Investigating sub-2 μm particle stationary phase supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for chemical profiling of chamomile extracts

Roman and German chamomile are widely used throughout the world. Chamomiles contain a wide variety of active constituents including sesquiterpene lactones. Various extraction techniques were performed on these two types of chamomile. A packed-column supercritical fluid chromatography–mass spectrometry method was designed for the identification of sesquiterpenes and other constituents from chamomile extracts with no derivatization step prior to analysis. Mass spectrometry detection was achieved by using electrospray ionization. All of the compounds of interest were separated within 15 min. The chamomile extracts were analyzed and compared for similarities and distinct differences. Multivariate statistical analysis including principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to differentiate between the chamomile samples. German chamomile samples confirmed the presence of cis- and trans-tonghaosu, chrysosplenols, apigenin diglucoside whereas Roman chamomile samples confirmed the presence of apigenin, nobilin, 1,10-epioxynobilin, and hydroxyisonobilin.     

Synthesis and biological assessment of some fused Pyran derivatives

Pyran was formed by reacting methyl 3-methoxyacrylate (1) with 2-benzylidenemalanonitrile to form compound 2 . The pyrano derivatives 3–6 were obtained by reacting the second molecule with 2-benzylidenemalanonitrile, carbon disulfide, formamide, and benzylidene cyclohexanone. Compound (2) interacted with ethyl chloroacetate to form compound 8 , which then cyclized in the presence of sodium ethoxide to form compound 9 . Compound 7 was formed when compound (2) was treated with acetic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid and reacted with ethylchloroacetate to form compound 10 and then was converted to compound 11 by the addition of sodium ethoxide. Analytical and spectral data have been used to determine the structures of the newly synthesized substances and they were then tested for their antibacterial and antioxidant activities. In terms of antioxidant activity, compounds 2 and 8 were found to have the greatest and lowest levels, respectively, against Enterobacter aerogenes.     

Synthesis, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties of thiadiazaphosphol-2-ones

4-Amino-5-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (1) underwent facile condensation with various phosphorus dichlorides (2a-j) in the presence of triethylamine in dry tetrahydrofuran at 60-65 degrees C and afforded corresponding thiadiazaphosphol-2-ones (3a-j). Their chemical structures were characterized using IR, (1)H-, (13)C-, (31)P-NMR and Mass spectral studies. All the title compounds were screened for antioxidant properties by radical scavenging methods such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl and lipid peroxidation. They exhibited potent in vitro antioxidant activity dose dependently. Their bioassay showed them to possess significant antibacterial activity.     

Chemical fingerprint of Hoodia species,dietary supplements,and related genera by using HPTLC

A HPTLC method was developed for simple and rapid chemical fingerprint analysis of four Hoodia species, dietary supplements that claim to contain Hoodia gordonii, and plants from genera related to Hoodia. HPTLC was performed on precoated silica 60F₂₅₄ plates with dichloromethane/methanol/water 75:17:2.2 by volume, as mobile phase. Evaluation of the HPTLC plates was done by using the CAMAG DigiStore2 digital system with winCATS software. The authentication of H. gordonii was achieved by comparing the band colors and R_f values for TLC fingerprints with those of 11 standard compounds including P57. The developed method was successfully applied for the identification of the 11 pregnane glycosides for four different species of Hoodia, 24 related genera and 13 dietary supplements that claim to contain H. gordonii. Different sample matrices were successfully analyzed, providing a wide range of applicability for this method, including gels, capsules, tablets, sprays, teas, snack bars, powders, and juices. The developed method was validated for specificity, stability, repeatability, and robustness. The results of HPTLC method were verified by LC‐UV‐MS method.     

Reaction of α-Haloketones with ortho-Dihydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-ones. Formation of α-Pyrano-1,5-benzodioxapines-A New Heterocyclic System

Reaction of 7,8-dihydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one, and its 4-methyl derivative, with α-haloketones affords α-pyrano-1,5-benzodioxapines, while 3-chloro-4-methyl-7,8-dihydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one gives α-pyrano-1,4-benzodioxane. The structures of the compounds were deduced using a combination of ¹H nmr, ¹³C nmr (BB, DEPT), HETCOR, NOESY, and selective INEPT techniques and molecular modeling.     

Predicting eutectic behavior of drugs and excipients by unique calculations

A eutectic is formed from a mixture of two or more solids and has a melting point lower than that of each of its constituents. It is generally represented by a phase diagram where the liquid and solid phases impact upon each other with a value known as the eutectic point. In pharmaceuticals, poor water solubility is a major obstacle for releasing new dosage forms into the market. Eutectic formation overcomes these problems. Preparation of a phase diagram by Differential Scanning Calorimetry can determine eutectic properties, but it is tedious. A modified Van’t Hoff (VH) equation was used in this study. Devalina Law developed a dimensionless index for the VH equation. The difference in melting points of an excipient polymer and drug are divided by the slope of the VH equation. In previous studies, five excipient–drug compositions were evaluated. The final index relationship was in good agreement except for the salt, quinine sulfate. In order to test the validity of the VH index, further studies of PEG with acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, diflunisal, dimenhydrinate, ketoconazole, and mefenamic acid were performed.     

Simultaneous determination of saponins and a flavonoid from aerial parts of Zygophyllum coccineum L

Triterpenoid saponins are a class of glycosides with a wide range of bioactivities, which make them interesting research candidates. Zygophyllum coccineum is an Egyptian desert plant rich in triterpenoid saponins. Reviewing the relevant literature, no data concerning the HPLC or ultra-performance LC (UPLC) analysis of Zygophyllum content were found. This paper presents two methods, HPLC-UV and UPLC-UV-evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD)/MS, for the simultaneous determination of 10 compounds in the alcohol extract of Z. coccineum. The HPLC method uses a C18 column and water-acetonitrile (both containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) gradient system. The separation was achieved within 32 min. The developed UPLC method simultaneously detects and quantifies the 10 compounds using an Acquity UPLC BEH Shield RP18 column and reagent alcohol-acetonitrile (80/20, v/v) and water (both containing 0.5% formic acid) gradient system within 14 min with UV, ELS, and MS detectors. The methods were used to analyze another species, Z. simplex, and results revealed a great variation between the secondary metabolite pattern of both species.     

Simultaneous quantification of adrenergic amines and flavonoids in C. aurantium, various Citrus species, and dietary supplements by liquid chromatography

An analytical method was developed for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of 6 amines and 20 flavonoids in fruits and extracts of 30 Citrus species, including C. aurantium, near-Citrus relatives, and dietary supplements by liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The separation was achieved with a Phenomenex Synergi Hydro reversed-phase column using gradient mobile phase of sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.5) and acetonitrile. Elution was run at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and UV at 254, 280, and 330 nm. Among the amines analyzed, synephrine, the main component, was present in the levels from 0.11 to 2.0 mg/g dry weight in 21 Citrus species and 0.07 to 18.62% in dietary supplements claiming to contain C. aurantium. The flavanones and flavones were analyzed in the same Citrus samples and were species-specific. The levels of flavones were very low compared with those of flavanones. The method facilitated the simultaneous quantification of 6 amines and 20 flavonoids in various Citrus species, the distinction between the different Citrus species, and the analysis of dietary supplements containing C. aurantium.