Rapid and sensitive LC‐MS method for pharmacokinetic study of vinorelbine in rats

A rapid and sensitive LC‐electrospray ionization‐MS method was developed for determining vinorelbine in rat plasma. A 100 µL plasma sample was treated using a protein precipitation procedure and was chromatographed within 4 min using an Inertsil ODS‐3 C₁₈ (2.1 × 50 mm, 5 µm) column. The selected ion monitoring ions [M + H]⁺ were m/z 779 and m/z 811 for vinorelbine and vinblastine (internal standard), respectively. The method validation showed that the calibration curve for vinorelbine was linear over a concentration range of 1–1000 ng/mL with lower limit of quantification at 1 ng/mL. The method has been successfully applied to pharmacokinetics in rat plasma. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An analytical method for cyclosporine using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatographic mass spectrometric (LC‐MS) assay has been developed for cyclosporine A (CyA) in rat plasma using amiodarone as internal standard (IS). Rat plasma (100 µL) containing drug and IS were extracted using liquid–liquid extraction with 4 mL of 95:5 ether:methanol. After evaporation of the organic layer the residue was reconstituted with 500 µL of water. Then the aqueous layer was transferred to LC‐MS sample vials. A 10 µL volume was injected. The analysis was performed on a C₈ column 3.5 µm (2.1 × 50 mm) heated to 60°C with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile:methanol:0.2% NH₄OH (60:20:20) at an isocratic flow‐rate of 0.2 mL/min. The ions used for quantitation of CyA and IS were m/z 1202.8 and 645.9, with retention times of 3.35 and 4.72 min, respectively. Linear relationships (r² > 0.99) were achieved between plasma or blood concentration and peak height ratios (drug:IS) over the concentration range 50–5000 ng/mL. The CV% and mean error were <19%. Based on validation data, the lower limit of quantification for the assay was 50 ng/mL. The reported assay method displayed high measures of linearity, sensitivity, reliability and precision, allowing its applicability in pharmacokinetic studies in rat. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High‐performance liquid chromatography method for determination of carnosic acid in rat plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive and reproducible high‐performance liquid chromatography method with ultraviolet detection (UV) was developed for the determination of carnosic acid (CA) in rat plasma. After simple acidification and liquid–liquid extraction of plasma samples using gemfibrozil as an internal standard, the supernatant was evaporated to dryness under a gentle stream of nitrogen. The residue was reconstituted in 200 µL before being injected into the chromatographic system. The analysis was performed on a C₁₈ column protected by an ODS guard column using acetonitrile–0.1% phosphoric acid (55:45, v/v) as mobile phase, and the wavelength of the UV detector was set at 210 nm. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.265–265.0 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997. The recovery for plasma samples of 0.530, 13.25, 132.5 and 265.0 µg/mL was 72.2, 87.9, 90.4 and 94.7%, respectively. The intra‐day and inter‐day relative standard deviations for the measurements of quality control samples were less than 3.1%. The stability of the plasma samples was also validated. This method was successfully used to study the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of CA in rats. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Antimicrobial,Antioxidant, Anti-Acetylcholinesterase,Antidiabetic, and Pharmacokinetic Properties of Carum carvi L. and Coriandrum sativum L. Essential Oils Alone and in Combination

Herbs and spices have been used since antiquity for their nutritional and health properties, as well as in traditional remedies for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Therefore, this study aims to perform a chemical analysis of both essential oils (EOs) from the seeds of Carum carvi (C. carvi) and Coriandrum sativum (C. sativum) and evaluate their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-acetylcholinesterase, and antidiabetic activities alone and in combination. Results showed that the EOs mainly constitute monoterpenes with γ-terpinene (31.03%), β-pinene (18.77%), p-cymene (17.16%), and carvone (12.20%) being the major components present in C. carvi EO and linalool (76.41%), γ-terpinene (5.35%), and α-pinene (4.44%) in C. sativum EO. In comparison to standards, statistical analysis revealed that C. carvi EO showed high and significantly different (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity than C. sativum EO, but lower than the mixture. Moreover, the mixture exhibited two-times greater ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (IC₅₀ = 11.33 ± 1.53 mg/mL) and equipotent chelating power (IC₅₀ = 31.33 ± 0.47 mg/mL) than the corresponding references, and also potent activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (IC₅₀ = 19.00 ± 1.00 mg/mL), β-carotene (IC₅₀ = 11.16 ± 0.84 mg/mL), and superoxide anion (IC₅₀ = 10.33 ± 0.58 mg/mL) assays. Antimicrobial data revealed that single and mixture EOs were active against a panel of pathogenic microorganisms, and the mixture had the ability to kill more bacterial strains than each EO alone. Additionally, the anti-acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effect have been studied for the first time, highlighting the high inhibition effect of AChE by C. carvi (IC₅₀ = 0.82 ± 0.05 mg/mL), and especially by C. sativum (IC₅₀ = 0.68 ± 0.03 mg/mL), as well as the mixture (IC₅₀ = 0.63 ± 0.02 mg/mL) compared to the reference drug, which are insignificantly different (p > 0.05). A high and equipotent antidiabetic activity was observed for the mixture (IC₅₀ = 0.75 ± 0.15 mg/mL) when compared to the standard drug, acarbose, which is about nine times higher than each EO alone. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic analysis provides some useful insights into designing new drugs with favorable drug likeness and safety profiles based on a C. carvi and C. sativum EO mixture. In summary, the results of this study revealed that the combination of these EOs may be recommended for further food, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical applications, and can be utilized as medicine to inhibit several diseases.     

Rapid and sensitive determination of acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid in plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: application to pharmacokinetic study

A simple and sensitive analytical method using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for determination of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin, ASA) and its major metabolite, salicylic acid (SA), in animal plasma has been developed and validated. Both ASA and SA in plasma samples containing potassium fluoride were extracted using acetonitrile (protein precipitation) with 0.1% formic acid in it. 6‐Methoxysalicylic acid was used as the internal standard (IS). The compounds were separated on a reversed‐phase column. The multiple reaction monitoring mode was used with ion transitions of m/z 178.9 → 136.8, 137.0 → 93.0 and 167.0 → 123.0 for ASA, SA and IS, respectively. The lower limits of quantification for ASA and SA were 3 and 30 ng/mL, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for the evaluation of pharmacokinetics of ASA and SA after p.o. and i.v. administration of 1 mg/kg to rats. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of ferruginol in rat plasma via high‐performance liquid chromatography and its application in pharmacokinetics study

Ferruginol, a diterpene phenol, has recently received attention for its extensive pharmacological properties, including anti‐tumor, antibacterial, cardio‐protective and gastroprotective effects. In the present study, a high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for determination of ferruginol in rat plasma and applied for the pharmacokinetics study. The HPLC assay was performed with a VP ODS‐C₁₈ column. The mobile phaseconsisted of methanol and 1% acetic acid solution (90:10, v/v). The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min, and the wavelength was set at 270 nm. This method was linear over the studied range of 0.1–10.0 µg/mL for ferruginol. The correlation coefficient was 0.9998. The intra‐day and inter‐day precisions were better than 4 and 5%, respectively. The extraction recovery and accuracy were greater than 97 and 96%, respectively. The detection limit was 30 ng/mL. The mean maximum concentration of ferruginol in rat plasma was 3.14 µg/mL at 40 min after oral administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Ferruginol was absorbed quickly p.o. with t_1/2ka = 14.86 min and had a high rate of elimination with t_1/2 = 41.73 min. The pharmacokinetic process of ferruginol in rat was well described with a one‐compartment model. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous determination of methylephedrine and pseudoephedrine in human urine by CE with electrochemiluminescence detection and its application to pharmacokeinetics

A novel method for the determination of ephedra alkaloids (methylephedrine and pseudoephedrine) was developed by electrophoresis capillary (CE) separation and electrochemiluminesence detection (ECL). The use of ionic liquid (1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, BMIMBF₄) improved the detection sensitivity markedly. The conditions for CE separation, ECL detection and effect of ionic liquid were investigated in detail. The two ephedra alkaloids with very similar structures were well separated and detected under the optimum conditions. The limits of detection (signal‐to‐noise ratio = 3) in standard solution were 1.8 × 10^–8 mol/L for methylephedrine (ME) and 9.2 × 10^–9 mol/L for pseudoephedrine (PSE). The limits of quantitation (signal‐to‐noise ratio = 10) in human urine samples were 2.6 × 10^?7 mol/L for ME and 3.6 × 10^–7 mol/L for PSE. The recoveries of two alkaloids at three different concentration levels in human urine samples were between 81.7 and 105.0%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of ME and PSE in human urine and the monitoring of pharmacokinetics for PSE. The proposed method has potential in therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical analysis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for Costunolide and Dehydrocostuslactone in Mice Plasma and Tissues:Application to Pharmacokinetic Study

A simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for simultaneous determination of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone in mice plasma and tissues was developed and validated. Costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone were extracted into acetonitrile and separated using an isocratic mobile phase, on a Hypersil ODS C18 column. The effluent was monitored by UV detector at 210 nm and at a flow rate of 1.0 mL· min^?1 and 25°C. The linearity ranges of proposed method were 0.223–8.920 µg·mL^?1 for costunolide and 0.227–9.080 µg·mL^?1 for dehydrocostuslactone. The intra‐day and inter‐day RSD of the assay method for the two components were less than 5%, and mean recovery was within the 86.5% to 101.8% range. The method was found to be precise, accurate, and specific during the study. The method was successfully applied for pharmacokinetic study of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone after application of ethanol extraction of Muxiang (EEM) in mice.     

鼠血中烯丙洛尔对映体的毛细管电泳分离与测定

建立了一种双手性拆分试剂(羟丙基-β-环糊精和羧甲基-β-环糊精)拆分烯丙洛尔对映体的毛细管电泳方法。烯丙洛尔对映体在pH 3.8的80 mmol/L Tris-H3PO4+15 mmol/L羟丙基-β-环糊精(HP--βCD)+5.0 g/L羧甲基-β-环糊精(CM--βCD)条件下获得成功分离。以(1R,2R)-2-氨基-1-苯基-1,3-丙二醇为内标,采用内标法定量,烯丙洛尔对映体在0.25~50 mg/L范围内具有良好线性关系,检出限(S/N=3)为0.25 mg/L,日内、日间RSD均不大于6%,平均回收率为97%~102%。该方法可用于鼠体内烯丙洛尔的药代动力学研究。     

LC-MS/MS determination and pharmacokinetic study of albiflorin and paeoniflorin in rat plasma after oral administration of Radix Paeoniae Alba extract and Tang-Min-Ling-Wan

A rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method (LC‐MS/MS) was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of albiflorin and paeoniflorin in rat plasma using geniposide as an internal standard. Plasma samples were extracted by solid‐phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ analytical column (150 × 2.1 mm × 5 µm) with 0.1% formic acid–acetonitrile (70:30, v/v) as the mobile phase. Detection was performed by multiple reaction monitoring mode using electrospray ionization in the positive ion mode. The total run time was 3.0 min between injections. The calibration curves were linear over a range of 1–1000 ng/mL for albiflorin and 2–2000 ng/mL for paeoniflorin. The overall precision and accuracy for all concentrations of quality controls and standards were better than 15%. Mean recovery was determined to be 87.7% for albiflorin and 88.8% for paeoniflorin. The validated method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of albiflorin and paeoniflorin in rat plasma after oral administration of Radix Paeoniae Alba extract and Tang‐Min‐Ling‐Wan. The pharmacokinetic parameters showed that albiflorin and paeoniflorin from Tang‐Min‐Ling‐Wan were absorbed more rapidly with higher concentrations in plasma than that from Radix Paeoniae Alba extract. The results provided a meaningful basis for evaluating the clinical applications of traditional Chinese medicine. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.