Identification and analysis of the reactive metabolites related to the hepatotoxicity of safrole

1.?Safrole is the main component of the volatile oil in Xixin, which has a strong antifungal effect. However, safrole has been shown to be associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methylenedioxyphenyl and allyl-benzene substructures of safrole may cause a mechanism-based inhibition (MBI) of CYP450 enzymes (CYPs) and produce reactive metabolites (RMs), resulting in inhibition of enzyme activity and toxic effects.

2.?Based on the experiments of CYPs cocktail screening, glutathione (GSH) capture and the IC₅₀ data, we found that safrole had an inhibitory effect on CYP1A2. The test of enzyme activity recovery when adding GSH may help to verify the MBI of safrole.

3.?Two metabolites, 1,2-dihydroxy-4-allylbenzene (M1) and 1′-hydroxy safrole (M2) could be captured by GSH. The ultra performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS) method was used to identify the RMs through a detailed characterization of the safrole cleavage processes and the GSH-M1 adduct. The RMs identified are quinone and its tautomer. Thus, preliminary conclusion can be obtained that safrole is a mechanism-based inhibitor of CYP1A2.

4.?The cleavage process of the GSH-M1/M2 adduct was analyzed in further detail. We believe the safrole hepatotoxicity mechanism is related to the RMs mediated by CYP1A2. This work provides important information on predicting in vivo drug induced liver injury.     

Two sulfonate metabolites of physalin A in rats

1.?Physalin A is a bioactive withanolide isolated from the natural plant Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii (Solanaceae), a common traditional Chinese herbal medicine. This study aims to investigate the metabolites of physalin A in vivo.

2.?Two metabolites (M1 and M2) were characterized as sulfonate metabolites in the feces obtained from rats treated with physalin A orally at a dose of 15?mg/kg/day for 3 days, by application of a UPLC-Q/TOF-MS method. Furthermore, formation of the two sulfonate metabolites was verified by chemical synthesis and NMR, including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and two-dimensional NMR. The structures of M1 and M2 were identified to be 3α-sulfo-2,25β,27-trihydrophysalin A and 3α,27-disulfo-2,25α-dihydrophysalin A, respectively.

3.?In summary, this study indicated that physalin A could be biotransformed to sulfonate metabolites with strong polarity, which contributed to the elimination of physalin A. A rare metabolic pathway has been revealed in this study.     

Synthesis of obeticholic acid,a farnesoid X receptor agonist,and its major metabolites labeled with deuterium

Simple and facile methods for the synthesis of deuterium‐labeled obeticholic acid and its 2 metabolites, glycine and taurine conjugates of obeticholic acid, are described herein. The 3 deuterated compounds were applicable for use as internal standards in drug development.     

甲氨蝶呤及其代谢物血药浓度分析中细节问题的探讨

甲氨蝶呤（MTX）被广泛用于治疗骨肉瘤、急性淋巴细胞白血病、恶性淋巴瘤、类风湿性关节炎和炎性肠道疾病等。由于MTX个体差异大和不良反应较严重,同时其在体内代谢迅速,主要以多聚谷氨酸化代谢物的形式长期存在,因此,监测MTX及其代谢物的血药浓度显得尤为重要。本文对已发表的相关文献进行了分析,结合笔者在临床药物浓度监测实践中的经验和体会,从样品采集、样品保存、样品前处理方法、分离条件、检测方法等方面,探讨了MTX及其代谢物血药浓度测定中的细节问题,以期实现MTX的精准医疗,确保其用药安全性。     

海洋来源真菌Penicillium sp. wqh-572的次级代谢产物研究?

目的 研究浙江普陀岛海泥来源真菌Penicillium sp. wqh-572的次级代谢产物及其抑菌活性。方法 将菌株进行大规模发酵,乙酸乙酯萃取,采用小孔树脂MCI柱和半制备型高效液相色谱等分离纯化方法,通过核磁(₁H NMR和₁₃C NMR)和质谱(MS)等波谱分析方法,并与相关文献比较,鉴定化合物结构。结果 从该真菌发酵液的乙酸乙酯萃取相中分离得到6个化合物,鉴定结果分别为physcion (1)、emodin (2)、7-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-5-methylchromone (3)、isorhodoptilometrin (4)、2-(2’, 4’, 6’-trihydroxyphenyc)-(7-hydroxy-5-methyc) chromone (5)及(Z)-N-(4-hydroxy styryl) formamide (6)。其中,其中化合物5为首次从青霉属真菌中分离得到。化合物1对3种植物病原菌均具有抑制作用。     

海绵共附生真菌Penicillium chrysogenum次级代谢产物的化学成分及生物活性研究

目的 对分离自西沙隋氏蒂壳海绵共附生真菌Penicilliumchrysogenum的次级代谢产物进行化学成分及其生物活性研究,以期发现结构特异并且活性良好的次级代谢产物。方法 对隋氏蒂壳海绵共附生真菌Penicilliumchrysogenum用真菌2号培养基发酵,发酵后的菌丝体采用溶剂提取、萃取和现代色谱分离纯化手段,再运用现代核磁波谱技术并结合高分辨质谱鉴定化合物结构。基于微阵列技术的表面等离子体共振成像（SPRi）系统,检测化合物与肿瘤相关蛋白的相互作用,并提供化合物与肿瘤相关蛋白的结合动力学数据。结果 通过分离隋氏蒂壳海绵共附生真Penicilliumchrysogenum的菌丝体提取物,从中分离鉴定了7个单体化合物,鉴定结果为conidiogenone（1）、2-acetylquinazolin-4(3H)-one（2）、15β-hydroxyl-(22E,24R)-ergosta-3,5,8,22-tetraen-on（3）、ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one（4）、 2-((2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoyl)-5,6-dihydroxy-4,6-dimethylcyclohex-4-ene-1,3-dione（5）、(22E)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol（6）、2-(1-hydroxyethyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one（7）。结论 化合物3和6是从Penicillium属内第一次分离得到,化合物4是从真菌Penicilliumchrysogenum中第一次分离得到,化合物5与肿瘤蛋白VEGFR-1、FGFR有亲和作用,KD的数值分别为7.78×10-3和1.44×10-1 μmol/L。     

Enzymatic synthesis of glucuronidated metabolites of two neurological active agents using plant glucuronosyltransferases

Abstract

Glucuronidation is an important and popular metabolic reaction in vivo of drugs. The further evaluation of biological activity and toxicity of glucuronides is necessary in the course of the drug research and development. However, the synthesis of glucuronides is limited by the lack of efficient approach. Herein, we have developed a new glucuronide synthesis method using plant uridine diphosphate-dependent glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), UGT88D4, UGT88D7, and EpGT8, enabling the convenient preparation for corresponding O-glucuronide metabolites (1a, 2a, 3a, and 3b) in milligram scale of two neurological active agents, IMM-H004 (1) and FLZ (2). Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic data analyses.     

Echinacea biotechnology: advances,commercialization and future considerations

Context: Plants of the genus Echinacea (Asteraceae) are among the most popular herbal supplements on the market today. Recent studies indicate there are potential new applications and emerging markets for this natural health product (NHP).

Objective: This review aims to synthesize recent developments in Echinacea biotechnology and to identify promising applications for these advances in the industry.

Methods: A comprehensive survey of peer-reviewed publications was carried out, focusing on Echinacea biotechnology and impacts on phytochemistry. This article primarily covers research findings since 2007 and builds on earlier reviews on the biotechnology of Echinacea.

Results: Bioreactors, genetic engineering and controlled biotic or abiotic elicitation have the potential to significantly improve the yield, consistency and overall quality of Echinacea products. Using these technologies, a variety of new applications for Echinacea can be realized, such as the use of seed oil and antimicrobial and immune boosting feed additives for livestock.

Conclusions: New applications can take advantage of the well-established popularity of Echinacea as a NHP. Echinacea presents a myriad of potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic and antibiotic activities that have yet to be fully translated into new applications. The distinct chemistry and bioactivity of different Echinacea species and organs, moreover, can lead to interesting and diverse commercial opportunities.     

Estrogenic activity of zearalenone, α-zearalenol and β-zearalenol assessed using the E-screen assay in MCF-7 cells

Mycotoxins, including zearalenone (ZEA), can occur worldwide in cereals. They can enter the food chain and cause several health disorders. ZEA and its derivatives (α-zearalenol, α-ZOL and β-zearalenol, β-ZOL) have structural analogy to estrogen, thus they can bind to estrogen receptors (ERs). In order to characterize the estrogenic activity of ZEA, α-ZOL and β-ZOL, the proliferation of ER-positive human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) exposed to these mycotoxins was measured. After exposure at levels ranging from 6.25 to 25?µM, cell proliferation was evaluated by using the E-Screen bioassay. In accordance with previous studies, our results show the estrogenic activity of ZEA, α-ZOL and β-ZOL in MCF-7 cells. This effect is related to ZEA and its metabolites being flexible enough to bind to mammalian ERs. The relative proliferative effect (RPE) ranged from 10% to 91%. The α-ZOL induced the highest proliferative effect due to its higher affinity for the ERs compared to the other mycotoxins.     

Evaluation of markers out of the steroid profile for the screening of testosterone misuse. Part II: Intramuscular administration

In the fight against doping, the introduction of alternative markers to the steroid profile can be considered as an effective approach to improve the screening capabilities for the detection of testosterone (T) misuse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of several T metabolites (cysteinyl conjugated and glucuronoconjugated resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis) to detect both the transdermal and the intramuscular administration of T. In Part I of the study, we studied the potential of these metabolites for the detection of T transdermal administration. Results revealed that resistant glucuronides can be a suitable complement to the current steroid profile. In this, Part II, dedicated to the intramuscular administration, we studied the potential of cysteinyl conjugated, resistant glucuronoconjugated and 1‐cyclopentenoylglycine (1‐CPG) for the detection of a single intramuscular injection of T cypionate. Possible differences in the excretion profile of all markers were explored between individuals with low basal (n=6) and medium basal (n=6) values of the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio (T/E). The results showed that all tested markers presented low intra‐individual stability in basal conditions. Despite this, all glucuronoconjugated markers and 1‐CPG, but not the cysteinyl conjugated markers, provided detection windows that were similar or longer than those obtained by markers currently included in the steroid profile. Based on the results obtained from the 2 parts of this study and from previously reported data, the potential applicability and the limitations of including these markers in the steroid profile are discussed.