HPLC-MS/MS法测定大鼠血浆中盐酸维拉帕米的血药浓度及其药动学研究

目的 建立HPLC-MS/MS法以测定大鼠血浆中盐酸维拉帕米的血药浓度,并考察其药动学特征。方法 采用ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C₁₈色谱柱（100 mm×2.1 mm,3.5 μm）,流动相为A相0.1%甲酸水,B相乙腈,梯度洗脱;体积流量为0.3 mL/min,柱温为30℃,进样量为5 μL。离子源为电喷雾离子源（ESI）,以多反应离子监测（MRM）进行正离子检测。盐酸维拉帕米监测离子对为m/z 455.3→m/z 165.0,内标地西泮监测离子对为m/z 285.0→m/z 154.1。6只SD大鼠在ig盐酸维拉帕米33.33 mg/kg后,对其进行药动学的研究。结果 盐酸维拉帕米在5~2 000 ng/mL显示线性关系良好;日内日间精密度（RSD）为1.3%~2.0%,准确度（RE）范围为0.1%~18.0%;提取回收率是90.87%~92.42%,基质效应为82.82%~101.99%。盐酸维拉帕米在大鼠体内主要药动学参数C_max、t_max、t_1/2、Ke、AUC_（0-tn）和AUC_（0-∞）分别为（922.1±300.4）ng/mL、（0.54±0.25）h、（6.46±3.18）h、（0.13±0.05）1/h、（7 634.1±4 436.6）h· ng/mL和（10 548.1±8 024.8）h· ng/mL。结论 该方法灵敏度高、专属性强,适用于测定大鼠血浆中盐酸维拉帕米的血药浓度及其药动学研究。     

氢溴酸樟柳碱注射液大鼠组织分布和Beagle犬药动学研究

目的 研究氢溴酸樟柳碱注射液在大鼠体内的组织分布情况和Beagle犬体内的药动学特征。方法 SD大鼠单次iv氢溴酸樟柳碱注射液5 mg/kg,于给药后5、30、60、90、180 min处死大鼠,取血浆、心、肝、脾、肺、肾、脑、胃、小肠、骨骼肌、脂肪、卵巢、子宫、睾丸。Beagle犬单次iv氢溴酸樟柳碱注射液0.1、0.3、0.9 mg/kg,给药后5、10、20、30、45 min和1.0、1.5、3.0、5.0、7.0、10.0 h静脉采血。采用高效液相色谱-质谱联用法（LC-MS）测定各时间点血浆及各组织中氢溴酸樟柳碱的浓度,统计矩法计算氢溴酸樟柳碱在犬体内的药动学参数。结果 大鼠肾、胃氢溴酸樟柳碱峰浓度最高,分别为（1 967.6±569.4）（2 316.9±952.6） ng/mL,其次为血浆、小肠、肺、肝、脾、卵巢、心、子宫、骨骼肌,而脂肪、睾丸和脑峰浓度最低,低于200 ng/mL。除胃在30 min达峰外,其余组织均在5 min达峰,之后快速下降。Beagle犬iv氢溴酸樟柳碱注射液后,0.1、0.3、0.9 mg/kg组达峰浓度（C_max）分别为（43.3±8.6）、（117.9±40.2）、（348.6±40.0） ng/mL,药时曲线下面积（AUC_0~t）分别为（35.9±6.6）、（159.6±56.6）、（443.3±50.3） ng·h/mL,半衰期（t_1/2z）分别为（0.9±0.3）、（1.5±0.9）、（1.1±0.2）h,清除率（Cl_z）分别为（20.9±5.3）、（17.9±7.6）、（19.4±2.2）×10⁵ L/（h·kg）,表观分布容积（V_z）分别为（24.6±7.0）、（37.0±18.5）、（31.3±4.3）×10⁵ L/kg。结论 氢溴酸樟柳碱在大鼠体内的分布与器官血流量、药物水溶性、生理屏障等因素具有明显相关性;在犬体内血浆清除率和组织分布程度均较高,血浆消除较快,无蓄积性。     

莫西沙星在肺炎大鼠与正常大鼠的血浆及肺组织中药动学比较

目的 莫西沙星（MXF）口服给药在被肺炎链球菌（S.p）感染肺炎大鼠与正常大鼠的血浆及肺组织中药动学比较研究。方法 建立肺炎链球菌肺炎大鼠和正常大鼠模型,莫西沙星42 mg/kg灌胃给药,采用微透析技术对肺炎大鼠及正常大鼠的血液及肺组织取样,用高效液相色谱法测定莫西沙星在各样本中的游离药物浓度,计算药动学参数,进行肺炎大鼠和正常大鼠口服莫西沙星的药动学比较。结果 莫西沙星在正常大鼠及肺炎大鼠血液中的t_1/2分别为（5.27±4.38）h、（2.15±0.07）h（P>0.05）,C_max分别为（4.94±0.98）μg/ml、（4.83±0.05）μg/ml（P>0.05）,C_{last_obs}/C_max分别为0.02±0.03、0.27±0.04（P<0.05）,AUC_0-t分别为（22.33±2.02）μg/ml·h、（12.88±1.19）μg /ml·h（P<0.05）,CL/F 分别为（1.79±0.11）(mg/kg)/(μg/ml)·h、（2.49±0.26）(mg/kg)/(μg/ml)·h（P<0.05）;在正常大鼠及肺炎大鼠肺组织中的C_max分别为（1.42±0.05）μg/ml、（4.84±0.02）μg /ml（P<0.05）,t_1/2分别为（1.9±0.63）h、（3.39±0.79）h（P>0.05）,AUMC分别为（11.93±5.14）μg/ml·h²、（107.01±25.39）μg/ml·h²（P<0.05）,AUC_0-t分别为（3.06±1.0）7μg/ml·h、（13.16±0.53）μg /ml·h（P<0.01）。结论 ①在400mg/d剂量条件下,莫西沙星灌胃给药后,血液及肺组织内的游离药物浓度较高,远超过最低抑菌浓度（MIC）和防耐药突变浓度（MPC）,可以有效清除肺炎链球菌。②肺炎链球菌感染大鼠肺组织中莫西沙星游离浓度始终高于正常大鼠,C_max约为正常大鼠的3.4倍,莫西沙星在肺炎大鼠的肺组织穿透率显著高于正常大鼠。     

UPLC-MS/MS检测大鼠血浆中阿帕替尼的浓度及其药动学研究

目的 采用UPLC-MS/MS建立快速检测大鼠血浆中阿帕替尼浓度的方法,并应用于药动学研究。方法 大鼠血浆样本用乙腈沉淀蛋白,液质联用技术检测浓度,流动相为乙腈-水（含0.1%甲酸）,梯度洗脱,流速为0.3 mL·min^-1,柱温40℃,内标为氯唑沙宗;质谱条件：电喷雾离子化源（ESI）,负离子监测模式,检测离子对阿帕替尼为m/z 396.2→210.0和m/z 396.2→158.0,氯唑沙宗m/z 168.0→132.0。结果 阿帕替尼和内标氯唑沙宗的保留时间分别为1.07 min和1.40 min,线性范围为10~2 000 ng·mL^-1（r²=0.993）,检测限为1 ng·mL^-1,准确度为90.65%~111.50%,基质效应为89.14%~104.65%,平均回收率>86%,日内、日间精密度RSD均<10%。常温下放置24 h、冻融2次和-80℃冻存30 d的RSD均<10%。药动学研究结果显示,大鼠单次灌胃阿帕替尼76.5 mg·kg^-1,AUC_（0-t）为（6 114.41±645.99）ng·mL^-1·h,CL_z/F为（12.21±1.08）L·h^-1·kg^-1,V_z/F为（75.70±38）L·kg^-1,T_1/2为（4.23±1.94）h,T_max为（2±0.71）h,C_max为（1 377.7±284.54）μg·L^-1。结论 该法操作简便,重复性好,准确可靠,适用于大鼠血浆中阿帕替尼的浓度检测及其药动学研究。     

国产重组人促红素注射液与进口制剂在大鼠体内的药动学对比研究

目的 对国产重组人促红素注射液（济脉欣）与进口同类型制剂Eprex^®在大鼠体内的药动学进行对比研究,为实现临床替代提供依据。方法 采用¹²⁵I标记示踪方法测定药物浓度,采用DAS2.0进行药动学参数的计算,在大鼠体内分别进行单次sc 2 000 U/kg济脉欣和Eprex^®的血浆药物动力学对比研究、药物组织分布对比研究和尿、粪、胆汁排泄对比研究。结果 大鼠sc相同剂量（2 000 U/kg）的济脉欣和Eprex^®后,RA法所得血浆动力学参数：t_1/2分别为（15.8±1.67）和（15.6±3.15）h;C_max分别为（2 527±471）和（2 470±598）mU/mL;t_max分别为（10.3±1.51）和（9.00±2.45）h;AUC_0-t分别为（64 196±12 544）和（59 630±9 391）mU/mL·h,TCA-RA法所得血浆动力学参数：t_1/2分别为（15.9±4.19）和（16.2±2.45）h;C_max分别为（2 201±584）和（1 907±517）mU/mL;t_max分别为（10.0±1.27）和（9.00±2.45）h;AUC_0-t分别为（53 709±11 992）和（48 519±8 623）mU/mL·h。用RA和TCA-RA法测定济脉欣和Eprex^®给药后2、8、24、36 h各主要脏器及组织药物浓度,显示大部分组织在给药后8 h药物含量最大,然后逐渐降低,各主要脏器及组织药物变化趋势与血浆药物消除一致,没有发现蓄积现象。大鼠sc给药济脉欣和Eprex^®后,在120 h内从尿中分别可回收到给药总量的75.7%和76.2%,在粪中可回收到给药量的14.7%和14.9%。48 h内胆汁排泄量为11.4%和10.3%。结论 国产重组人促红素注射液济脉欣与国外上市制剂Eprex^®大鼠sc给药后,主要药动学参数t_1/2、t_max、C_max和AUC_0-t基本一致,经统计检验无差异;两种制剂在各组织脏器内的暴露以及尿、粪、胆汁排泄对比也无差异。     

UHPLC-MS/MS同时检测大鼠血浆中5种CYP450探针药物

目的 采用UHPLC-MS/MS同时检测大鼠血浆中非那西丁、甲苯磺丁脲、奥美拉唑、美托洛尔、咪达唑仑的血药浓度。方法 血浆样品经乙腈沉淀,采用Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C₁₈色谱柱（2.1 mm×50 mm,1.8 μm）;流动相为乙腈-含0.1%甲酸的水,梯度洗脱,流速为0.4 mL·min^-1。检测采用电喷雾离子源,多反应监测。非那西丁：[M+H]⁺,m/z 180.1→109.9;甲苯磺丁脲：[M+H]⁺,m/z 271.1→91.0;奥美拉唑：[M+H]⁺,m/z 346.1→135.9;美托洛尔：[M+H]⁺,m/z 268.2→115.0;咪达唑仑：[M+H]⁺,m/z 326.1→290.8;内标卡马西平：[M+H]⁺,m/z 237.1→194.0。6只♂ SD大鼠,单剂量口服灌胃10 mg·kg^-1非那西丁,1 mg·kg^-1甲苯磺丁脲,10 mg·kg^-1奥美拉唑,10 mg·kg^-1美托洛尔和10 mg·kg^-1咪达唑仑,分别在给药后多点尾静脉采血。用DAS计算药动学参数。结果 血浆中非那西丁、甲苯磺丁脲、奥美拉唑、美托洛尔和咪达唑仑在各自浓度范围内线性关系良好。日内及日间RSD均<15%,提取回收率>75%,稳定性考察结果良好。非那西丁的AUC_0-t为（5 868.30±2 062.87）ng·mL^-1·h;甲苯磺丁脲的AUC_0-t为（58 056.34±15 569.16）ng·mL^-1·h;奥美拉唑的AUC_0-t为（14 181.67±4 085.40）ng·mL^-1·h;美托洛尔的AUC_0-t为（1 123.67±180.469）ng·mL^-1·h;咪达唑仑的AUC_0-t为（946.91±322.03）ng·mL^-1·h。结论 该方法灵敏度高、操作方便、结果准确,可作为CYP450酶活性及相关研究的测定方法。     

珍菊降压片在大鼠体内药动学研究

目的 建立同时测定大鼠血浆中芦丁和氢氯噻嗪的LC-MS/MS方法,并研究珍菊降压片在大鼠体内的药动学。方法 采用蛋白质沉淀法处理血浆样品,色谱柱为Pntulips BP-C₁₈柱（2.1 mm×50 mm,5μm）,流动相为乙腈-水梯度洗脱,柱温为30℃;流速为0.45 mL·min^-1。采用电喷雾离子源,选择离子反应监测模式。采用DAS 2.0软件计算药动学参数。结果 方法学验证结果表明内源性杂质不干扰待测物和内标的测定,芦丁和氢氯噻嗪的线性范围分别为5~1 000 ng·mL^-1（r²=0.997 1）和2.5~500 ng·mL^-1（r²=0.995 8）。芦丁和氢氯噻嗪药动学参数：AUC_（0-t）为（107 157.31±38 056.63）,（130 387.28±46 306.69）ng·mL^-1·min^-1;T_1/2z为（108.65±20.95）,（240.86±46.44）min;T_max为（34.25±16.34）,（120.00±0.00）min;C_max为（683.44±254.03）,（368.45±136.95）ng·mL^-1。结论 该方法准确度、精密度、回收率和基质效应均符合生物基质样品测试要求,适用于珍菊降压片在大鼠体内的药动学研究。     

注射用酒石酸长春瑞滨胶束在比格犬体内的毒代动力学研究

目的 建立测定比格犬血浆中酒石酸长春瑞滨浓度的LC-MS/MS方法并用于毒代动力学研究。方法 选择12只比格犬分为3组，分别给予0.29、0.58、1.174 mg/kg注射用长春瑞滨胶束，分别于给药前及给药后0.03、0.25、0.5、1、2、4、8、12、24、48、72 h采集血样；用蛋白沉淀法处理血浆，采用API4000三重四极杆串联质谱仪测定浓度，离子化方式为电喷雾－正离子（ESI），监测方式为多反应监测，酒石酸长春瑞滨监测离子对m/z 779.3/122.4，兰索拉唑（IS）监测离子对m/z 392.0/188.1。色谱柱为inertsil ODS-3（50 mm×4.6 mm，5 μm），流动相为甲醇-5.0 mmol/L乙酸铵（含0.02%甲酸）梯度洗脱，体积流量为0.3 mL/min，柱温为35℃。结果 酒石酸长春瑞滨在1～1 000 ng/mL线性关系良好（r²=0.997 9）；定量限为1.0 ng/mL，回收率为104.38%～106.15%，基质效应为98.31%～107.37%，日间精密度为4.43%～8.92%，日内精密度为2.20%～8.40%。低、中、高剂量组AUC_{0~72 h}分别为（163.6±153.6）、（200.4±50.7）、（388.4±266.6）μg/L·h，峰浓度（C_max）分别为（142.9±127.0）、（198.4±107.8）、（442.5±259.9）μg/L。结论 本法简单、快速、灵敏度高、重复性好，可用于注射用酒石酸长春瑞滨胶束比格犬体内毒代动力学研究。比格犬静脉注射给予注射用酒石酸长春瑞滨胶束后，AUC_{0~72 h}及C_max与剂量均呈正相关。     

单次和多次口服氯乙酰左卡尼汀片在健康人体的药动学研究

目的 采用LC-MS/MS测定人血浆中乙酰左卡尼汀的浓度并用于氯乙酰左卡尼汀片在健康受试者体内的药动学研究。方法 健康受试者单次给药0.5,1.0,1.5 g和多次给予0.5 g后,0~24 h采集血样。通过测定单次和多次给药后血浆中乙酰左卡尼汀的绝对浓度,计算其药动学参数。米屈肼为内标,经甲醇沉淀蛋白后进行LC-MS/MS分析。ESI离子源正离子模式监测,检测离子m/z 204.3→145.2（乙酰左卡尼汀）,m/z 147.2→58.2（米屈肼）;色谱柱为EC 250/4.6 NUCLEOSIL100-5CN,流动相为甲醇-10 mmol·L^-1乙酸铵溶液（含0.1%甲酸）（85：15）。结果 乙酰左卡尼汀在20~3 000 μg·L^-1内线性良好（r=0.999 1）,最低定量限为20 μg·L^-1。批内、批间精密度及基质效应RSD均<15%。单次给药3个剂量组（0.5,1.0,1.5 g）的主要药动学参数为：AUC_0-t为（4 181.77±2 473.24）μg·h·L^-1、（6 099.54±1 939.41）μg·h·L^-1和（8 064.71±3 575.99）μg·h·L^-1,C_max为（611.42±270.76）μg·L^-1,（830.92±233.19）μg·L^-1和（1 004.67±414.95）μg·L^-1,t_1/2z为（4.50±2.93）h、（6.25±3.65）h和（5.76±3.94）h;多次给药后主要的药动学参数：AUC_0-t为（13 728.82±6 493.04）μg·h·L^-1,C_max为（1 129.00±374.05）μg·L^-1,t_1/2z为（8.57±4.42）h。结论 本方法准确、灵敏、专属性强,适用于人体内乙酰左卡尼汀药动学研究。单次和多次给予氯乙酰左卡尼汀片后药动学参数有明显差异,性别间无差异,健康受试者对药物的耐受性良好。     

非诺贝特双层渗透泵片在Beagle犬体内的药动学研究

目的 研究非诺贝特双层渗透泵片在犬体内的药动学特征,并评价受试制剂和参比制剂的生物等效性。方法 采用LC-MS测定比格犬体内的血药浓度,采用DAS 2.1.1软件计算药动学参数。结果 受试制剂和参比制剂血浆中非诺贝特酸的C_max分别为（1 100.0±771.2）、（924.3±564.0）ng/mL,t_max分别为（6.7±8.5)、（2.5±0.5）h,AUC0-t分别为（17 841.1±12 220.7）、（17 615.5±12 870.2）ng·h/mL;t_1/2分别为（17.7±8.2）、（16.4±3.3）h,MRT_0-t分别为（24.7±4.0）、（24.5±5.2）h,受试制剂中非诺贝特酸的平均相对生物利用度为（104.7±12.4）%。结论 受试制剂非诺贝特渗透泵片和参比制剂非诺贝特缓释胶囊具有生物等效性。     

Efficacy of gut lavage,hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the therapy of paraquat or diquat intoxication

Clinical and in vitro investigations were carried out to test the efficacy of gut lavage, hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the treatment of poisoning with paraquat or diquat. In a patient suffering from diquat intoxication 130 times more diquat was removed by gut lavage 30 h after ingestion than was removed by complete aspiration of the gastric contents.Determination of in vitro clearances for paraquat and diquat by hemodialysis showed that, at serum concentrations of 1–2 ppm, such as are frequently encountered in poisoning in man, toxicologically relevant quantities of herbicide cannot be removed from the body. At a concentration of 20 ppm, on the other hand, hemodialysis proved to be effective, the clearance being 70 ml/min at a blood flow rate of 100 ml/min. The efficacy of hemoperfusion with coated activated charcoal was on the whole better. Especially at concentrations around 1–2 ppm, the clearance values for hemoperfusion were some 5–7 times higher than those for hemodialysis.In a patient suffering from paraquat poisoning, both hemodialysis as well as hemoperfusion were carried out. The in vitro results could be confirmed: At serum concentrations of paraquat less than 1 ppm no clearance could be obtained by hemodialysis while by hemoperfusion with activated charcoal quite high clearance values were measured and the serum level dropped down to zero.

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Zusammenfassung Klinische Untersuchungen und Laboratoriumsversuche wurden durchgeführt, um die Wirksamkeit von Darmspülung, Hämodialyse und Hämoperfusion bei Paraquat- und Deiquat-Vergiftungen zu prüfen.Bei einem Patienten wurde 30 Std nach Deiquat-Aufnahme durch Darmspülung 130mal mehr Deiquat entfernt als durch vollständige Aspiration des Mageninhaltes. In vitro-Versuche ergaben, daß bei Blutserumkonzentrationen von 1–2 ppm, die bei Vergiftungen oft gemessen werden, durch Hämodialyse keine toxikologisch relevanten Paraquat- oder Deiquat-Mengen entfernt werden können. Dagegen erwies sich die Hämodialyse bei 20 ppm und einer Blutumlaufgeschwindigkeit von 100 ml/min mit einer Clearance von 70 ml/min als wirksam. Die Hämoperfusion mit beschicheter Aktivkohle war in diesen Versuchen aber eindeutig überlegen, denn insbesondere bei Konzentrationen um 1–2 ppm waren die Clearance-Werte 5–7mal höher als bei der Hämodialyse.Die in vitro-Ergebnisse wurden bei einem Patienten mit einer Paraquat-Vergiftung bestätigt: Bei Konzentrationen unter 1 ppm war die Hämodialyse wirkungslos, während durch Hämoperfusion relativ hohe Clearance-Werte erreicht wurden, so daß der Serumspiegel rasch unter die Nachweisgrenze abfiel.

     

In vitro studies on sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) as enzyme carriers in organophosphorus (OP) antagonism

This study describes a new approach for organophosphorous (OP) antidotal treatment by encapsulating an OP hydrolyzing enzyme, OPA anhydrolase (OPAA), within sterically stabilized liposomes. The recombinant OPAA enzyme was derived from Alteromonas strain JD6. It has broad substrate specificity to a wide range of OP compounds: DFP and the nerve agents, soman and sarin. Liposomes encapsulating OPAA (SL)* were made by mechanical dispersion method. Hydrolysis of DFP by (SL)* was measured by following an increase of fluoride ion concentration using a fluoride ion selective electrode. OPAA entrapped in the carrier liposomes rapidly hydrolyze DFP, with the rate of DFP hydrolysis directly proportional to the amount of (SL)* added to the solution. Liposomal carriers containing no enzyme did not hydrolyze DFP. The reaction was linear and the rate of hydrolysis was first order in the substrate. This enzyme carrier system serves as a biodegradable protective environment for the recombinant OP-metabolizing enzyme, OPAA, resulting in prolongation of enzymatic concentration in the body. These studies suggest that the protection of OP intoxication can be strikingly enhanced by adding OPAA encapsulated within (SL)* to pralidoxime and atropine.     

Aquatic Insects and Trace Metals: Bioavailability,Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity

Abstract

The uptake of metals from food and water sources by insects is thought to be additive. For a given metal, the proportions taken up from water and food will depend both on the bioavailable concentration of the metal associated with each source and the mechanism and rate by which the metal enters the insect. Attempts to correlate insect trace metal concentrations with the trophic level of insects should be made with a knowledge of the feeding relationships of the individual taxa concerned. Pathways for the uptake of essential metals, such as copper and zinc, exist at the cellular level, and other nonessential metals, such as cadmium, also appear to enter via these routes. Within cells, trace metals can be bound to proteins or stored in granules. The internal distribution of metals among body tissues is very heterogeneous, and distribution patterns tend to be both metal and taxon specific. Trace metals associated with insects can be both bound on the surface of their chitinous exoskeleton and incorporated into body tissues. The quantities of trace meals accumulated by an individual reflect the net balance between the rate of metal influx from both dissolved and particulate sources and the rate of metal efflux from the organism. The toxicity of metals has been demonstrated at all levels of biological organization: cell, tissue, individual, population, and community. Much of the literature pertaining to the toxic effects of metals on aquatic insects is based on laboratory observations and, as such, it is difficult to extrapolate the data to insects in nature. The few experimental studies in nature suggest that trace metal contaminants can affect both the distribution and the abundance of aquatic insects. Insects have a largely unexploited potential as biomonitors of metal contamination in nature. A better understanding of the physico-chemical and biological mechanisms mediating trace metal bioavailability and exchange will facilitate the development of general predictive models relating trace metal concentrations in insects to those in their environment. Such models will facilitate the use of insects as contaminant biomonitors.     

Alzheimer’s disease – current trends in basic and clinical research. Highlights from the 16th ECNP

Advances in the molecular biological knowledge of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have led to a growing interest by the pharmaceutical industry in the development of novel compounds that selectively modulate nAChR function. The ability of (-)-nicotine, an activator of nAChRs, to enhance attentional aspects of cognition in animals and humans, to exert neuroprotective and anxiolytic-like effects, and presumably to mediate the negative correlation between smoking and Alzheimer's (and Parkinson's) Disease, has focused interest on the potential therapeutic utility of modulators of nAChR function for treatment of some of the deficits associated with these progressive, neurodegenerative conditions. Numerous compounds are known which activate nAChRs and which might serve as lead compounds toward the development of such agents. The pharmacologic diversity of neuronal nAChR subtypes suggests the possibility of developing selective compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents. This broader class of agents, collectively called cholinergic channel modulators (ChCMs), is anticipated to encompass compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents, which generally exhibit low selectivity. This selectivity may be achieved by preferentially activating some subtypes of nAChRs (i.e., Cholinergic Channel Activators, ChCAs) or inhibiting the function of other subtypes (Cholinergic Channel Inhibitors, ChCIs). An overview of the biology of nAChRs and the rationale for the use of ChCMs for the treatment of dementia related to neurodegenerative diseases are presented, followed by a discussion of lead compounds and compounds under consideration for clinical evaluation.     

Steroidal sapogenin contents in some domestic plants

In order to find out the values of the steroid resources for the future use. the compositions and contents of steroidal sapogenins from 13 domestic plants have been investigated. As a result,Dioscorea nipponica, D. quinqueloba andSmilax china were found to have large amount of diosgenin. And pennogenin inTrillium kamtschaticum andParis verticillata, yuccagenin inAllium fistulosum, hecogenin inAgave americana and neochlorogenin inSolanum nigum were appeared to be major steroidal sapogenins.