Analysis of carbenoxolone by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in mouse brain and blood after systemic administration

Carbenoxolone is a derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid found in the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, colloquially known as licorice. It has been used as a treatment for peptic and oral ulcers. In recent years, carbenoxolone has been utilized in basic research for its ability to block gap junctional communication. Better understanding the distribution of carbenoxolone after systemic administration can lead to a better understanding of its potential sites of action. Presented is an ultra high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer (UHPLC–MS/MS) method for the identification and quantification of carbenoxolone in mouse blood and brain tissue. Twenty mice were injected intraperitoneally with 25 mg/kg carbenoxolone and brain tissue and blood were collected for analysis. Blood concentrations (mean ± SD) at 15, 30, 60 and 120 min were determined to be (n = 5) 5394 ± 778, 2636 ± 836, 1564 ± 541 and 846 ± 252 ng/mL, respectively. Brain concentrations (mean ± SD) at 15, 30, 60 and 120 mins were determined to be (n = 5) 171 ± 62, 102 ± 35, 55 ± 10 and 27 ± 9 ng/g, respectively. The analysis of these specimens at the four different time points resulted in blood and brain half‐lives in mice of ~43 and 41 min, respectively. The UHPLC–MS/MS method was determined to be sensitive and robust for quantification of carbenoxolone.     

HMGB1–Carbenoxolone Interactions: Dynamics Insights from Combined Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Molecular Dynamics

The interplay of protein dynamics and molecular recognition is of fundamental importance in biological processes. Atomic‐resolution insights into these phenomena may provide new opportunities for drug discovery. Herein, we have combined NMR relaxation experiments and residual dipolar coupling (RDC) measurements with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the effects of the anti‐inflammatory drug carbenoxolone (CBNX) on the conformational properties and on the internal dynamics of a subdomain (box A) of high‐mobility group B protein (HMGB1). ¹⁵N relaxation data show that CBNX binding enhances the fast pico‐ to nanosecond motions of a loop and partially removes the internal motional anisotropy of the first two helices of box A. Dipolar wave analysis of amide RDC data shows that ligand binding induces helical distortions. In parallel, increased mobility of the loop upon ligand binding is highlighted by the essential dynamics analysis (EDA) of MD simulations. Moreover, simulations detect two possible orientations for CBNX, which induces two possible conformations of helix H3, one being similar to the free form and the second one causing a partial helical distortion. Finally, we introduce a new approach for the analysis of the internal coordination of protein residues that is consistent with experimental data and allows us to pinpoint which substructures of box A are dynamically affected by CBNX. The observations reported here may be useful for understanding the role of protein dynamics in binding at atomic resolution.     

高效液相法测定胃康片中呋喃唑酮、甘珀酸钠和盐酸小檗碱

 用高效液相 (HPLC)梯度洗脱法同时测定复方胃康片中呋喃唑酮、甘珀酸钠和盐酸小檗含量。使用No va PakC18柱 ,以乙腈和 0 0 2mol/L磷酸盐缓冲溶液 (pH 7 0 )为流动相 ,3,5 二硝基苯甲酸作为内标溶液 ,使用UV检测器 ,在 2 5 4nm处对样品中上述 3种成分进行测定。测定结果表明 ,呋喃唑酮在 14 1 2mg/L～ 12 70 8mg/L、甘珀酸钠在 10 0 6mg/L～ 90 5 4mg/L、盐酸小檗碱在 99 2mg/L～ 892 8mg/L时其相对峰面积 (标准品与内标的峰面积之比 )与进样质量浓度有良好的线性关系 ,其线性相关系数分别为r =0 9997,r =0 9995和r =0 9991。