Pharmacokinetics of 23-epi-26-deoxyactein in women after oral administration of a standardized extract of black cohosh.

Dietary supplements containing black cohosh are alternatives to conventional hormone replacement therapy in menopause. This study investigates the maximum tolerated dose of a 75% ethanol extract of black cohosh and determines the pharmacokinetics of one of its most abundant triterpene glycosides, 23-epi-26-deoxyactein. Single doses of black cohosh extract containing 1.4, 2.8, or 5.6 mg of 23-epi-26-deoxyactein were administered to 15 healthy, menopausal women. Serial blood samples and 24-h urine samples were obtained; blood chemistry, hormonal levels, and 23-epi-26-deoxyactein levels were determined. No acute toxicity or estrogenic hormone effects were observed. Pharmacokinetic analyses of 23-epi-26-deoxyactein in sera indicated that the maximum concentration and area under the curve increased proportionately with dosage, and that the half-life was ~2 h for all dosages. Less than 0.01% of the 23-epi-26-deoxyactein was recovered in urine 24 h after administration. No phase I or phase II metabolites were observed either in clinical specimens or in vitro.

Effects of oral dosing paradigms (gavage versus diet) on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

In cancer chemopreventive studies, test agents are typically administered via diet, while the preclinical safety studies normally employ oral gavage dosing. Correspondence in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles between the two dosing approaches cannot be assumed a priori. Sulindac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent with potential chemopreventive activity, was used to assess effects of the two oral dosing paradigms on its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Time-dependent concentrations of sulindac and its sulfone metabolite were determined in plasma and potential target organ, mammary gland. Prostaglandin E(2) was used as a pharmacodynamic biomarker and measured in mammary gland. An inverse linear relationship was detected between pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic markers, area under the curve for prostaglandin E(2) levels and sulindac sulfone concentrations, respectively, in the mammary tissue. Marked differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics were observed after administration of sulindac by the two oral dosing paradigms. In general, oral gavage resulted in higher peak and lower trough concentrations of sulindac in plasma and mammary tissue, higher area under concentration-time curve in plasma and mammary tissue, and greater effect on prostaglandin E(2) levels than the corresponding diet dosing. This study illustrates potential pitfalls and limitations in trying to generalize based on data obtained with different oral dosing schemes and their extrapolation to potential efficacy and health risks in humans.

Resveratrol inhibits rhabdomyosarcoma cell proliferation.

Rhabdomysarcoma is the most common soft tissue tumour in children under the age of 15. Although the introduction of multimodal treatment programmes, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and excision have increased the overall survival, the chemotherapeutic agents currently used for the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma exhibit considerable toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and possible mechanism(s) of action of resveratrol on human embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic compound produced in a number of edible plants and has received considerable attention as a potential chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agent against various types of cancers. In the present study, resveratrol was shown to inhibit cell proliferation of RD cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 48.1 micromol/l and induce an arrest in the S/G2 phase of the cell cycle. As evident from immunocytochemical data, resveratrol treatment increased the size of the RD cells. Furthermore, resveratrol treatment resulted in a significant downregulation of cyclin B expression as demonstrated by western blot analyses. In conclusion, the present study shows that resveratrol exerts a strong inhibition of rhabdomyosarcoma cell proliferation in part by arresting cells in S/G2 phase of the cell cycle. These findings warrant further investigation to establish potential use of resveratrol as a relatively non-toxic chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma.

In vitro assessment of intestinal permeability and hepatic metabolism of 4'-bromoflavone, a promising cancer chemopreventive agent.

1. The intestinal permeability and hepatic metabolism of the investigational cancer chemoprevention agent 4'-bromoflavone were investigated in vitro using human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers, human liver microsomes and human hepatocytes. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry were used for quantitative analysis in support of the Caco-2 cell studies and for the characterization of metabolites of 4'-bromoflavone. 2. The Caco-2 cell model indicated that 4'-bromoflavone would be absorbed by the intestine at a moderate rate by means of direction-independent, passive diffusion. There was no indication of active transport or efflux. 3. Three monohydroxylated metabolites and one monohydroxylated, hydrated metabolite of 4'-bromoflavone were detected at relatively low levels in the human liver microsomal and hepatocyte incubations. The structures of these metabolites were confirmed by comparison with synthetic standards. Hydroxylation occurred on the A-ring of 4'-bromoflavone but not on the B-ring, probably due to deactivation of the B-ring by bromine. No phase II metabolites were detected following incubation of 4'-bromoflavone in these in vitro systems. 4. In conclusion, these studies predict that 4'-bromoflavone should show moderate oral bioavailability, and that it would probably be excreted as unchanged compound and monohydroxylated metabolites. The results might be helpful in the design of clinical trials and in the interpretation of pharmacokinetic studies of 4'-bromoflavone.

Chemical and biological characterization and clinical evaluation of botanical dietary supplements: a phase I red clover extract as a model.

Botanical dietary supplements, as compared with nutritional supplements or single-component pharmaceutical drugs, are typically less-refined preparations derived from bulk plant material and, as such, require a modified approach to their development, production, and evaluation. An integrated, multidisciplinary team of scientific and clinical investigators is required in order to develop high quality phytomedicines and rigorously evaluate their safety and efficacy. Research on botanicals involves unique challenges as plant source materials frequently vary in chemical content and may contain unwanted pesticides, heavy metals, contaminant plant species, or other adulterants. Ideally, a botanical formulation should be standardized, both chemically and biologically, by a combination of analytical techniques and bioassays. This combination approach provides multiple measures by which reproducible quality and efficacy of botanical supplements may be achieved, and is particularly useful for botanical products for which the active compound(s) have not yet been identified. Safety and toxicity should be evaluated during the supplement development process in both in vitro and in vivo systems. A number of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods can aid in the assessment of purity, bioavailability, toxicity, metabolism, and molecular target profiling of botanical extracts. Clinical investigators must appreciate the complexity of multi-component phytomedicines and adjust trial protocols accordingly. This review highlights practical considerations of value to basic science and clinical investigators engaged in the study of botanical supplements. Lessons and examples are drawn from the authors' experience in designing and developing a red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) standardized extract for evaluation in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials.

Isolation of linoleic acid as an estrogenic compound from the fruits of Vitex agnus-castus L. (chaste-berry).

A methanol extract of chaste-tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus L.) was tested for its ability to displace radiolabeled estradiol from the binding site of estrogen receptors alpha (ERalpha) and beta (ERbeta). The extract at 46 +/- 3 microg/ml displaced 50% of estradiol from ERalpha and 64 +/- 4 microg/ml from ERbeta. Treatment of the ER+ hormone-dependent T47D:A18 breast cancer cell line with the extract induced up-regulation of ERbeta mRNA. Progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA was upregulated in the Ishikawa endometrial cancer cell line. However, chaste-tree berry extract did not induce estrogen-dependent alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in Ishikawa cells. Bioassay-guided isolation, utilizing ER binding as a monitor, resulted in the isolation of linoleic acid as one possible estrogenic component of the extract. The use of pulsed ultrafiltration liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, which is an affinity-based screening technique, also identified linoleic acid as an ER ligand based on its selective affinity, molecular weight, and retention time. Linoleic acid also stimulated mRNA ERbeta expression in T47D:A18 cells, PR expression in Ishikawa cells, but not AP activity in Ishikawa cells. These data suggest that linoleic acid from the fruits of Vitex agnus-castus can bind to estrogen receptors and induce certain estrogen inducible genes.

Synthesis and reactivity of potential toxic metabolites of tamoxifen analogues: droloxifene and toremifene o-quinones.

Tamoxifen remains the endocrine therapy of choice in the treatment of all stages of hormone-dependent breast cancer. However, tamoxifen has been shown to increase the risk of endometrial cancer which has stimulated research for new effective antiestrogens, such as droloxifene and toremifene. In this study, the potential for these compounds to cause cytotoxic effects was investigated. One potential cytotoxic mechanism could involve metabolism of droloxifene and toremifene to catechols, followed by oxidation to reactive o-quinones. Another cytotoxic pathway could involve the oxidation of 4-hydroxytoremifene to an electrophilic quinone methide. Comparison of the amounts of GSH conjugates formed from 4-hydroxytamoxifen, droloxifene, and 4-hydroxytoremifene suggested that 4-hydroxytoremifene is more effective at formation of a quinone methide. However, all three substrates formed similar amounts of o-quinones. Both the tamoxifen-o-quinone and toremifene-o-quinone reacted with deoxynucleosides to give corresponding adducts. However, the toremifene-o-quinone was shown to be considerably more reactive than the tamoxifen-o-quinone in terms of both kinetic data as well as the yield and type of deoxynucleoside adducts formed. Since thymidine formed the most abundant adducts with the toremifene-o-quinone, sufficient material was obtained for characterization by (1)H NMR, COSY-NMR, DEPT-NMR, and tandem mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity studies with tamoxifen, droloxifene, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, 4-hydroxytoremifene, and their catechol metabolites were carried out in the human breast cancer cell lines S30 and MDA-MB-231. All of the metabolites tested showed cytotoxic effects that were similar to the parent antiestrogens which suggests that o-quinone formation from tamoxifen, droloxifene, and 4-hydroxytoremifene is unlikely to contribute to their cytotoxicity. However, the fact that the o-quinones formed adducts with deoxynucleosides in vitro implies that the o-quinone pathway might contribute to the genotoxicity of the antiestrogens in vivo.

Equine estrogen metabolite 4-hydroxyequilenin induces DNA damage in the rat mammary tissues: formation of single-strand breaks, apurinic sites, stable adducts, and oxidized bases.

Epidemiological data strongly suggest that a woman's risk of developing breast cancer is directly related to her lifetime estrogen exposure. Estrogen replacement therapy in particular has been correlated with an increased cancer risk. Previously we showed that the equine estrogens equilin and equilenin, which are major components of the estrogen replacement formulation Premarin (Wyeth-Ayerst), are metabolized to the catechol, 4-hydroxyequilenin which autoxidizes to an o-quinone causing oxidation and alkylation of DNA in vitro [Bolton, J. L., Pisha, E., Zhang, F., and Qiu, S. (1998) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 11, 1113-1227]. In the present study, we injected 4-hydroxyequilenin into the mammary fat pads of Sprague-Dawley rats. Analysis of cells isolated from the mammary tissue for DNA single-strand breaks and oxidized bases using the comet assay showed a dose-dependent increase in both types of lesions. In addition, LC-MS-MS analysis of extracted mammary tissue showed the formation of an alkylated depurinating guanine adduct. Finally, extraction of mammary tissue DNA, hydrolysis to deoxynucleosides, and analysis by LC-MS-MS showed the formation of stable cyclic deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine adducts as well as oxidized bases. This is the first report showing that 4-hydroxyequilenin is capable of causing DNA damage in vivo. In addition, the data showed that 4-hydroxyequilenin induced four different types of DNA damage that must be repaired by different mechanisms. This is in contrast to the endogenous estrogen 4-hydroxyestrone where only depurinating guanine adducts have been detected in vivo. These results suggest that 4-hydroxyequilenin has the potential to be a potent carcinogen through the formation of variety of DNA lesions in vivo.

Screening botanical extracts for quinoid metabolites.

Botanical dietary supplements represent a significant share of the growing market for alternative medicine in the USA, where current regulations do not require assessment of their safety. To help ensure the safety of such products, an in vitro assay using pulsed ultrafiltration and LC-MS-MS has been developed to screen botanical extracts for the formation of electrophilic and potentially toxic quinoid species upon bioactivation by hepatic cytochromes P450. Rat liver microsomes were trapped in a flow-through chamber by an ultrafiltration membrane, and samples containing botanical extracts, GSH and NADP(H), were flow-injected into the chamber. Botanical compounds that were metabolized to reactive intermediates formed stable GSH adducts mimicking a common in vivo detoxification pathway. If present in the ultrafiltrate, GSH conjugates were detected using LC-MS-MS with precursor ion scanning followed by additional characterization using product ion scanning and comparison to standard compounds. As expected, no GSH adducts of reactive metabolites were found in extracts of Trifolium pratense L. (red clover), which are under investigation as botanical dietary supplements for the management of menopause. However, extracts of Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees (sassafras), Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey), and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary), all of which are known to contain compounds that are either carcinogenic or toxic to mammals, produced GSH adducts during this screening assay. Several compounds that formed GSH conjugates including novel metabolites of rosmarinic acid were identified using database searching and additional LC-MS-MS studies. This assay should be useful as a preliminary toxicity screen during the development of botanical dietary supplements. A positive test suggests that additional toxicological studies are warranted before human consumption of a botanical product.

Simultaneous determination of all-trans, 9-cis, 13-cis retinoic acid and retinol in rat prostate using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Since retinoic acid (RA) and RA receptors are key developmental regulators during organogenesis, they might participate in the abnormal development of the prostate caused by early estrogen exposure. In order to test this assumption, a sensitive analytical method that can differentiate 9-cis, 13-cis, and all-trans RA in small tissue samples ( approximately 8 mg) is required. Since retinol is the metabolic precursor to RA, simultaneous quantification of retinol would also provide valuable information. Here, we report a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of retinol and 9-cis, 13-cis, and all-trans RA in rat prostate. Mass spectrometric signal responses for RA were compared using positive ion atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray, as well as positive ion and negative ion APCI. Positive ion APCI was selected for all subsequent analysis for its better sensitivity, and to provide simultaneous determination of retinol and RA. Ventral prostate tissue samples were homogenized and extracted following simple protein precipitation without derivatization. Baseline separation of 9-cis, 13-cis, and all-trans RA standards was obtained by using a non-porous silica C18 column. Selected ion monitoring of the ions m/z 301 and m/z 269 was carried out for mass spectrometric quantitative analysis. The ion of m/z 301 corresponded to the protonated molecule of RA, whereas the ion of m/z 269 corresponded to loss of water or acetic acid from the protonated molecule of retinol or the internal standard retinyl acetate respectively. The method has a linear response over a concentration range of at least three orders of magnitude. The limit of quantitation was determined to be 702 fmol all-trans RA injected on-column. The method showed excellent intra- and inter-assay reproducibility and good recovery, and is suitable for analyzing RA and retinol in small tissue samples (approximately 8 mg).

Inactivation of C30A trimethylamine dehydrogenase by N-cyclopropyl-alpha-methylbenzylamine, 1-phenylcyclopropylamine, and phenylhydrazine.

Trimethylamine dehydrogenase (TMADH) from the bacterium Methylophilus methylotrophus (sp. W(3)A(1)) and its C30A mutant were inactivated with three known inactivators of monoamine oxidase, namely, phenylhydrazine, N-cyclopropyl-alpha-methylbenzylamine, and 1-phenylcyclopropylamine. All three compounds irreversibly inactivated both the wild-type and C30A mutant enzymes, although phenylhydrazine was 10 times more potent than N-cyclopropyl-alpha-methylbenzylamine, which was much more potent than 1-phenylcyclopropylamine. The change in the UV--visible absorption spectra upon modification indicated that the flavin was modified. In the case of the C30A mutant, the absence of a covalent attachment of the flavin to the polypeptide has permitted LC-electrospray mass spectrometry of the reaction product to be undertaken, demonstrating new mass peaks corresponding to various chemically modified forms of the flavin cofactor. In the case of N-cyclopropyl-alpha-methylbenzylamine, masses corresponding to hydroxy-FMN and hydroxyriboflavin were detected. 1-Phenylcyclopropylamine inactivation of the C30A mutant produced three modified flavins, as evidenced by the electrospray mass spectrum: hydroxy-FMN, FMN plus C(6)H(5)COCH(2)CH(2), and hydroxy-FMN plus C(6)H(5)COCH(2)CH(2). Phenylhydrazine inactivation of the C30A mutant gave at least seven different modified flavins: hydroxyriboflavin, hydroxy-FMN, two apparently isomeric compounds corresponding to hydroxy-FMN plus one phenyl group, two apparently isomeric compounds corresponding to FMN plus one phenyl group, and FMN plus two phenyl groups. Covalent flavin adduct formation appears to be the only modification because dialysis of the inactive enzyme followed by reconstitution with FMN restores the enzyme activity to that of a noninactivated control.

Inactivation of monoamine oxidase B by 1-phenylcyclopropylamine: mass spectral evidence for the flavin adduct.

Incubation of 1-phenylcyclopropylamine with bovine liver MAO (MAO B), followed by complete enzymatic digestion to single amino acid residues and subsequent analysis by on-line liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, was used to investigate the resulting flavin adduct structure.

Synthesis and reactivity of the catechol metabolites from the equine estrogen, 8,9-dehydroestrone.

The risk factors for women developing breast and endometrial cancers are all associated with a lifetime of estrogen exposure. Estrogen replacement therapy in particular has been correlated with an increased cancer risk. Previously, we showed that the equine estrogens equilin and equilenin, which are major components of the widely prescribed estrogen replacement formulation Premarin, are metabolized to highly cytotoxic quinoids which caused oxidative stress and alkylation of DNA in vitro [Bolton, J. L., Pisha, E., Zhang, F., and Qiu, S. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 1998, 11, 1113-1127]. In this study, we have synthesized 8,9-dehydroestrone (a third equine estrogen component of Premarin) and its potential catechol metabolites, 4-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone and 2-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone. Both 2-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone and 4-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone were oxidized by tyrosinase or rat liver microsomes to o-quinones which reacted with GSH to give one mono-GSH conjugate and two di-GSH conjugates. Like endogenous estrogens, 8,9-dehydroestrone was primarily converted by rat liver microsomes to the 2-hydroxylated rather than the 4-hydroxylated o-quinone GSH conjugates; the ratio of 2-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone versus 4-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone was 6:1. Also in contrast to experiments with equilin, 4-hydroxyequilenin was not observed in microsomal incubations with 8,9-dehydroestrone or its catechols. The behavior of 2-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone was found to be more complex than 4-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone as GSH conjugates resulting from 2-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone were detected even without oxidative enzyme catalysis. Under physiological conditions, 2-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone isomerized to 2-hydroxyequilenin to form the very stable 2-hydroxyequilenin catechol; however, 4-hydroxy-8,9-dehydroestrone was found to be stable under similar conditions. Finally, preliminary studies conducted with the human breast tumor S-30 cell lines demonstrated that the catechol metabolites of 8,9-dehydroestrone were much less toxic than 4-hydroxyequilenin (20-40-fold). These results suggest that the catechol metabolites of 8,9-dehydroestrone may have the ability to cause cytotoxicity in vivo primarily through formation of o-quinones; however, most of the adverse effects of Premarin estrogens are likely due to formation of 4-hydroxyequilenin o-quinone from equilin and equilenin.

Analysis of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.

Employing high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry, we describe a new assay for monitoring 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity. Incubations were carried out with HMG-CoA reductase (rat liver), HMG-CoA and NADPH, and terminated by the addition of HCl. The reaction product, mevalonolactone, and internal standard, were extracted with ethyl acetate, dissolved in methanol, and analyzed by LC-MS. Using an isocratic mobile phase of 10% acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid (flow-rate, 0.2 ml/min), the protonated molecules of mevalonolactone at m/z 131 and internal standard, beta,beta-dimethyl-gamma-(hydroxymethyl)-gamma-butyrolactone, at m/z 145, were detected using selected ion monitoring. The limit of detection was approximately 6.5 pg, and the limit of quantitation was approximately 16.3 pg. Extraction recovery was >90%. The relative standard deviations for intra- and inter-day assays were approximately 4.1+/-2.7 and 9.4+/-3.4%, respectively. Mevalonolactone was examined over a period of 3 days and found to be stable. Using this assay, lovastatin and mevastatin inhibited HMG-CoA reductase activity with IC50 values 0.24+/-0.02 and 2.16+/-0.31 microM, respectively. These methods offer some advantages over those reported previously which employ radiolabeled substrate and products, and should be useful in searching for compounds that could lower serum cholesterol or alter cell growth and differentiation.

Bioefficacy of beta-carotene dissolved in oil studied in children in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: More information on the bioefficacy of carotenoids in foods ingested by humans is needed. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to measure the time required for isotopic enrichment of beta-carotene and retinol in serum to reach a plateau, the extent of conversion of beta-carotene dissolved in oil with use of beta-carotene and retinol specifically labeled with 10 (13)C atoms, and the intraindividual variation in response. DESIGN: Indonesian children aged 8--11 y (n = 35) consumed 2 capsules/d, 7 d/wk, for < or =10 wk. Each capsule contained 80 microg [12,13,14,15,20,12',13',14',15',20'-(13)C(10)]beta-carotene and 80 microg [8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,19,20-(13)C(10)]retinyl palmitate. Three blood samples were drawn per child over a period of < or =10 wk. HPLC coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to measure the isotopic enrichment in serum of retinol with [(13)C(5)]retinol and [(13)C(10)]retinol and of beta-carotene with [(13)C(10)]beta-carotene. The beta-carotene in the capsules used had a cis-trans ratio of 3:1. RESULTS: Plateau isotopic enrichment was reached by day 21. The amount of beta-carotene in oil required to form 1 microg retinol was 2.4 microg (95% CI: 2.1, 2.7). The amount of all-trans-beta-carotene required to form 1 microg retinol may be lower. CONCLUSIONS: The efficiency of conversion of this beta-carotene in oil was 27% better than that estimated previously (1.0 microg retinol from 3.3 microg beta-carotene with an unknown cis-trans ratio). The method described can be extended to measure the bioefficacy of carotenoids in foods with high precision, requiring fewer subjects than other methods.

Spectrometric evidence for the flavin-1-phenylcyclopropylamine inactivator adduct with monoamine oxidase N.

1-Phenylcyclopropylamine (1-PCPA) is shown to be an inactivator of the fungal flavoenzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) N. Inactivation results in an increase in absorbance at 410 nm and is accompanied by the concomitant loss of the flavin absorption band at 458 nm. The spectral properties of the covalent adduct formed between the flavin cofactor of MAO N and 1-PCPA are similar to those reported for the irreversible inactivation product formed with 1-PCPA and mammalian mitochondrial monoamine oxidase B [Silverman, R. B., and Zieske, P. A. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 2128-2138]. There is a hypsochromic shift of the 410 nm band upon lowering the pH to 2, indicating that an N(5)-flavin adduct formed upon inactivation. Use of the fungal enzyme, MAO N, which lacks the covalent attachment to the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor present in the mammalian forms MAO A and MAO B, has allowed for the isolation and further structural identification of the flavin-inactivator adduct. The incorporation of two (13)C labels into the inactivator, [2,3-(13)C(2)]-1-PCPA, followed by analysis using on-line liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, provided a means to explore the structure of the flavin-inactivator adduct of MAO N. The spectral evidence supports covalent attachment of the 1-PCPA inactivator to the cofactor as N(5)-3-oxo-3-phenylpropyl-FAD.

Evaluation of estrogenic activity of plant extracts for the potential treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Eight botanical preparations that are commonly used for the treatment of menopausal symptoms were tested for estrogenic activity. Methanol extracts of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus L.), and hops (Humulus lupulus L.) showed significant competitive binding to estrogen receptors alpha (ER alpha) and beta (ER beta). With cultured Ishikawa (endometrial) cells, red clover and hops exhibited estrogenic activity as indicated by induction of alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and up-regulation of progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA. Chasteberry also stimulated PR expression, but no induction of AP activity was observed. In S30 breast cancer cells, pS2 (presenelin-2), another estrogen-inducible gene, was up-regulated in the presence of red clover, hops, and chasteberry. Interestingly, extracts of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) induced pS2 mRNA expression in S30 cells, but no significant ER binding affinity, AP induction, or PR expression was noted in Ishikawa cells. Dong quai [Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels] and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) showed only weak ER binding and PR and pS2 mRNA induction. Black cohosh [Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt.] showed no activity in any of the above in vitro assays. Bioassay-guided isolation utilizing ER competitive binding as a monitor and screening using ultrafiltration LC-MS revealed that genistein was the most active component of red clover. Consistent with this observation, genistein was found to be the most effective of four red clover isoflavones tested in the above in vitro assays. Therefore, estrogenic components of plant extracts can be identified using assays for estrogenic activity along with screening and identification of the active components using ultrafiltration LC-MS. These data suggest a potential use for some dietary supplements, ingested by human beings, in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Structural and functional consequences of inactivation of human glutathione S-transferase P1-1 mediated by the catechol metabolite of equine estrogens, 4-hydroxyequilenin.

The inactivation mechanism(s) of human glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (hGST P1-1) by the catechol metabolite of Premarin estrogens, 4-hydroxyequilenin (4-OHEN), was (were) studied by means of site-directed mutagenesis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis, titration of free thiol groups, kinetic studies of irreversible inhibition, and analysis of band patterns on nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The four cysteines (Cys 14, Cys 47, Cys 101, and Cys 169 in the primary sequence) in hGST P1-1 are susceptible to electrophilic attack and/or oxidative damage leading to loss of enzymatic activity. To investigate the role of cysteine residues in the 4-OHEN-mediated inactivation of this enzyme, one or a combination of cysteine residues was replaced by alanine residues (C47A, C101A, C47A/C101A, C14A/C47A/C101A, and C47A/C101A/C169A mutants). Mutation of Cys 47 decreased the affinity for the substrate GSH but not for the cosubstrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). However, the Cys 47 mutation did not significantly affect the rate of catalysis since V(max) values of the mutants were similar or higher compared to that of wild type. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analyses of wild-type and mutant enzymes treated with 4-OHEN showed that a single molecule of 4-OHEN-o-quinone attached to the proteins, with the exception of the C14A/C47A/C101A mutant where no covalent adduct was detected. 4-OHEN also caused oxidative damage as demonstrated by the appearance of disulfide-bonded species on nonreducing SDS--PAGE and protection of 4-OHEN-mediated enzyme inhibition by free radical scavengers. The studies of thiol group titration and irreversible kinetic experiments indicated that the different cysteines have distinct reactivity for 4-OHEN; Cys 47 was the most reactive thiol group whereas Cys 169 was resistant to modification. These results demonstrate that hGST P1-1 is inactivated by 4-OHEN through two possible mechanisms: (1) covalent modification of cysteine residues and (2) oxidative damage leading to proteins inactivated by disulfide bond formation.

DNA oxidation induced by cyclooxygenase-2.

The inducible form of cyclooxygenase, COX-2, has been shown to be overexpressed in various types of tumors, including colon and prostate cancer. Several studies indicate that COX-2 inhibition can be beneficial for the prevention of these types of cancer. Since COX-2 reactions involve production of reactive oxygen radicals that can potentially damage biological macromolecules, we explored the possibility that DNA and/or nucleosides can be oxidized during cyclooxygenase reactions. When DNA or nucleosides were incubated with COX-2 and arachidonic acid, a significant increase in the amount of 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine was observed. This increase was enzyme-dependent and could be prevented by COX-2 inhibitors as well as by antioxidants. These data indicate that peroxyl radicals or other oxidized species formed during conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin G(2) might be responsible for the observed oxidation. These results suggest also that overexpression of COX-2 in inflammatory diseases places an additional burden on antioxidative defenses of the cell, which might contribute to DNA oxidation and the induction of mutations.

Comparison of negative and positive ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis of oxidized deoxynucleosides.

Oxidized deoxynucleosides are widely used as biomarkers for DNA oxidation and oxidative stress assessment. Although gas chromatography mass spectrometry is widely used for the measurement of multiple DNA lesions, this approach requires complex sample preparation contributing to possible artifactual oxidation. To address these issues, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to measure 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine (8-OH-dA), 2-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine (2-OH-dA), thymidine glycol (TG), and 5-hydroxy-methyl-2'-deoxyuridine (HMDU) in DNA samples with fast sample preparation. In order to selectively monitor the product ions of these precursors with optimum sensitivity for use during quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis, unique and abundant fragment ions had to be identified during MS/MS with collision-induced dissociation (CID). Positive and negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectra with CID were compared for the analysis of these five oxidized deoxynucleosides. The most abundant fragment ions were usually formed by cleavage of the glycosidic bond in both positive and negative ion modes. However, in the negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectra of 8-OH-dG, 2-OH-dA, and 8-OH-dA, cleavage of two bonds within the sugar ring produced abundant S1 type ions with loss of a neutral molecule weighing 90 u, [M - H - 90]-. The signal-to-noise ratio was similar for negative and positive ion electrospray MS/MS except in the case of thymidine glycol where the signal-to-noise was 100 times greater in negative ionization mode. Therefore, negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry with CID would be preferred to positive ion mode for the analysis of sets of oxidized deoxynucleosides that include thymidine glycol. Investigation of the fragmentation pathways indicated some new general rules for the fragmentation of negatively charged oxidized nucleosides. When purine nucleosides contain a hydroxyl group in the C8 position, an S1 type product ion will dominate the product ions due to a six-membered ring hydrogen transfer process. Finally, a new type of fragment ion formed by elimination of a neutral molecule weighing 48 (CO2H4) from the sugar moiety was observed for all three oxidized purine nucleosides.