines. The electrochemical behaviour of the metal complexes was studied using DC polarography and cyclic voltammetry. Antimicrobial activity of the azo compounds and its complexes have been tested against different microorganisms.     

Synthesis of Ir Catalysts Featuring Amide-functionalized NHC Ligands and Survey of their Activity on Formic Acid Dehydrogenation

2 a and 2 b , [Ir(CI)(COD)(NHC)] (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene), have been prepared via transmetallation from NHC−Ag complexes. [Rh(CI)(COD)(NHC)] ( 4 ) was prepared analogously. [Ir({κ-C,N-(NHC-acetamide−1H)}(COD)] ( 3 c ) has been synthesized via transmetallation from the deprotonated NHC−Ag complex. [IrCp*({κ-C,N-(NHC-acetamide−1H)}] ( 5 ) (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), has been obtained analogously. [Ir(CI)(CO)₂(NHC)] ( 6 ) and [Ir({κ-C,N-(NHC-acetamide−1H)}(CO)₂] ( 7 ) have been prepared by carbonylation of 2 b and 3 c , respectively. The catalytic activity of these complexes has been evaluated in the dehydrogenation of formic acid, under solventless conditions, in the presence of water as a cosolvent, and in a 5 : 2 HCOOH/Et₃N mixture, with the best TOF values being obtained in the case of the latter. Stoichiometric experiments suggest COD hydrogenation as the preactivation step.     

古紫质AR4重组的磷脂脂质体中的定向自组装

This paper reports, for the first time, that Archaerhodopsin-4 (AR4) could be reconstituted into phospholipid liposomes by self-assembly. AR4 is a new membrane protein isolated from halobacteria H.sp. xz515 in a salt lake of Tibet, China. This is a bacteriorhodopsin (bR) like protein, function as a light-driven proton pump. Experimental measurements verified that similar to bR, AR not only remains its biological activity in pmteoliposome, but also keeps a preferred orientation in self-assembly.     

Research on drug–receptor interactions and prediction of drug activity via oriented immobilized receptor capillary electrophoresis

Oriented covalent immobilized β₂‐adrenergic receptor (β₂‐AR) CE (OIRCE) was developed to determine the interactions between a set of natural extracts of Radix Paeoniae Rubra (NERPR) and β₂‐AR, and to predict the activity of NERPR. The inner capillary surface is chemically bonded with stable β₂‐AR coating via microwave‐assisted technical synthesis. The modified capillaries were characterized via infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the bonding amounts of β₂‐AR were first obtained via fluorescence spectroscopy method. In determining the amount of bonded β₂‐AR, the regression equation A  =  576 707C + 35.449 and the correlation coefficient 0.9995 were obtained. This result revealed an excellent linear relationship in the range of 2 × 10^?4 mg/mL to 1 × 10^?3 mg/mL. The normalized capacity factor (K_RCE) was obtained using OIRCE in evaluating drug–receptor interactions. Related theories and equations were used to calculate K_RCE values from apparent migration times of a solute and EOF. The order of K_RCE and the binding constant (K_b) values between drugs and β₂‐AR was well consistent. The results confirmed that the OIRCE and K_RCE values can be effectually used to investigate drug‐receptor interactions, and OIRCE has the potential to predict drug activity and to select leading compounds from natural chemicals.     

Inhibitory effect of eleven herbal extracts on advanced glycation end-products formation and aldose reductase activity

The formation of advanced glycation end-products(AGEs) and aldose reductase(AR) activity have been implicated in the development of diabetic complications. Our study sought to characterize the capacities of eleven herbal extracts against the formation of AGEs and the AR activity. An ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC–MS/MS) method was used for the detection of AR activity and the screening of AR inhibitors in this research. The amount of sorbitol from each analyte was directly detected using the multiple reaction monitoring mode and the sorbitol level could be reduced via the addition of an inhibitor. Moreover, the BSA/glucose(fructose) system was applied to investigate their inhibitory activities of AGEs formation in glycation model reactions.Compared with other screened herbs used in our study, Flos Sophorae Immaturus and Radix Scutellariae seemed to be more effective on inhibiting the formation of AGEs and AR activity. The inhibiting capacities of herbal extracts against AR activity and AGEs formation may be correlated with the bioactive components of the herbal extracts. The differences were correlated with the amount of polyphenol and flavonoid components. In the study, we have investigated the potential anti-hyperglycemic bioactivity of eleven herbal extracts in vitro, which could provide a reference for further in vivo research in the prevention and treatment of diabetic complications.     

A Validated HPLC Method for Simultaneous Determination of 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic Acid in Root Organs of Hemidesmus indicus

A reverse phase HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid in the root extracts of Hemidesmus indicus. A comprehensive validation of the method including sensitivity, linearity, reproducibility, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) was conducted using the optimized chromatographic conditions. The method was found to be linear (r > 0.998) in the range of 5–350 μg mL⁻¹ for 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and for 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid (r > 0.999) in the range 10–300 μg mL⁻¹. The method was found to be precise with inter-day precision values (% RSD) in the ranges of 0.61–1.76% for 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 1.3–2.8% for 2-hydroxy-4-ethoxybenzoic acid while intra-day precisions (% RSD) of two analytes were in the range of 0.41–1.07 and 0.95–2.5%. The limits of detection (LODs) for 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid were 0.84 and 2.34 μg mL⁻¹. The described method was fast, sensitive and reproducible, and thus well suited for routine analysis of these two compounds from root extracts of H. indicus and other plants.     

Flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cirsium japonicum</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">maackii</Emphasis> pappus as inhibitors of aldose reductase and their simultaneous determination

Aldose reductase is an enzyme in the polyol pathway which is associated in the progression of diabetic complications. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory activity of Cirsium japonicum var. maackii pappus (CJP) against rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR). The ethanolic extract, fractions and isolated flavonoids were subjected to an RLAR assay. Isolation of chloroform (CHCl₃) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractions led to the identification of four flavonoids: hispidulin (1), cirsimaritin (2), apigenin (3), and cirsimarin (4). The RLAR assay results suggested that the EtOAc fraction and flavonoids 1 and 3 promoted better AR inhibition than did TMG (control). The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of compounds 1 and 3 was 0.77 and 3.19 μM, respectively. A simultaneous determination of flavonoid content using HPLC–UV indicated that CJP contained large amounts of compounds 2 and 3 (1.65 and 1.84 mg/g, respectively). Flavonoids from Cirsium species have been widely reported to show various pharmacological activities. This study indicated that CJP has the potential to prevent diabetic complications and was a potential source of flavonoids.     

Coordination chemistry of oxovanadium(V) complexes with active Schiff bases: synthetic,spectral, and antimicrobial approach

The Schiff bases, 3-(indolin-2-one)hydrazinecarbothioamide (L¹H), 3-(indolin-2-one)hydrazinecarboxamide (L²H), 5,6-dimethyl-3-(indolin-2-one)hydrazinecarbothioamide (L³H), and 5,6-dimethyl-3-(indolin-2-one)hydrazinecarboxamide (L⁴H), have been synthesized by the condensation of ¹ H-indol-2,3-dione and 5,6-dimethyl-1H-indol-2,3-dione with the corresponding hydrazinecarbothioamide and hydrazinecarboxamide, respectively. The complexes of oxovanadium and ligands have been characterized by elemental analyses, melting points, conductance measurements, molecular weight determinations, and IR, ¹H NMR and UV spectral studies. These studies showed that the ligands coordinated to the oxovanadium in a monobasic bidentate fashion through oxygen or sulfur and the nitrogen donor system. Thus, penta-and hexacoordinated environment around the vanadium atom has been proposed. All the complexes and their parent organic moieties have been screened for their biological activity on several pathogenic fungi and bacteria and were found to possess appreciable fungicidal and bactericidal properties. The article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the antioxidant activity of 2,2′‐methylenebis(4,6‐dialkylphenol) compounds

The antioxidant activity of two primary antioxidants, 2,2′‐methylenebis(4‐methyl‐6‐tert ‐butylphenol) (MMBPH2) and 2,2′‐methylenebis(4,6‐di‐tert ‐butylphenol) (MDBPH2), has been studied using the 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The synthesized compounds have been successfully characterized systematically using elemental analyses, infrared, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra and GC–MS. Importantly, it has been found that the compound MMBPH2 in particular is more active in DPPH radical scavenging. In addition, density functional theory calculations (B3LYP) have been used to predict the antioxidant activity and predict structural geometries of the compounds in the gas phase.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Studies of Organophosphates Derived From 2-(2″-Hydroxynaphthyl)Benzoxazole

Abstract

A series of biologically active phenoxy derivatives of 2-substituted benzoxazole organophosphates have been synthesized by the reaction of O-(naphthyl benzoxazolyl-2-) phosphorodichloridate/phosphorodichloridothioate with phenol/4-chlorophenol/4-nitroph- enol in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios. These compounds have been characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, and mass spectral studies. The antibacterial activity of these 2-substituted benzoxazole phenoxy derivatives has been evaluated against pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (+ve) and Escherichia coli (?ve). The antifungal activity of these 2-substituted benzoxazole phenoxy derivatives has been evaluated against pathogenic fungi Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporium. All compounds were found to have significant antibacterial and antifungal activity.