Structure–antibacterial relationship of nigericin derivatives

Two new polyether antibiotics 3, 5 together with three known ones 1, 2, 4 were isolated from Streptomyces hygroscopicus XM201. Based on the unambiguous NMR data assignments, their structures were determined to be 30-acetyl nigericin (1), 1-O-methyl-30-acetyl nigericin (2), 1,29-O-dimethyl-30-acetyl nigericin (3), nigericin (4), and 29-O-methyl abierixin (5), respectively. The antibacterial activities of the nigericin derivatives 1–4 were studied. Compounds 1 and 4 showed strong activities against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 and Bacillus cereus 1126 with MIC of 0.25 μg/mL and 0.125 μg/mL, respectively. No inhibitory activities were observed against Escherichia coli CMCC44103 at a concentration of 25 μg/mL. Only 1 and 4 showed distinguished effects on the protoplast regeneration clones of B. cereus 1126 and E. coli CMCC44103 at a concentration of 1 μg/mL. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 285–288, May–June, 2009.     

Chromatographic and electrophoretic determination of thioamides based on thiazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole, 1,2,4-triazole,and tetrazole

A procedure was developed for the determination of the following thioamides based on thiazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole, 1,2,4-triazole, and tetrazole: 2-mercaptothiazole (I), 2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (II), 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (III), 3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole (IV), 3-mercapto-4-methyl-1,2,4-triazole (V), and 5-mercapto-1-methyltetrazole (VI). The determination was performed by reversed-phase HPLC on a column (150 × 4 mm) packed with Diaspher-110-C18 (5 μm) using elution with an acetonitrile-acetate buffer solution (pH 4.70) mixture (5: 95). Detection was performed at the light absorption maximums of compounds I (320 nm), II (305 nm), III (310 nm), IV (260 nm), V (254 nm), and VI (245 nm). The calibration graphs were linear over the following concentration ranges (μg/mL): 0.47–11.72 (I), 0.47–11.82 (II), 0.53–13.22 (III), 0.40–10.11 (IV), 0.46–11.52 (V), and 0.46–11.62 (VI). The limits of detection were 0.45, 0.43, 0.50, 0.37, 0.41, and 0.42 μg/mL for compounds I–VI, respectively. Conditions for the separation of a mixture of compounds I and III–V and for the quantitative determination of compounds I–VI by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) were optimized. CZE was performed on a quartz capillary of size 60 cm (effective length of 50 cm) × 75 μm at a voltage of 20 kV with a borate buffer solution (pH 9.18). The procedure allowed us to evaluate the concentrations of substances in the ranges of 1.17–93.75 (I), 1.18–94.54 (II), 1.32–105.76 (III), 1.01–101.13 (IV) 1.15–115.16 (V), and 1.16–116.15 (VI) μg/mL with the detection limits of 1.10, 1.11, 1.20, 0.96, 1.01, and 1.02 μg/mL for compounds I–VI, respectively.     

Synthesis and Antimycobacterial Activity of New 2-Hydroxy- N -(3-oxo-1-thia-4-azaspiro[4.4]non-4-yl)/(3-oxo-1-thia-4-azaspiro[4.5]dec-4-yl)-2,2-diphenylacetamide Derivatives

2-Hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetohydrazide (2), cyclic ketones, and mercaptoalkanoic acids were converted into 2-hydroxy-N-(3-oxo-1-thia-4-azaspiro[4.4]non/[4.5]dec-4-yl)-2,2-diphenylacetamide derivatives (3, 4) in a one pot procedure. Compounds 3 and 4 were tested for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The compounds were found to provide 0–86% inhibition of mycobacterial growth in the primary screen conducted at 6.25 μg/cm³.     

Synthesis and Antimycobacterial Activity of New 2-Hydroxy-N-(3-oxo-1-thia-4-azaspiro[4.4]non-4-yl)/(3-oxo-1-thia-4-azaspiro[4.5]dec-4-yl)-2,2-diphenylacetamide Derivatives

Summary. 2-Hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetohydrazide (2), cyclic ketones, and mercaptoalkanoic acids were converted into 2-hydroxy-N-(3-oxo-1-thia-4-azaspiro[4.4]non/[4.5]dec-4-yl)-2,2-diphenylacetamide derivatives (3, 4) in a one pot procedure. Compounds 3 and 4 were tested for in vitro antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The compounds were found to provide 0–86% inhibition of mycobacterial growth in the primary screen conducted at 6.25 μg/cm³.     

Extraction–thermal lens quantification of cobalt with Nitroso-R-Salt in two-phase aqueous systems with water-soluble polymer polyethylene glycol

A novel method is proposed for the extraction-thermal lens quantification of cobalt with Nitroso-R-Salt based on the distribution of the colored complex in a two-phase aqueous system on the basis of poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) and an ammonium sulfate solution followed by its thermal lens detection in the extract. The limit of detection is 0.3 μM (20 ng/mL); the lower limit of the analytical range is 0.7 μM (40 ng/mL); the relative standard deviation for the concentrations 1–50 μM makes 1–3% (n = 6, P = 0.95). In the determination of cobalt by spectrophotometry under the same conditions, the detection limit is 10 μM (0.6 μg/mL) and the lower limit of the analytical range is 40 μM (2.5 μg/mL). The precision of thermal lens measurements in PEG solutions is higher in comparison to that in aqueous ones because of the weaker interference of convection in aqueous solutions of PEG.     

GC-FID optimization and validation for determination of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine and methamphetamine in ecstasy tablets

A methodology for the determination of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and methamphetamine (MA) in seized tablets using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) is described. The chromatographic conditions, i.e. gas flow rates and temperatures for the column, injector and detector were optimized. The optimum chromatographic conditions were as follows: a CP-SIL 24 CB WCOT fused silica capillary column (30 m × 0.32 mm I.D., 0.25 μm film thickness), N₂ carrier gas flowing at 2.6 mL/min, injector temperature at 290°C and detector temperature at 300°C. The oven temperature was ramped from 80°C at a rate of 20°C/min to final temperature of 270°C (1 min). All analytes were well separated within 7 min with an analysis time of 10.5 min. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges of 3.125–200 μg/mL for MDMA and 6.25–200 μg/mL for MDA and MA (r > 0.990). The intra- and inter-day precisions for determining all analytes were 2.32–10.38% RSD and 1.15–9.77% RSD, respectively. The intra- and inter-day accuracies ranged from −19.79 to +17.51% DEV and −6.84 to +5.2% DEV, respectively. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) were 3.125 μg/mL for MDMA and 6.25 μg/mL for MDA and MA. All analytes were stable at room temperature during 24 h but significant loss occurred after 2-month storage at −20°C. The method was shown to be useful for determining the purity of MDMA in seized tablets.     

A new acylated triterpene with antimicrobial activity from the leaves of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rauvolfia vomitoria</Emphasis>

A new acylated tritrepene, 3β-hexadecanoyloxy-lup-20(29)-en-21-ol (1), along with seven known compounds, lupeol (2), betulinic acid (3), ursonic acid (4), -sitosterol (5), β-stigmasterol (6), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-stigmasterol (7), and palmitic acid (8), were isolated from the leaves of Rauvolfia vomitoria (Apocynaceae). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidence. The new acylated triterpene exhibited interesting antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans (a yeast) with the MIC value 64 μg/mL.     

Development of spectrofluorimetric methods for the determination of levosulpiride in pharmaceutical formulation

Simple, accurate, rapid, and sensitive spectrofluorimetric methods for the determination of levosulpiride in pharmaceutical formulation were developed utilizing its fluorescence reaction with Fe³⁺ (method A) and Al³⁺ (method B). The calibration curves were found to be linear in the concentration range 0.239–3.44 μg/mL and 0.310–2.730 μg/mL with limit of detection 0.005 μg/mL and 0.0032 μg/mL, respectively, for method A and method B. The reaction conditions were studied and optimized. In addition, the complexation of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ was also studied. In all cases, an enhancement in fluorescence emission of levosulpiride upon formation of complex with metal ions was observed. A 2: 1 (drug: metal) stoichiometry for all the complexes was established. Benesi-Hildebrand method was applied for calculation of association constant at 25 and 35°C. The thermodynamic parameters obtained in this study revealed that the interaction process was spontaneous and mainly ΔS-driven.     

Chemistry and antiproliferative activities of 3-methoxyflavones isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Varthemia iphionoides</Emphasis>

A new isolated flavone, 4′-hydroxy-3,5,6,7-tetramethoxyflavone (6), together with seven known 3-O-methylated flavones isolated from the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Varthemia iphionoides, were studied for DPPH free radical-scavenging and cytotoxic activities. Flavones 2, 3, 4, and 8 were the most active DPPH free-radical scavengers with inhibition percentage of 63.5, 42.9, 47.9, and 55.6, respectively, at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. Flavones 2 and 8 were the most active as inhibitor for human leukemia HL-60 cells; the IC₅₀ values after 48 h incubation were 20.5 and 23.9 μg/mL, respectively.     

A high-resolution phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic method for the non-phosphorus markers of chemical warfare agents

A high-resolution phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic method has been developed for detection, identification and quantification of non-phosphorus markers of toxic nerve agents (soman and V-class), vesicants (HD, HN-2, HN-3), and incapacitating agent (Bz). These analytes were converted to phosphorus-containing derivatives via phosphitylation reaction of their hydroxyl and sulfhydryl functions (using 2-chloro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane). This was followed by ³¹P{¹H} and ³¹P NMR analysis of these derivatives. The chemical shifts (δ) and coupling constants (³ J _P–H) of derivatives were used for their specific detection and identification. The method allowed clear distinction between the alcohols and thiols. The lower limits of detection of these analytes were found to be between 12 and 28 μg obtained from 128 transients of ³¹P{¹H} quantitative NMR experiments. Utility of the method was ensured by the detection and identification of triethanolamine present (at an original concentration of 5 μg/mL) in an aqueous sample from 28th OPCW Official Proficiency Tests.     

Determination of trace dimethoate in milk and river water by kinetic spectrophotometry using malachite green and potassium periodate

In the present study, a new sensitive and simple kinetic-spectrophotometric method for the determination of the insecticide dimethoate [O,O-dimethyl-S-(N-methyl-carbomoylmethyl)-phosphoro-dithioate] is developed. The method is based on the inhibition effect of dimethoate on the oxidation of malachite green (MG) by potassium periodate (KIO₄) in the presence of Mn(II) ions. Inhibition kinetics of this catalytic reaction was investigated in the presence of dimethoate and the possibility of its analytical application was evaluated. The important variables that affected the reaction rate were investigated and the optimum conditions giving maximum sensitivity were established. Dimethoate was determined with linear calibration graph in the interval from 4.58 to 41.22 μg/mL. The optimized conditions yielded a theoretical detection limit of 1.24 μg/mL based on the 3S _b criterion. The RSDs of the method (n = 5) were 1.2–4.9% for the concentration interval of dimethoate from 4.58 to 41.22 μg/mL. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the change in absorbance over time at 615 nm. The method was applied to the determination of dimethoate in waters and milk, and was compared with the spectrophotometric method. The quantitive method developed on the basis of inhibition kinetics is practical, fast and economical. For this reason, it is open for new application fields.     

Solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for analysis of phenols and nitrophenols in rainwater,as their <Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry has been used for analysis of four phenols and sixteen nitrophenols in rainwater samples. Analytes were extracted from the water in the immersion mode and derivatised for 5 min during direct desorption in the GC injector. Before desorption, 2 μL N-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide (MDBSTFA) was introduced into the injector, which was maintained at 280 °C. Different conditions affecting extraction efficiency were studied, including temperature, type of microextraction fibre, and effect of pH and ionic strength. Five different fibre coatings were tested: 85-μm polyacrylate (PA), 100-μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), 65-μm Carbowax–divinylbenzene (CW–DVB), 75-μm Carboxen–polydimethylsiloxane (CAR–PDMS), and 65-μm polydimethylsiloxane–divinylbenzene (PDMS–DVB). The best conditions were use of PA fibres for 40 min at ambient temperature (75 g NaCl per 100 mL, pH 3.0). MDBSTFA was used as derivatising agent because it enables analysis of phenols derivatives with high confidence in identification, because in electron-impact mode TBDMS–phenol derivatives produce the specific M–57 ion. Quantification was achieved by using 4-nitrophenol-d4, at 1 mg L⁻¹, as internal standard. Linearity was good, with correlation coefficients in the range 0.9888 (o-cresol) to 0.9987 (dinitro-o-cresol, DNOC). Detection limits varied between 0.208 and 99.3 μg L⁻¹ and quantification limits between 0.693 and 331 μg L⁻¹. Uncertainties varied between 8.7% (phenol) and 17.9% (4-methyl-2-nitrophenol). The method was successfully applied to the analysis of rainwater collected at urban and rural sites in Alsace (East of France). Because of derivatisation in the injector and the associated high temperature, the lifetime of the fibre is severely reduced.     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace cadmium in vegetables with 3,5-bis(4-phenylazophenylaminodiazo)benzoic acid

A new highly sensitive and selective chromogenic reagent, 3,5-bis(4-phenylazophenylaminodiazo)benzoic acid (BPPABA) has been synthesized and applied to the determination of trace cadmium(II) in vegetables. The method is based on the color reaction between BPPABA and cadmium (II). In the presence of Triton X-100, cadmium(II) reacts with BPPABA in Na₂B₄O₇-NaOH buffer solution (pH 10.5), forming red complex with maximum absorption at 530 nm. Under the optimal conditions, Beer’s law is obeyed within 0–12 μg of cadmium within 25 mL of solution, and the apparent molar absorptive coefficient of the complex is 2.8 × 10⁵ L/mol cm. The detection limit and the relative standard deviation were found to be 0.92 μg/L and 1.0%, respectively. Interference of foreign ions was also investigated. Most of the metal ions are tolerated in considerable amounts except for Hg(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II). To eliminate the interference of foreign ions, metal ion imprinted polymer technique was utilized.     

Solvent extraction-spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of fluoxetine in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple, reproducible, and sensitive extraction-spectrophotometric method for the determination of fluoxetine (FL) in pharmaceutical formulations is reported. The FLH⁺ cation, which is formed in an acidic solution, can form an ion-pair with Orange II, (OR II), an anionic dye. The FLH⁺-OR II⁻ ion pair was quantitatively extracted into dichloromethane solvent and its absorption was measured at 482 nm. The calibration graph is linear over the FL concentration range of 0.2–9.0 μg/mL and the regression coefficient is 0.9995. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of ten replicate determinations of 5.0 and 1.4 μg/mL of FL are 0.022 and 0.038, respectively, and the limit of detection (LOD) of the method is 0.17 μg/mL. The method was successfully applied to the determination of an FL amount in pharmaceutical formulations (10.0-and 20.0-mg capsules). The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Determination of copper in urine and water samples using a simple led-based colorimeter

A cheap and simple colorimetric assay based on the reaction with sodium 8-aminoquinoline-5-azobenzene-4′-sulfonate (SPAQ) is applied to the determination of copper in urine and water samples. The proposed technique employs a light emitting diode (LED) as a light source and a cheap common light dependent resistor (LDR) as a detector. This device functions on the basis of the level of light received by photoresistor (LDR), which is connected to a digit multimeter yielding resistance readings increasing with the increase in light absorption by sample solution. Experimental variables affecting the complex formation were optimized applying the Taguchi method. Under the optimum conditions, calibration plot was linear in the analyte concentration range of 0.1–2 μg/mL. The stoichiometry of metal/ligand ratio, the stability constant, and molar absorptivity (ɛ) of Cu(II)-SPAQ complex were also found. The relative standard deviation for five replicate determinations of 1 μg/mL Cu(II) was 3.64% and the corresponding limit of detection was 35 μg/L.     

Preconcentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on molecularly imprinted polymers and its subsequent determination by high performance liquid chromatography

The potency of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in the dynamic sorption preconcentration (solid phase extraction) of 2,4-D and three other structurally related species (2,4-dichlorophenol, 2-chlorophenol, and dikamba) from aqueous solutions is assessed. The optimal conditions for preconcentration are found: 0.01 M HCl, 25–100 mL of solution, flow rate of solution 0.7 mL/min, column (15 × 2.7 mL), and sorbent weight 0.04 g. The analytes are desorbed with 1 mL of methanol and detected in the eluate by reversed-phase HPLC with spectrophotometric detection at 225 nm. The detection limit for 2,4-D makes 0.4 μg/mL without preconcentration and 0.01 μg/mL with preconcentration from a volume of 100 mL. The procedure is applied to the analysis of model mixtures based on fresh river water.     

Optimization of the Extraction Conditions and Simultaneous Quantification by RP-LC of Six Alkaloids in Evodiae Fructus

A reversed phase liquid chromatographic (LC) method coupled with DAD (250 nm) has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of six alkaloids, dehydroevodiamine (1), wuzhuyuamide-I (2), 5-hydroxyrutaecarpine (3), 14-formyldihydrorutaecarpine (4), evodiamine (5) and rutaecarpine (6), in 12 batches evodiae fructus [the dried, unripe fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. or E. rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. officinalis (Dode) Huang, E. rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. bodinieri (Dode) Huang] as a traditional Chinese medicine. The method was carried out by a C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm) with a gradient mobile phase of methanol, acetonitrile, and phosphoric acid–triethylamine–buffer solution. The contents of 1–6 in the evodiae fructus could easily be determined within 70 min. The experimental results were satisfactory for the intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy of the method for simultaneous determination. The linear calibration ranges of 1–6 were 40–1,000, 20–500, 1–100, 10–500, 40–1,000 and 80–1,000 μg mL⁻¹. The recoveries of 1–6 were 97.43–103.73% with RSDs from 0.21 to 1.99%. The limits of detection for 1–6 were 2.0, 2.0, 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 5.0 μg mL⁻¹, and the limits of quantification were 6.6, 6.6, 0.3, 3.3, 16.5 and 16.5 μg mL⁻¹. The method was successfully applied to the quantification of six alkaloids in the evodiae fructus.     

Flow-Injection Determination of Toxic Aromatic Amines in Medicinal Preparations

Working conditions were found for the flow-injection determination with spectrophotometric detection (510 nm) of the toxic aromatic amines p-aminophenol (I) and o-phenylenediamine (II) as 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan derivatives in mixtures on the basis of Paracetamol and Dibazol medicines. The optimal results were obtained with the use of flows of an ethanol (methanol)–buffer solution at pH 6.68. The analytical range of the toxicants is 0.03–0.98 g/mL. The detection limit is 0.025 g/mL for I and 0.01 g/mL for II. Compounds I and IIwere determined in medicinal forms (pellets, syrup, and suppositories) and in reaction mixtures in the synthesis of Paracetamol and Dibazol.     

Determination of roxythromycin in blood serum by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection

A procedure has been developed for the determination of a macrolide antibiotic roxythromycin (RX) in blood serum using HPLC with mass spectrometric detection using clarithromycin (CL) as the internal standard. RX and CL have been extracted from the samples by solid-phase extraction in a cartridge filled with a polar adsorbent, cyanopropylsilyl silica gel. The absolute recoveries of RX and CL are 89.6 and 92.5%, respectively. Chromatographic separation has been performed on a Nucleodur C₁₈ Isis column with the mobile phase composed as follows: water-methanol-acetonitrile-formic aid (499: 250: 250: 1 by volume). Registration has been performed in the mode of selected ion monitoring with m/z 837.7 (RX) and m/z 748.7 (CL). The analytical range for RX is 0.097–14.81 μg/mL, the quantification limit is 0.097 μg/mL, the detection limit is 0.03 μg/mL, and the intraday and interday relative standard deviation are 2–6 and 4–8% respectively. The procedure has been applied to the pharmacokinetic studies of the Rulid pharmaceutical preparation.     

Spectrophotometric determination of piroxicam

The possibility of the spectrophotometric determination of piroxicam based on the extraction of its ion associate (IA) with the polymethine dye, 5-thiocyanate-1,3,3-trimethyl-2[(1E)-3-[(2E)-1,3,3-trime-thyl-1-H-indol-2-ilidine]-propenyl]-3H-indolium chloride. The maximal recovery of IA with toluene is achieved when pH of the aqueous phase is 8.0–12.0 and the concentration of the dye is (1.0–2.0) × 10⁻⁴. The molar absorption coefficient of IA is 8 × 10⁴, the detection limit of piroxicam is 0.49 μg/mL. A procedure has been developed for the extraction-spectrophotometric determination of piroxicam in the concentration range 1.0–20.0 μg/mL.