Synergistic in vitro antioxidant activity and observational clinical trial of F105, a phytochemical formulation including Citrus bergamia, in subjects with moderate cardiometabolic risk factors.

We examined the clinical safety and efficacy of F105 in 11 subjects with moderate dyslipidemia. F105 is a combination of bergamot fruit extract (Citrus bergamia, BFE) and 9 phytoextracts selected for their ability to improve the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of BFE. In vitro F105 exhibited a synergistic inhibition of oxygen radical absorbing capacity, peroxynitrite formation, and myeloperoxidase activity. Following 12 weeks of F105 daily, no treatment-related adverse events or changes in body mass were seen. Statistically significant changes were noted in total cholesterol (-7.3%), LDL-cholesterol (-10%), non-HDL cholesterol (-7.1%), cholesterol/HDL (-26%), and apolipoprotein B (-2.8%). A post hoc analysis of 8 subjects with HbA1c > 5.4 and HOMA-IR score > 2 or elevated triglycerides revealed additional statistically significant changes in addition to those previously observed in all subjects including triglycerides (-27%), oxLDL (-19%), LDL/HDL (-25%), triglycerides/HDL (-27%), oxLDL/HDL (-25%), and PAI-1 (-37%). A follow-up case report of a 70-year-old female patient, nonresponsive to statin therapy and placed on F105 daily, demonstrated improved cardiometabolic variables over 12 weeks similar to the subgroup. In summary, F105 was clinically well-tolerated and effective for ameliorating dyslipidemia in subjects with moderate cardiometabolic risk factors, particularly in the individuals with HbA1c > 5.4%.

Comparison of HPLC methods for determination of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in bilberry extracts.

An HPLC method and an acid hydrolysis HPLC method for the analysis of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in bilberry extracts have been developed. The HPLC method coupled with a mass detector has identified 11 anthocyanins in bilberry extracts. The method provides anthocyanin profiles that are very useful in verifying the identity of botanical raw materials, monitoring the consistency of the raw material source, and quantitating the total anthocyanins. The acid hydrolysis HPLC method greatly simplifies the anthocyanin profile in bilberry samples and converts anthocyanins to five major anthocyanidin aglycones: delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin, and malvidin. Each of these aglycones can be separated completely and quantitated accurately with external standards. Various extraction and hydrolysis conditions were investigated, and the advantages and disadvantages of the HPLC and acid hydrolysis methods are discussed.

Synthesis and Properties of 5-Chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline-Substituted Azacrown Ethers: A New Family of Highly Metal Ion-Selective Lariat Ethers.

New 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline (CHQ)-substituted aza-18-crown-6 (4), diaza-18-crown-6 (1), diaza-21-crown-7 (2), and diaza-24-crown-8 (3) ligands, where CHQ was attached through the 7-position, and aza-18-crown-6 (11) and diaza-18-crown-6 (10) macrocycles, where CHQ was attached through the 2-position, were prepared. Thermodynamic quantities for complexation of these CHQ-substituted macrocycles with alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal ions were determined in absolute methanol at 25.0 degrees C by calorimetric titration. Two isomers, 1 and 10, which are different only in the attachment positions of the CHQ to the parent macroring, exhibit remarkable differences in their affinities toward the metal ions. Compound 1 forms very stable complexes with Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cu(2+), and Ni(2+) (log K = 6.82, 5.31, 10.1, and 11.4, respectively), but not with the alkali metal ions. Ligand 10 displays strong complexation with K(+) and Ba(2+) (log K = 6.61 and 12.2, respectively) but not with Mg(2+) or Cu(2+). The new macrocycles and their complexes have been characterized by means of UV-visible and (1)H NMR spectra and X-ray crystallography. New peaks in the UV spectrum of the Mg(2+)-1 complex could allow an analytical determination of Mg(2+) in very dilute solutions in the presence of other alkali and alkaline earth metal cations. (1)H NMR spectral and X-ray crystallographic studies indicate that ligand 10 forms a cryptate-like structure when coordinated with K(+) and Ba(2+), which induces an efficient overlap of the two hydroxyquinoline rings. Such overlapping forms a pseudo second macroring that results in a significant increase in both complex stability and cation selectivity.

Magnetic Susceptibility Trends in Oxo-Bridged, Dinuclear Chromium(III) Complexes. Crystal Structure of [(tmpa)Cr(&mgr;-O)(&mgr;-CO(3))Cr(tmpa)](ClO(4))(2).2H(2)O.

The synthesis and physical characterization of oxo-bridged [Cr(2)(tmpa)(2)(&mgr;-O)(X)](n)()(+) complexes (tmpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) containing a variety of complementary ligands (X = CO(3)(2)(-), PhPO(4)(2)(-), HS(-)) are described, with the objective of understanding factors underlying variations in the antiferromagnetic coupling constant J. We also present the crystal structure of [(tmpa)Cr(&mgr;-O)(&mgr;-CO(3))Cr(tmpa)](ClO(4))(2).2H(2)O, for comparison with previous findings on [(tmpa)Cr(&mgr;-O)(&mgr;-CH(3)CO(2))Cr(tmpa)](ClO(4))(3). The carbonate-bridged complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 11.286(10) Å, b = 18.12(2) Å, c = 20.592(12) Å, beta = 95.99(5) degrees, and V = 4190 Å(3) and Z = 4. Asymmetric tmpa ligation pertains, with apical N atoms situated trans to bridging oxo and acido O atoms. Key structural parameters include Cr-O(b) bond lengths of 1.818(6) and 1.838(6) Å, Cr-OCO(2) distances of 1.924(7) and 1.934(7) Å, and a bridging bond angle of 128.3(3) degrees. Several attempts to prepare oxo, amido-bridged dimers were unsuccessful, but the nearlinear [Cr(tmpa)(N(CN)(2))](2)O(ClO(4))(2).3H(2)O complex was isolated from the reaction of dicyanamide ion with [Cr(tmpa)(OH)](2)(4+). In contrast to the behavior of analogous diiron(III) complexes, antiferromagnetic coupling constants of [Cr(2)(tmpa)(2)(&mgr;-O)(X)](n)()(+) dinuclear species are highly responsive to the X group. Considering the complexes with X = CO(3)(2)(-), PhPO(4)(2)(-), HS(-), SO(4)(2)(-), and RCO(2)(-) (10 R substituents), we find a reasonably linear, empirical relationship between J and oxo bridge basicity, as measured by pK(a) (Cr(OH)Cr) values in aqueous solution. While there is no theoretical basis for such a correlation between solid-state and solution-phase properties, this relationship demonstrates that CrOCr pi-bonding contributes significantly to antiferromagnetic exchange. Thus, J tends to become less negative with increasing &mgr;-O(2)(-) basicity, showing that greater availability of a bridging oxo group lone pair toward the proton, with decreasing CrOCr pi-interaction, reduces the singlet-triplet gap.