[The Configuration of Tadalafil and Tadalafil Analogues Found in Dietary Supplements].

This study determined the configuration of the isomers of tadalafil, nortadalafil, and homotadalafil in dietary supplements. The products purchased over the Internet studied included a honey product and a tablet, which contained tadalafil, and a candy, which contained nortadalafil and homotadalafil. Each of the pharmaceutical ingredients isolated from the products was measured with circular dichroism (CD).As a result, the CD spectrum of each isolated pharmaceutical ingredient was found to align with the standard CD spectrum of the 6R,12aR isomer, confirmed that each isolated tadalafil or tadalafil analogue included in a 6R,12aR isomer. According to a report, among the stereoisomers of tadalafil, the 6R,12aR isomers have the most potent inhibitory activities of phosphodiesterase-type-5. From the report, the potential strength of the inhibitory activity of the 6R,12aR isomers of nortadalafil and homotadalafil was suggested. Therefore, it seemed that the 6R,12aR isomer often used in the product.

Characterization of a new illicit phosphodiesterase-type-5 inhibitor identified in the softgel shell of a dietary supplement.

A new sildenafil analog has been identified in the softgel shell of a dietary supplement. The compound was investigated by UV spectroscopy and high-resolution MS analysis, leading to the proposed structure 1-methyl-5-{5-[2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)acetyl]-2-propoxyphenyl}-3-propyl-1,6-dihydro-7H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one. A synthetic reference compound with the proposed structure was prepared, and the two sets of analytical data were compared, confirming the structure of the new compound. The compound was named propoxyphenyl noracetildenafil from its structure and similarity with the known compound.

[Simultaneous determination of statins in dietary supplements by ultra-performance liquid chromatography].

A method for the determination of 12 statins [atorvastatin (ATOR), cerivastatin (CERI), fluvastatin (FLU), lovastatin (LO), lovastatin acid (LOA), mevastatin (ME), mevastatin acid (MEA), pitavastatin (PITA), pravastatin (PRA), rosuvastatin (ROSU), simvastatin (SIM), and simvastatin acid (SIMA)] in dietary supplements by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) has been developed. Statins were ultrasonically extracted with 50% (v/v) methanol. Clean-up was performed using an Oasis MAX mini-cartridge column with methanol and methanol containing 0.2% (v/v) phosphoric acid as an eluting solvent. UPLC separation was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm i.d. × 150 mm, 1.7 µm) with 0.2% (v/v) phosphoric acid aqueous solution-acetonitrile gradient. The method was validated for dietary supplements spiked with the 12 statins at the quantitation limits and 10 times the quantitation limits, and the recoveries of statins were between 89.2% and 100.9%. Relative standard deviation values of repeatability and intermediate precision were not more than 7%. The analytical method was applied to 24 commercial dietary supplements. LO and LOA were found at maximum concentrations of 4.85 mg/packet and 1.28 mg/capsule, respectively. Other statins were not detected. When a dietary supplement was consumed according to the directions on the package, the daily intake of LO was 6.74 mg. This could be dangerous to consumers because it exceeds one half of the lowest recommended daily dose of LO (10 mg).

Enantiomeric determination of DOPA in dietary supplements containing Mucuna pruriens by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

We developed a simple and rapid liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method for the enantiomeric determination of DOPA in dietary supplements containing Mucuna pruriens. L- and D-DOPA were ultrasonically extracted with 1% formic acid aqueous solution. The isolated extracts were analyzed by LC/MS using a Crownpak CR (-) column at 30℃. The mass spectrometer was operated in the positive mode of electrospray ionization, and the mobile phase was aqueous formic acid (pH 2.0). L-DOPA-ring-d3 was used as an internal standard. The method was validated for a dietary supplement spiked with L- and D-DOPA at 50 and 500 µg/g, respectively, and the recoveries of the DOPA enantiomers were between 97.5% and 101.3%. Relative standard deviation values of repeatability and intermediate precision were less than 7%. The method was applied to 14 dietary supplements. L-DOPA was detected in these supplements in the range of 0.88-12.8 mg/unit. D-DOPA was not detected.

[Current situation and issues for analyzing illegal drug products].

Thirty-two psychotropic substances (31 compounds and one plant) have been controlled as designated substances (Shitei-yakubutsu) in Japan by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law since April 2007. Although the trafficking of these drugs has decreased because of this regulation, new designer drugs (synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones) have appeared, one after the other. As of October 2011, 40 compounds had been newly added to this category. Analytical methods have become more complicated due to this increase in the number of designated substances. Moreover, many reference substances for such designated substances and other new designer drugs are not commercially available. For the reasons stated above, a lot of time and effort is required to analyze the illegal drug products available on the market.

Isolation and structural elucidation of cyclopentynafil and N-octylnortadalafil found in a dietary supplement.

A new sildenafil analogue, cyclopentynafil (1) and a new tadalafil analogue, N-octylnortadalafil (2) were isolated from a dietary supplement illegally marketed for erectile dysfunction. The structures of the sildenafil and tadalafil analogues were elucidated by using HPLC-photodiode array (PDA), LC-MS, high-resolution MS, NMR and circular dichroism (CD). These compounds were determined to be 5-[2-ethoxy-5-(4-cyclopentylpiperazin-1-ylsulfonyl)phenyl]-1-methyl-3-propyl-1,6-dihydro-7H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one and (6R,12aR)-2-octyl-6-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2,3,6,7,12,12a-hexahydropyrazino[1',2':1,6]pyrido[3,4-b]indole-1,4-dione, respectively. Recently, a large number of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, including their analogues, have been isolated from dietary supplements, while cyclopentynafil and N-octylnortadalafil are the first compounds reported to be new sildenafil and tadalafil analogues, respectively. Quantitative HPLC analysis showed that the contents of 1 and 2 in the product were about 130 mg/tablet (301 microg/mg) and about 27 mg/tablet (64.1 microg/mg), respectively.

[Rapid determination of theophylline, theobromine and caffeine in dietary supplements containing guarana by ultra-performance liquid chromatography].

A rapid and simple method for determination of theophylline, theobromine and caffeine in dietary supplements containing guarana by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) has been developed. Theophylline, theobromine and caffeine were extracted from finely powdered samples with water in a boiling water bath for 20 min, then the extracts were filtered and the filtrates were subjected to UPLC. Liquid samples were diluted with water and filteres, and the filtrates were subjected to UPLC. UPLC separation was performed on an AQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm i.d.x50 mm, 1.7 microm, Waters) with 10 mmol/L ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.0)-acetonitrile gradient and eluates were monitored at 275 nm. The recoveries of theophylline (spiked at 200 microg/g [tablet] and 50 microg/mL [liquid]), theobromine (spiked at 200 microg/g [tablet] and 50 microg/mL [liquid]) and caffeine (spiked at 1,000 microg/g [tablet] and 250 microg/mL [liquid]) were 97.6-98.7%, 97.3-99.7%, 97.1-105.4%, respectively. The quantitation limits of theophylline, theobromine and caffeine were 10 microg/g (seed, seed powder, tablet and capsule) and 2.0 microg/mL (liquid) each. When this analytical method was applied to commercial dietary supplements, theophylline, theobromine and caffeine were found at concentrations of 4.45 mg/tablet, 5.48 mg/tablet, 139 mg/tablet, respectively. Taking 4 tablets of this product according to the directions on the package could be dangerous to consumers because of possible overdosing of these ingredients.