Determination of fluoroquinolones in milk, honey and water samples by salting out-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on deep eutectic solvent combined with MECC.

A simple and sensitive salting out-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method using deep eutectic solvent combined with back extraction and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (SO-DLLME-DES-BE-MECC) was developed for the determination of fluoroquinolones in milk, honey and water samples. Several parameters affecting the extraction efficiency including DES volume, vortex time, centrifugation time, salt type and amount, sample pH and volume, etc. were investigated. Good linearity were obtained for fluoroquinolones in a range of 0.020-3.200 µg mL-1 and 0.030-4.800 µg mL-1 with LODs less than 0.010 µg mL-1. The recoveries were in the ranges of 95.0-104.9%, 90.1-110.2% and 87.8-114.1% for water, honey and milk samples, respectively. The relative standard deviations for reproducibility were all below 7.6%. Under the optimized conditions, the enrichment factors for analytes were achieved in the range from 531 to 858 folds. The presented method was successfully applied for the determination of fluoroquinolones in milk, honey and water samples.

Ionic liquid-based headspace in-tube liquid-phase microextraction coupled with capillary electrophoresis for sensitive detection of phenols.

An ionic liquid-based headspace in-tube liquid-phase microextraction (IL-HS-ITLPME) in-line coupled with capillary electrophoresis (CE) is proposed. The method is capable of quantifying trace amounts of phenols in environmental water samples. In the newly developed method, simply by placing a capillary injected with IL in the HS above the aqueous sample, volatile phenols were extracted into the IL acceptor phase in the capillary. After extraction, electrophoresis of the phenols in the capillary was carried out. Extraction parameters such as the extraction time, extraction temperature, ionic strength, volume of the sample solution and IL types were systematically investigated. Under the optimized conditions, enrichment factors for four phenols were from 1510 to 1985. The proposed method provided a good linearity, low limits of detection (below 5.0 ng mL-1 ), and good repeatability of the extractions (RSDs below 6.7%, n = 6). This method was then utilized to analyze two real environmental samples of Xiaoxi Lake and tap water, obtaining acceptable recoveries and precisions. Compared with the usual HS-ITLPME for CE, IL-HS-ITLPME-CE is a simple, low-cost, fast and environmentally friendly pre-concentration technique. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Optimization of permethyl ningalin B analogs as P-glycoprotein inhibitors.

In the present study, a total of 9 novel permethyl ningalin B analogs have been synthesized and evaluated for their P-gp modulating activity in a P-gp overexpressed breast cancer cell line LCC6MDR. Among these derivatives, compound 12 with dimethoxy groups at rings A and B and tri-substitution at ring C with ortho-methoxyethylmorpholine, meta-bromo and para-benzyloxy groups displays the most potent P-gp modulating activity with EC50 of 423 nM to reverse paclitaxel resistance. It is non-toxic towards L929 fibroblast with IC50 greater than 100 µM and with selective index greater than 236. Its mechanism to reverse P-gp mediated drug resistance is by virtue of inhibiting transport activity of P-gp, restoring intracellular drug accumulation and eventually chemosensitizing the cancer cells to anticancer drug again. Moreover, compound 12 showed better solubility (405 ng/mL) than hit compound 1 in phosphate buffer (pH 4.0). In summary, our study demonstrates that permethyl ningalin B derivative 12 is non-toxic and efficient P-gp inhibitor that is a potential candidate to be used clinically to reverse P-gp mediated cancer drug resistance.

Identification and analysis of an impurity inducing clinical adverse effect in anti-adhesion carboxymethyl chitosan products.

Controlling and minimizing the adverse effects of drugs are the key issues in ensuring the safety of drug therapy. Carboxymethyl chitosan has been widely used as an anti-adhesion material. However, recently in China there have been several reported instances of conjunctival hyperemia associated with the use of carboxymethyl chitosan containing products. Through MS, FTIR, and GC analysis, an impurity, diglycolic acid, was discovered in carboxylmethyl chitosan products. Pharmacological tests further indicated diglycolic acid has antithrombogenicity properties and induces vasodilation, both of which can cause conjunctival hyperemia. Thus, through these tests it was ascertained that diglycolic acid was the culprit responsible for the adverse clinical effects. Next, emphasis shifted to trying to discover the mechanism responsible for generating the diglycolic acid. Under strong basic conditions, chloroacetic acid can generate glycolic acid, which, upon etherification, can become diglycolic acid. In order to avoid future adverse effects, we have established an HPLC method to detect and determine diglycolic acid in carboxymethyl chitosan products. This method is specific, accurate, and precise, and can be easily implemented into routine monitoring practice. Concurrently, a refined method has also been established in order to eliminate diglycolic acid from carboxymethyl chitosan.

Immobilized capillary tyrosinase microreactor for inhibitor screening in natural extracts by capillary electrophoresis.

A method for creating an immobilized capillary tyrosinase (TRS) reactor based on a layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly for inhibitor screening is described. Tyrosinase was immobilized on the surface of fused-silica capillary via ionic binding technique with cationic polyelectrolyte hexadimethrine bromide (HDB). Then, HDB solution with the same plug length as the TRS was injected again into the capillary to cover the immobilized enzyme by forming HDB-TRS-HDB sandwich-like structure. Then, the substrate of l-tyrosine was introduced into the capillary and on-line enzyme inhibition study was performed by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The enzyme activity was determined by the quantification of peak area of the product of l-DOPA. Enzyme inhibition can be read out directly from the reduced peak area of the product in comparison with a reference electropherogram obtained in the absence of any inhibitor. The immobilized enzyme could withstand 25 consecutive assays by only losing 12% activity. A known TRS inhibitor, kojic acid was employed as a model compound for the validation of the inhibitor screening method. Finally, screening 19 natural extracts of traditional Chinese drugs was demonstrated. The results indicated that inhibition activity could be straightforwardly identified with the system.

High-density extraction solvent-based solvent de-emulsification dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with MEKC for detection of chlorophenols in water samples.

For the first time, the high-density solvent-based solvent de-emulsification dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (HSD-DLLME) was developed for the fast, simple, and efficient determination of chlorophenols in water samples followed by field-enhanced sample injection with reverse migrating micelles in CE. The extraction of chlorophenols in the aqueous sample solution was performed in the presence of extraction solvent (chloroform) and dispersive solvent (acetone). A de-emulsification solvent (ACN) was then injected into the aqueous solution to break up the emulsion, the obtained emulsion cleared into two phases quickly. The lower layer (chloroform) was collected and analyzed by field-enhanced sample injection with reverse migrating micelles in CE. Several important parameters influencing the extraction efficiency of HSD-DLLME such as the type and volume of extraction solvent, disperser solvent and de-emulsification solvent, sample pH, extraction time as well as salting-out effects were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed method provided a good linearity in the range of 0.02-4 µg/mL, low LODs (4 ng/mL), and good repeatability of the extractions (RSDs below 9.3%, n = 5). And enrichment factors for three phenols were 684, 797, and 233, respectively. This method was then utilized to analyze two real environmental samples from wastewater and tap water and obtained satisfactory results. The obtained results indicated that the developed method is an excellent alternative for the routine analysis in the environmental field.

Screening α-glucosidase inhibitors from traditional Chinese drugs by capillary electrophoresis with electrophoretically mediated microanalysis.

In the present study, we report the study by a combination of electrophoretically mediated microanalysis method with a partial technique for screening alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from 21 traditional Chinese drugs. In the setup, substrates and enzymes were introduced into the capillary as distinct plugs, the electrophoretic conditions for enzyme reaction and separation of substrates and products were different in the composition and pH of the background electrolyte, which make more enzyme reactions possible. Part of the capillary was filled with the optimal buffer for the enzyme reaction, whereas the rest was filled with the background electrolyte optimal for the separation of substrates and products. With the optimal condition, the Michaelis-Menten constant and the inhibitive mechanism of acarbose were studied, which were in the same range as previous literature data. Furthermore, the inhibitory ratios of enzymatic activity (IRE) of 21 traditional Chinese drugs were determined. The classical method has superiorities over traditional assay methods, which not only minimizes the false-positive results but also simplifies the experimental processes. It could be used for screening inhibitors in natural extract.

On-line concentration by field-enhanced sample injection with reverse migrating micelles in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for the analysis of coumarins from traditional Chinese medicine and human serum.

In this work, a simple, reproducible and sensitive micellar electrokinetic chromatography method was developed for the separation and determination of three coumarins, imperatorin (IM), isoimperatorin (IO) and osthole (OS) from traditional Chinese medicine and human serum. Field-enhanced sample injection with reverse migrating micelles was used for on-line concentration of the coumarins. The optimum buffer contained 50 mM H(3)PO(4), 160 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, 20% acetonitrile and 15% 2-propanol, and the pH of buffer was 2.0. The sample solution was diluted with water containing 5 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and injected for 15 s with -8 kV after injection of 2 s water plug. The effects of concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate and organic modifier, the sample matrix, the injection time of water plug, the injection voltage and injection time of sample on the separation and stacking efficiency were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the analytes were well separated and by optimizing the stacking conditions, about 93, 195 and 136 fold improvement in the detection sensitivity was obtained for IM, IO and OS. The contents of three coumarins in Angelica dahurica Benth, Radix Angelicae Pubescentis and Fructus Cnidii were successfully determined with satisfactory repeatability and recovery. The possibilities of using this method for the determination of three coumarins in spiked human serum were also tested.

Separation and determination of nitrofuran antibiotics in turbot fish by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography.

A microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) method has been developed for the determination of four nitrofuran antibiotics (furazolidone (FZD), furaltadone (FTD), nitrofurazone (NFZ) and nitrofurantoin (NFT)) in turbot fish. The effect of buffer the pH, the concentration of SDS and the concentrations of octane and butan-1-ol were studied systematically. With the optimized experimental conditions (octane, 0.82% (w/w); SDS, 3.48% (w/w); butan-1-ol, 6.48% (w/w); and 10 mM sodium tetraborate buffer (pH 9.70), with 30 kV as the applied voltage) all four analytes were baseline-separated within 8 min. Regression equations revealed a good linear relationship between the peak area of each compound and its concentration. The correlation coefficients of the four analytes were from 0.9945 to 0.9999. The relative standard deviations of the migration times and the peak areas were <1.84 and 5.16% (intra-day). The obtained recovery ranged between 97 and 104%. Moreover, the method was successfully validated and applied to the determination of nitrofuran antibiotics in contaminated fish.

Determination of kava lactones and flavonoid glycoside in Scorzonera austriaca by capillary zone electrophoresis.

A capillary zone electrophoretic method has been developed for the quantitative analysis of three active comppounds, 12-hydroxy-desmethoxyyangonin (HD), 12-beta-d-glucopyranoside-desmethoxyyangonin (GD) and luteolin 3'-(6-E-p-coumaroyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside) (LG) in Scorzonera austriaca with UV detection at 254 nm. The applied voltage was 25 kV and the capillary temperature was kept constant at 25 degrees C. The effect of buffer pH, the concentration of electrolyte and organic modifier on migration were studied systematically. Optimum separation was achieved with 20 mM borate buffer at pH 10.00 containing 10% (v/v) methanol. Daphnetin was used as internal standard for quantification. Regression equations revealed good linear relationship between the ratios of the peak area of each compound and its the ratios of concentration. All the correlation coefficients were higher than 0.9990. The relative standard deviations of migration time and the peak area were <1.46% and 5.13% (inter-day), and <1.65% and 5.16% (intra-day), respectively. The contents of the three compounds in S. austriaca were successfully determined with satisfactory repeatability and recovery.

Separation of plant hormones from biofertilizer by capillary electrophoresis using a capillary coated dynamically with polycationic polymers.

A new, simple and rapid capillary electrophoresis (CE) method, using hexadimethrine bromide (HDB) as electroosmotic flow (EOF) modifier, was developed for the identification and quantitative determination of four plant hormones, including gibberellin A3 (GA3), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CA). The optimum separation was achieved with 20 mM borate buffer at pH 10.00 containing 0.005% (w/v) of HDB. The applied voltage was -25 kV and the capillary temperature was kept constant at 25 degrees C. Salicylic acid was used as internal standard for quantification. The calibration dependencies exhibited good linearity within the ratios of the concentrations of standard samples and internal standard and the ratios of the peak areas of samples and internal standard. The correlation coefficients were from 0.9952 to 0.9997. The relative standard deviations of migration times and peak areas were < 1.93 and 6.84%, respectively. The effects of buffer pH, the concentration of HDB and the voltage on the resolution were studied systematically. By this method, the contents of plant hormone in biofertilizer were successfully determined within 7 min, with satisfactory repeatability and recovery.

Separation and determination of anthraquinones in Cassia obtusifolia (Leguminosae) by micellar electrokinetic capillary electrophoresis.

An MEKC method was developed for the determination of the five pharmaceutically important anthraquinones: chrysophanol (1), physcion (2), emodin (3), aloe-emodinin (4), and rhein (5) in Cassia obtusifolia (Leguminosae). A buffer solution (pH 9.00) composed of 20 mM sodium borate, 20 mM sodium deoxycholate (DOC), and 15% ACN was found to be the most suitable electrolyte for this separation. Regression equations revealed linear relationships (correlation coefficients: 0.9993, 0.9992, 0.9996, 0.9989, and 0.9991) between the peak area of each compound (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) and its concentration. The RSDs of migration times and peak areas were <1.23 and 2.72% within 1 day, respectively. The effects of pH value, surfactant (DOC) concentration, and organic modifier on the migration were also studied. By this way, the contents of five anthraquinones in the extracts of the seed of C. obtusifolia (Leguminosae) from different sources were successfully determined within 14 min.

Separation and determination of chalcones from Carthamus tinctorius L. and its medicinal preparation by capillary zone electrophoresis.

A new capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method was developed for simultaneous assay of four chalcones, hydroxysafflor yellow A, safflor yellow A, safflamin C, and safflamin A, in the Chinese herbal extract from Carthamus tinctorius L. The optimum buffer system was 30 mM borate buffer (Na2B407/HCl, pH 9.00) with 10% (v/v) methanol. The voltage was 15 kV and detection was at 270 nm. Regression equations revealed linear relationships (correlation coefficients: 0.9973, 0.9992, 0.9989, and 0.9996) between the peak area of each compound and its concentration. The within-day relative standard deviations of migration times and peak areas were < 1.53 and 4.14%, respectively. The effects of several CE parameters on the resolution were studied systematically. The contents of four chalcones in Carthamus tinctorius L. were successfully determined with satisfactory repeatability and recovery. The possibilities of using this method for the determination of chalcones in Chinese medicinal preparation was also tested.

Simultaneous determination of noradrenaline and dopamine in Portulaca oleracea L. by capillary zone electrophoresis.

A simple and rapid capillary electrophoretic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine (DA) in Portulaca oleracea L. The buffer solution used in this method was 40 mM tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (Tris)-H3PO4 at pH 2.00 containing 15% methanol. The effects of pH value, organic modifier, and applied voltage were investigated. The linear ranges of NA and DA were 0.5-100 microg/mL (r=0.9952) and 6.25-200 microg/mL (r=0.9992), respectively. The relative standard deviations of the corrected peak area were 6.73% and 4.26%, respectively. NA and DA in Portulaca oleracea L. were simultaneous determined successfully within 5.6 min. In this way, the contents of NA and DA in different parts (stem, leaves, and seeds) of P. oleracea L. and in different extracts of leaves with different solvents (distilled water, 50% methanol, and methanol) were studied.

Separation and determination of coumarins from Cacalia tangutica by capillary zone electrophoresis.

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), using a 20 mmol/L borate buffer at pH 10.5, was developed for the identification and determination of three coumarins--7-hydroxy-coumarin (HC), 7-hydroxy-8-methoxy-coumarin (HMC) and 7-O-beta-D-glucosyl-coumarin (GC)--in the extracts of the flower of Cacalia tangutica. Regression equations revealed linear relationships (correlation coefficient 0.9986-0.9990) between the corrected peak area (the ratio of peak area to migration time) of each constituent and its concentration. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of the migration time and peak area were 1.45-1.52 and 2.60-3.84% (intra-day), and 1.75-2.22 and 2.90-4.04% (inter-day), respectively. The recoveries of three constituents ranged between 94.5 and 105.6%. The effects of pH value, buffer concentration and applied voltage on the migration behavior of HC, HMC and GC were investigated. The contents of the three active constituents in the flower of Cacalia tangutica were successfully determined within 6 min under the optimum conditions chosen. Moreover, the dissociation constants for three coumarins were also determined by CE.

Determination of six major flavonoid glycosides in Saussurea mongolica by capillary electrophoresis.

A new capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was established for simultaneous assay of six flavonoid O-glycosides, asebotin (AS), kaempferol 3- O-beta- D-glucopyranoside (KG), kaempferol 3- O-alpha- L-rhamnopyranoside (KR), 7-methoxykaempferol 3- O-alpha- L-rhamnopyranoside (KMR), quercetin 3- O-beta- D-glucopyranoside (QG) and quercetin 3- O-alpha- L-rhamnopyranoside (QR) obtained from Chinese herbal plant extract of Saussurea mongolica. The optimum buffer system was 30 mmol/L borate buffer (Na2B4O7/HCl, pH 9.00) with 40 % (v/v) methanol. Voltage was 15 kV and detection at 270 nm. The application of this method for the separation and determination of the six flavonoid O-glycosides in S. mongolica is reported. The relative standard deviations of migration times and peak areas were < 2.61 and 4.41%, respectively. The contents of six natural products ranged from 0.043 to 0.60 mg/g and recoveries ranged from 92.4 to 104.4%. The effects of pH value, buffer concentration, surfactant, beta -cyclodextrin and organic modifier on the separation were investigated.

Fast determination of flavonoids in Hippophae rhamnoides and its medicinal preparation by capillary zone electrophoresis using dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin as modifier.

A fast capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method, using dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CD) as modifier, has been developed for the determination of three flavonoids (quercetin (QU), kaempferol (KA) and isorhamnetin (IS)) in the Chinese herbal extract from Hippophae rhamnoides and its medicinal preparation (Sindacon tablet). Optimum separation was achieved with 20mM borate buffer at pH 10.0 containing 5mgml(-1) of DM-beta-CD. The applied voltage was 15kV and the capillary temperature was kept constant at 25 degrees C. Regression equations revealed linear relationships (correlation coefficients: 0.9973, 0.9992 and 0.9996) between the peak area of each compound (QU, KA and IS) and its concentration. The relative standard deviations of migration times and peak areas were <1.53 and 4.14%, respectively. The effects of several CE parameters on the resolution were studied systematically. The contents of three flavonoids in H. rhamnoides were successfully determined with 4.5min, with satisfactory repeatability and recovery. It was also tested that the possibilities of using this method for the determination of flavonoids in Chinese medicinal preparation.

Separation and determination of phenylpropanoid glycosides from Pedicularis species by capillary electrophoresis.

Capillary zone electrophoresis, using 30 mM borate buffer (pH 9.00) with 10% (v/v) methanol, was established for the identification and determination of four phenylpropanoid glycosides (PPGs)--echinocoside (ECH), verbascoside (VER), pedicularioside M (PED-M) and pedicularioside A (PED-A)--in extracts of Pedicularis longiflora var tubiformis, Pedicularis longiflora and Pedicularis Kansuensis. Regression equations revealed linear relationships (correlation coefficients: 0.9993-0.9999) between the peak area of each compound (ECH, VER, PED-M and PED-A) and its concentration. The relative standard deviations of the migration times and peak areas were <1.93 and 4.54%, respectively. The recoveries of four PPGs ranged between 95.6 and 108.4%. The effects of several CE parameters on the resolutions were studied systematically.

[Determination of purity of different types of aprotinin by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography].

A sensitive and rapid method was developed for purity determination of different types of aprotinin by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). MECC was performed with 80 mmol/L Na2HPO4-H3PO4(pH 7.00) buffer solution containing 4 mmol/L cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) at an applied voltage of 15 kV. The electrophoresis was monitored at 277 nm, and completed in 6 minutes. The relative standard deviations of migration time and area for aprotinin were below 0.3% and below 5% respectively within 1 day (for 6 repetitive runs). The effect of high concentration of salt in the samples has been studied. The results obtained by capillary zone electrophoresis, MECC and high performance liquid chromatography were compared, and those of MECC were the best.