The actions of peppermint oil and menthol on calcium channel dependent processes in intestinal, neuronal and cardiac preparations

The activities of menthol and peppermint oil were determined in guinea-pig ileal smooth muscle, in rat and guinea-pig atrial and papillary muscle, in rat brain synaptosomes and in chick retinal neurones by pharmacological 45Ca2+ uptake and radioligand binding assays. Menthol is a major constituent of peppermint oil and is approximately twice as potent as peppermint oil as an inhibitor of K+ depolarization-induced and electrically stimulated responses in ileum and electrically stimulated atrial and papillary muscles. IC50 values in the ileal preparation ranged from 7.7 to 28.1 micrograms ml-1 and in the cardiac preparations from 10.1 to 68.5 micrograms ml-1. Similar potencies were demonstrated against K+ depolarization-induced 45Ca2+ uptake in synaptosomes and against K+ depolarization and Bay K 8644-induced uptake in chick retinal neurons. IC50 values for menthol inhibition of K+ and Bay K 8644 responses in the retinal neurons were 1.1 x 10(-4) M (17.2 micrograms ml-1) and 1.75 x 10(-4) M (26.6 micrograms ml-1), respectively, and for peppermint oil were 20.3 and 41.7 micrograms ml-1 respectively. Both menthol and peppermint oil inhibited specific [3H]nitrendipine and [3H]PN 200-110 binding to smooth and cardiac muscle and neuronal preparations with potencies comparable to, but slightly lower than, those measured in the pharmacological and 45Ca2+ uptake experiments. Binding of menthol and peppermint oil, studied at 78 micrograms ml-1, was competitive against [3H]nitrendipine in both smooth muscle and synaptosome preparations. The data indicate that both menthol and peppermint oil exert Ca2+ channel blocking properties which may underlie their use in irritable bowel syndrome. Ca2+ channel antagonism may not be the only pharmacological effect of menthol and peppermint oil contributing to intestinal smooth muscle relaxation.     

Determination of chromium and selected elements in multimineral and multivitamin preparations and in pharmaceutical raw material

The content of elements in pharmaceutical preparations is one of the indispensable factors of the evaluation of their quality. In the present work, the following macro- and microelements Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, P, Se and Zn were determined in multimineral and multivitamin preparations and in pharmaceutical raw material. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) were used throughout the study. The examined samples were dissolved in a high-pressure microwave system using concentrated nitric acid. The effect of the carbon residue in the digest solution on the determination result was eliminated by introducing an equation correcting the ArC+ interference with 52Cr.     

七制香附丸中无机元素的分析及健康风险评估

目的:建立电感耦合等离子体质谱(inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometer, ICP-MS)测定七制香附丸中23种无机元素含量的方法,并对分析结果进行化学计量学分析,为七制香附丸中无机元素的评价提供参考。方法:30批样品经微波消解后,采用ICP-MS测定23种无机元素的含量并建立无机元素指纹图谱,进行聚类分析、主成分分析和健康风险评估。结果:23种无机元素线性关系良好(r≥0.998 3);精密度和重复性试验的RSD值均小于5%;加样回收率在81.91%～109.4%,RSD值小于13%;对30批七制香附丸和23种无机元素进行层级聚类,30批七制香附丸分为3类,23种无机元素分为2类;主成分分析中Mg、Ca、Cr、Fe、Ni、Zn、As、Se、Cd、Tl元素经旋转后均大于0.8;健康风险评估结果显示Cu、As、Cd、Pb元素的危害指数(HI)分别为0.004 9,0.046 7,0.047 7,0.276 5,HI均小于1。结论:所建立的ICP-MS方法准确、灵敏、快速,可用于七制香附丸中23种无机元素的含量测定,30批次七制香附丸中Cu、As...     

The AAS, ICP-MS and electrochemical determinations of zinc in selected pharmaceutical preparations

Controlling of elements content in drugs is indispensable for drug quality evaluation. Zinc was selected for study because zinc contents in drugs span a wide range. Numerous multi-mineral preparations used and nutritional supplements to make up for the microelemental deficiencies in humans and animals, contain less than 0.001% zinc, i.e., trace amounts of zinc. On the other hand, external application drugs such as ointments and suppositories usually contain more than 0.1% of zinc. Zinc was determined out in Technilab's "Hemacort HC" ointments and suppositories, in Nattermann's "Dolovit Multimineral" tablets, and in Richter Pharma's "Minerasol" parenteral veterinary solution. These preparations were selected for investigation not only in view of differentiated zinc contents, but also because of the various drug forms and various procedures involved in sample preparation procedures. The tablets were dissolved with the aid of microwave energy, the ointment and suppositories were extracted, and the parenteral solution was diluted with water or with and aqueous 1% nitric acid. Atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite-tube (AAS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV), square-wave voltammetry (SWV), and differential pulse polarography (DPP) were used for the determinations. Zinc was determined within concentration ranges of 20-40 ppb, 0.5-20 ppb, and 10-50 ppb by AAS, ICP-MS and AdSV, respectively. In the AAS and ICP-MS, zinc recoveries were contained within the limits of 101.8-114.2% and 111.0-114.2% respectively. The errors of determination (RSD) were 3.37-5.74% in AAS, 0.28-4.47% in ICP-MS and 0.19-2.50% in the electrochemical method.     

不同产地蜂胶中元素分布特征及相关性分析

目的研究不同产地蜂胶中元素分布特征及相关性。方法采用ICP-MS电感耦合等离子体质谱仪,辅以原子荧光和原子吸收分析方法,对不同国家、省份的蜂胶样本中可能存在的元素进行测定和分析,应用SPSS统计分析软件分析蜂胶中元素间的相关性。结果①不同产地蜂胶中金属元素从高到低依次为钾、钙、钠、铁,7种金属元素中,共有7对元素呈现相关（P〈0．05）或显著相关俨〈0．01）,尤其是钙和铁、钙和镁、镁和钾显著相关。②不同产地蜂胶中长寿元素含量从高到低顺序一般为钴、钼、硒、锰,仅硒和锰呈现显著相关（P〈0．01）。③不同产地蜂胶砷、镉的含量都很低,而铅、汞、铬、镍有较大差异。结论由于受土壤、气候以及自然环境的影响,不同产地蜂胶中元素的绝对含量呈现地域性差异,部分元素呈现一定的相关性。     

Immunochromatography and cardiotoxicity of sea nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha) polyps and cysts

The cardiotoxicity and polypeptide content of sea nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha) polyps and cysts were studied. Crude polyp preparations were lethal to mice. Both crude polyp and cyst preparations were toxic to embryonic chick cardiocytes. The polyp cardiotoxin factor was purified ten-fold by immunosorbent chromatography using anti-sea nettle or anti-man-o'war (Physalia physalis) monoclonal antibodies. Even though the polyps were incubated at a constant temperature, it appeared that there was an inverse relationship between the presence of proteins of 160,000 and 55,000 mol. wt as winter progressed.     

ICP-MS法测定不同产地鸦胆子药材中有害元素的含量

目的建立电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)法测定鸦胆子药材中铜、砷、镉、汞、铅含量的方法。方法样品经高压消解,分别以72Ge、115In、209Bi为内标,补偿基体效应,采用ICP-MS法同时测定上述5种元素的含量。结果对于所测元素,校准曲线的相关系数r>0.999 5,回收率在93.2%～107.1%内,RSD<9.7%。结论本研究所建立的方法简便、准确、快速,可用于鸦胆子药材的质量控制,并为不同产地鸦胆子药材中痕量元素含量的测定提供了方法。     

矿物药青礞石、煅青礞石无机元素的ICP-MS分析

目的:测定青礞石及其煅制品中无机元素的含量。方法:采用电感耦合等离子体-质谱法分析青礞石与煅青礞石中的无机元素,用SPSS16.0统计软件对数据进行主成分和相关性分析。结果:检测了青礞石、煅青礞石中的25种元素,其中Si、Fe、Mg、Al、Ca、K、Na7种元素为两者的主要成分,累积贡献率分别达到90.700%和100.000%。Ti的平均含量也较高,分别达到6.3562mg·g-1和5.5546mg·g-1。部分元素间显示出一定的相关性。煅青礞石的无机元素含量大多较青礞石的含量低。结论:本试验结果可为青礞石药材的有效性、安全性评价及质量标准制定提供科学的参考依据。     

Reference values for hair minerals of Polish students

In the present work, reference values for the content of elements in human hair were elaborated. The population chosen for the study was a group of students in Polish urban area, which served as a representative group of a population of 20 years old individuals living in Europe. The content of 36 elements (essential (B, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, S, Si, Sn, V, Zn), toxic (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl) elements and others (Ag, Ba, Bi, Ce, La, Li, Rb, Sr, Ti, Y, Zr)) was determined in hair sampled from 117 subjects. Hair were digested with nitric acid in microwave oven in closed Teflon bombs and underwent multielemental analysis for the content of macroelements by ICP-OES and for micro- and trace elements by ICP-MS. Reference ranges were determined and considered as the values between 10th and 90th percentile. It was assumed that the values of the extreme low and high 10% in the population reflected mineral imbalance. In the population, a group of females and males was distinguished, and also a group of women which tinted their hair was separated. This enabled to point out the differences in hair mineral content between genders and for tinted and non-tinted hair. Statistical significance of differences was found for several elements, for which separate reference values were elaborated. This concerned the following elements: Ba, Ca, Cu, K, La, Mg, Mn, Si, Sr and Ti. In the interpretation of the level of these elements it is necessary to take into consideration both sex and artificial coloring. Also ratios between elements were evaluated - between nutritive (Ca/Mg, Ca/P, Na/K, Zn/Cu) and nutritive vs. toxic (Zn/Cd, Zn/Pb). In this case the differences were detected only for Ca/P ratio. This shows that perhaps in the future, inter-element ratios rather than the absolute levels of elements would be considered for the interpretation of the results of mineral analysis of hair.     

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determination of metals in honeybee venom

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique was used to analyze the contamination of selected 20 metals in 32 samples of honeybee venom and to demonstrate differences in the content of these elements. Among the analyzed metal microelements (Al, Co, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, B, V, Sr and Ni), macro-elements (Ca, Mg, K and Na) and toxic metals (As, Ba, Pb, Cd, Sb and Cr) were identified. The presented results showed that the metal levels in honeybee venom are much lower than the tolerable upper intake levels for the elements. Also the toxic metal contamination is much lower than the permissible levels for drugs established by the United States Pharmacopeia and the European Pharmacopeia. As opposed to the pharmacopeial tests for metals, a multi-element ICP-MS method has been developed. In order to confirm data obtained, the following steps and parameters were taken into account for the validation of the method: calibration verification, recovery, accuracy, precision, detection limit (LOD), quantitation limit (LOQ), spectral and matrix interference and comparison between ICP-MS and GFAAS (graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry) for Mn. All steps of validation proved the accuracy of the results. This is most likely the first study in which the metal content in honeybee venom was evaluated by ICP-MS.     

不同产地牛蒡子微量元素测定及其对人体的作用

目的测定不同产地牛蒡子的微量元素含量。方法用微波消解器消解,用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪测定牛蒡子中的微量元素含量。结果牛蒡子中钾的含量最高,镁和钙的含量次之,钒和钼含量则较低。结论牛蒡子含有丰富的人体必需微量元素,具有较高的食用及药用价值。     

胰腺提取物冻干粉中常见金属元素的测定

目的建立胰腺提取物冻干粉针剂中Na、K、Cd、Pb等15种常见金属元素含量分析方法,为药品质量控制及临床安全用药提供科学依据。方法注射用胰腺提取物,微波消解,采用在线内标,建立电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)技术测定其中15种金属元素的含量。结果 ICPMS试验条件为射频功率1 350 W、采集模式Spectrum、样品提升速度0.4 mL/min、Barbington雾化器、载气流速1.14 L/min。各金属元素线性关系良好(r均>0.999 0),方法准确度、精确度和稳定性均达到要求。胰腺提取物中,Na、Mg、K、Ca、Mn、Cu、Sb和Ba批间相对误差均较小(均小于2.13%);Cr、Fe、As、Ag、Cd和Pb批间相对误差较大(20.55%～86.60%)。结论浓缩冻干胰腺提取物中影响药品渗透压的主要常见元素中除Fe外,其余元素含量稳定;多种重金属元素含量不稳定。     

ICP-MS法测定冻干b型流感嗜血杆菌结合疫苗中多元素含量

目的:建立一种电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定冻干b型流感嗜血杆菌结合疫苗中多元素的含量,对疫苗中含有的主要元素Ba、Ca、Cd、Si、Mg、B、Pb、As、Sb、Zn进行定量分析.方法:使用硝酸加高氯酸的混酸消解液,利用微波消解法进行样品前处理.对ICP-MS的参数进行调谐优化后,利用在线内标法消除疫苗样品的基体干扰.结果...     

ICP-MS法测定碘克沙醇注射液中金属钠、钙含量

目的:建立测定碘克沙醇注射液中2种金属钠(Na)、钙(Ca)含量的方法。方法:采用电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)法。样品经硝化、高温灰化后,在试样溶液中加入内标钪(Sc)和锗(Ge),采用内标法进行校正。结果:Na、Ca检测浓度线性范围均为0.10～5μg·mL-1(r均为0.9999),检出限分别为0.006、0.008μg·mL-1;平均回收率分别为100.3%、99.6%,RSD分别为2.60%、1.40%。结论:本方法精密度、准确度和重复性均较好,能满足检测分析要求。     

ICP-MS法测定玄明粉中无机元素的含量

目的 测定矿物药玄明粉中无机元素的含量.方法采用电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICP-MS）法测定玄明粉中的无机元素,并建立其微量元素的指纹图谱.结果 测定了矿物药玄明粉中的20种元素,建立了玄明粉微量元素的指纹图谱.除了Na元素外,Mg、K、Ca、Fe、Zn、Sr等元素含量亦较高.另外,重金属及有害元素Pb、Cd、Cu、As亦有检出.结论 为矿物药玄明粉的安全性评价及其质量标准的制定提供了科学的参考依据.     

电感耦合等离子体-质谱法测定注射用益气复脉（冻干）中的22种无机元素

目的 采用电感耦合等离子体-质谱（ICP-MS）法建立注射用益气复脉（冻干）中22种无机元素的含量测定方法。方法 以微波消解法处理样品,硝酸为消解试剂,样品经微波消解后,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪测定注射用益气复脉（冻干）中22种无机元素（Li、B、Mg、Al、Si、S、Ti、V、Cr、Fe、Ni、Co、Zn、Ga、As、Sr、Mo、Cd、Sb、Ba、Ce、Pb）的量,并进行专属性、线性关系、精密度、重复性、回收率考察;完成6批制剂中22种元素测定并评价其安全性。结果 建立22种元素标准曲线,确定检出限及定量限,方法学验证均符合要求。6批供试品中已检出元素含量均远低于安全限值,对产品质量不会造成安全风险。结论 该方法简便、快速、准确,可用于测定注射用益气复脉（冻干）中22种元素的含量,为其质量控制、安全性评价提供一定参考。     

Investigation of the effects of peppermint oil and valerian on rat liver and cultured human liver cells

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of peppermint oil and valerian on rat liver and cultured human hepatoma cells. 2. Rats received a single oral dose of peppermint oil (8.3-830 microL/kg) or valerian (0.31-18.6 g/kg), or daily oral doses of 83 microL/kg peppermint oil or 3.1 g/kg valerian for 28 days. After 24 h, rats were anaesthetized and measurements made of bile flow, liver function and in vivo sinusoidal area. Livers were then removed for histology. 3. Bile flow was unaffected by any treatment, except acute high-dose peppermint oil (830 microL/kg; 70% increase in flow). No change in liver enzyme activity was found, except for a 45% increase in alkaline phosphatase after chronic peppermint oil. No change in sinusoidal area in vivo or in histology was found following any treatment, although pretreatment with carbon tetrachloride reduced sinusoidal bed area and produced histological damage. Incubation of human hepatoma cells with 0.5 microL/mL (but not 0.05 microL/mL) peppermint oil or 20 mg/mL (but not 2 mg/mL) valerian resulted in increased cell death. 4. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated in vitro toxicity of high doses of valerian and peppermint oil in cultured human hepatoma cells and, at doses 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than those recommended for human use, an increase in rat bile flow after acute peppermint oil and an increase in alkaline phosphatase after chronic peppermint oil.     

电感耦合等离子质谱法测定百部药材中砷、镉、汞、铅的含量

目的：建立电感耦合等离子质谱法（ICP-MS法）测定百部药材中砷、镉、汞、铅含量的方法。方法样品经微波消解后,以铟（In）、金（Au）为内标,采用ICP-MS同时测定上述4种元素。结果所测元素标准曲线的相关系数r＞0．9987,回收率在94．22％～97．50％之间,RSD均小于5％。结论该研究建立的方法具有较低检出限及高灵敏度,可用于百部药材的质量控制。研究结果表明环境对百部药材中砷、镉、汞、铅含量影响较大,可能导致其超出现有《中国药典》（2010年版）中限量标准。     

微波消解-火焰原子吸收光谱法测定彝药一口血中6种金属元素的含量

目的:建立测定彝药一口血中Fe、Cu、Zn、Mn、Ca、Mg6种金属元素含量的方法。方法:用浓硝酸微波消解样品后,采用火焰原子吸收光谱法测定一口血中6种金属元素的含量。结果:各金属元素线性关系的相关系数均>0.9950;平均加样回收率在94.0%～106.0%之间,RSD在2.8%～5.8%之间(n=6)。结论:一口血中含有丰富的人体必需金属元素。本方法简单、准确,结果令人满意,可用于一口血中多种金属元素的含量测定。     

Aromatic and polyphenolic composition of infused peppermint, Mentha x piperita L.]

The qualitative and quantitative composition of the main aromatic and polyphenolic constituents of Mitcham type peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) tisane, were examined and compared with those of leaves before and after infusion. The original peppermint leaves contained 2.4% essential oil of which menthol was 0.99%, total polyphenolic compounds 19% and total flavonoid compounds 12% comprising eriocitrin 7%, luteolin-7-rutinoside 1.5%, hesperidoside 0.6% and total hydroxycinnamic compounds 7% (rosmarinic acid 1.4%). The tisane contained 21% of the original essential oil corresponding to 25 mg/l, with increased alcohol and ketone contents and lower contents of hydrophobic terpenecarbons, oxides and esters. It contained also a high proportion of the polyphenolic compounds (about 750 mg/l) corresponding to an extraction yield of 75%. In consequence the monograph "Peppermint leaf" of the Pharmacopoeia should be amended.