基于UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS技术研究清肺排毒汤化学成分及小鼠组织分布

目的旨在开展国家卫生健康委员会和国家中医药管理局推荐治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的协定通用处方清肺排毒汤的主要化学成分及小鼠组织分布研究,为其药效物质研究提供参考依据。方法采用UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS对清肺排毒汤的主要化学成分进行分析,色谱分离采用Acquity UPLC?BEH C18色谱柱(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.7μm),流动相为甲醇-0.1%甲酸水,梯度洗脱,体积流量0.3mL/min。基于化合物的一级、二级质谱信息,结合对照品比对确认,实现复方主要化学成分的快速、精准识别。在此基础上,对小鼠ig清肺排毒汤后血及组织中的移行成分进行了鉴定,并建立了同步测定麻黄碱、伪麻黄碱、苦杏仁苷、野黑樱苷、甘草苷、金丝桃苷、橙皮苷、黄芩苷、次野鸢尾黄素的定量分析方法,对小鼠ig清肺排毒汤后上述9种入血成分的组织分布进行研究。结果从清肺排毒汤中共鉴定出39种化学成分,ig给药后,在小鼠血清、心、肝、脾、肺、肾中分别鉴定出12、9、9、8、10、10种化学成分。发现9种化学成分可快速吸收并分布到多个组织,在0.5 h时血清及各组织中除黄芩苷之外的8种化学成分的含量均达到峰值,黄芩苷含量峰值出现在2 h或4 h。重点关注的肺组织中0.5 h时各成分的暴露量依次为麻黄碱(2 759.11±784.39)ng/g野黑樱苷(1 819.7±427.28)ng/g伪麻黄碱(880.60±287.97)ng/g苦杏仁苷(304.43±234.70)ng/g橙皮苷(78.33±38.38)ng/g次野鸢尾黄素(8.62±4.66)ng/g黄芩苷(8.53±1.91)ng/g金丝桃苷(7.72±1.63)ng/g甘草苷(7.68±5.19)ng/g;2h时成分含量为麻黄碱(776.61±148.40)ng/g野黑樱苷(325.20±104.17)ng/g伪麻黄碱(212.21±44.63)ng/g黄芩苷(71.72±23.96)ng/g苦杏仁苷(46.39±36.45)ng/g橙皮苷(13.39±10.99)ng/g金丝桃苷(3.11±0.75)ng/g甘草苷(2.86±0.46)ng/g;4 h时各成分质量分数为麻黄碱(327.61±212.59)ng/g野黑樱苷(173.77±58.21)ng/g伪麻黄碱(84.68±59.04)ng/g黄芩苷(49.33±17.06)ng/g苦杏仁苷(1.26±0.26)ng/g。结论研究建立的UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS方法可实现清肺排毒汤中多种化学成分的快速、准确分析,并明确了ig给药后清肺排毒汤主要成分在小鼠的组织分布情况,为后续清肺排毒汤的药效物质基础研究及进一步的临床应用提供了药动学信息和指导。     

基于超高效液相色谱-四级杆-静电场轨道阱质谱的 胃复春片化学成分研究

目的:基于超高效液相色谱-四级杆-静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱（UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS）技术对胃复春片的物质基础进行了全面的研究,对主要化学成分进行快速鉴定。方法:采用Thermo Hypersil GOLD C18色谱柱(4.6 mm×150 mm,3 μm),以0.05%甲酸水-乙腈为流动相的梯度洗脱进行分离。质谱采用正、负离子检测模式、全扫描及自动触发二级质谱扫描功能（Full MS/dd MS2）采集数据。通过化合物的最大紫外吸收波长、精确相对分子质量及二级碎片离子信息,与对照品的保留时间、mzVault 2.0质谱数据库及相关文献报道进行比对,鉴定胃复春片的主要化学成分。结果:共鉴定出164种化学成分,其中包括人参皂苷类42个、黄酮类97个、二萜类19个、其他6个。结论:UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS技术能够快速、准确、较全面地鉴定胃复春片中化学成分,为明确药效物质基础研究及提升质量标准提供了理论依据。     

深圳市市售食品中二恶英、多氯联苯污染现状研究

目的了解深圳市市售食品中二恶英、多氯联苯本底水平和污染情况,为开展食品中二恶英类化合物污染状况的风险评估和预警监测提供科学依据。方法于2004年10月至2008年10月期间,采集深圳市市售鱼、猪肉、牛肉、羊肉、鸡肉、鸭肉、禽蛋、奶粉、植物油、豆制品、米面、蔬菜12种食品共123份样品,参照美国国家环保局EPA1613、1668A方法,采用索式抽提装置和FMS自动纯化系统分别对样品进行提取和净化,采用同位素稀释技术,用已建立的高分辨气相色谱/高分辨双聚焦磁式质谱联用(HRGC/HRMS)超痕量有机分析技术平台,对样品中的7个多氯二苯并-对-二恶英(PCDD s)、10个多氯二苯并-对-呋喃(PCDFs)、4个共平面的多氯联苯(PCBs)化合物、8个单邻位取代的PCBs化合物以及6个指示性的PCBs化合物共计35个单体进行定量分析检测和毒性当量浓度汇总分析和评价。结果共检测123份市售食品样品,总二恶英(包括PCDD/Fs和PCBs)污染毒性当量浓度水平,动物性食品由大至小依次是:鱼类>禽蛋>牛肉>奶粉>羊肉>鸡肉>鸭肉>猪肉,植物性食品以植物油>豆制品>粮谷类>蔬菜依次降低。其中动物性食品以鱼类二恶英含量最高,...     

UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS分析吉马酮大鼠体内代谢产物及代谢途径

目的 研究吉马酮在大鼠体内的代谢产物,探讨其可能的代谢途径。方法 采用超高效液相色谱-四级杆/静电场轨道阱高分辨质谱技术（UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS）对灌胃给予吉马酮（10 mg·kg^-1）后大鼠的生物样品（血浆、尿液和粪便）进行分析,色谱柱采用Waters ACQUITY UPLC^® BEH C₁₈（2.1 mm×50 mm,1.7 μm）,流动相乙腈-0.1%甲酸水溶液,梯度洗脱,Q-Exactive高分辨质谱仪采用HESI离子源,辅助气温度300℃,离子传输管温度320℃,喷雾电压为+3.50 kV或者-2.80 kV,扫描方式Full MS/dd-MS²。分析比对给药组和空白组中高分辨质谱提供的准分子离子峰和碎片离子信息,使用Xcalibur 3.0、Mass Frontier 2.0和Compound Discovery 2.1软件进行数据处理,筛选并鉴定其可能的代谢产物。结果 从大鼠生物样品中共筛选鉴定了包括原型在内的23个代谢产物,推断吉马酮在大鼠体内发生的代谢类型主要有脱水反应、脱饱和反应、氧化反应、葡萄糖胺结合反应、葡萄糖醛酸化反应以及相关的复合反应等。结论 本研究较为详细地阐明了吉马酮在大鼠体内的代谢情况,剖析了其代谢途径,可为其进一步的药效学、药动学及毒理学研究提供理论依据。     

Phytochemical analysis and comprehensive evaluation of pharmacological potential of Artemisia brevifolia Wall. ex DC

Multitude of diseases and side effects from conventional drugs have surged the use of herbal remedies. Thus, the current study aimed to appraise various pharmacological attributes of Artemisia brevifolia Wall. ex DC. Extracts prepared by successive solvent extraction were subjected to phytochemical and multimode antioxidant assays. Various polyphenolics and artemisinin derivatives were detected and quantified using RP-HPLC analysis. Compounds present in methanol (M) and distilled water (DW) extracts were identified using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Extracts were pharmacologically evaluated for their antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antileishmanial and antidiabetic potentials. Moreover, cytotoxicity against Artemiasalina, human cancer cell lines and isolated lymphocytes was assessed. Genotoxicity was evaluated using comet, micronucleus and chromosomal aberration assays. Lastly, anti-inflammatory potential was determined through a series of in vitro and in vivo assays using BALB/c mice.Maximum extract recovery (5.95% w/w) was obtained by DW extract. Highest phenolics and flavonoids content, total antioxidant capacity, total reduction potential, percentfree radical scavenging, β-carotene scavenging and iron chelating activities were exhibited by M extract. RP-HPLC analysis revealed significant amounts of various polyphenolic compounds (vanillic acid, syringic acid, emodin and luteolin), artemisinin, dihydro artemisinin, artesunate and artemether in ethyl acetate (EA) extract. Total 40 compounds were detected through HRMS. A noteworthy antimicrobial activity (MIC 22.22 µg/ml) was exhibited by EA extract against A. fumigatus and several bacterial strains. Maximum antimalarial, antileishmanial, brine shrimp lethality and cytotoxic potential against cancer cells was manifested by EA extract. None of the extracts exhibited genotoxicity and toxicity against isolated lymphocytes. Highest α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition capacities were demonstrated by DW extract. Various in-vivo anti-inflammatory models revealed significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory potential of M and DW extracts. In conclusion, present findings divulged theremarkable pharmacological potential of A. brevifolia and endorse its richness in artemisinin.     

Comprehensive detection of 120 additives in food using nontargeted MS data acquisition

The compliance assessment on the labeling of food additives is a hard job, because there are nearly thousand legal food additives can be used in food, and countless illegal additives must also deal with. This study developed a non-targeted data acquisition screening method based on liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in which a precursor ion and two product ions of each analyte are able to be recorded. The high throughput screening method worked as foodomics that characterized and identified every food components as long as they were ionized in terms of theory. The data acquisition method called data independent acquisition (DIA) was achieved by a full scan form m/z 70–1050, and then followed wide window fragmentations of product ions recording. A full scan and the followed fragmentations generated 21 spectra in 2.6 s contributed about 6 data points for a typical 0.2–0.3 min width peak in HPLC. A detection database list of 120 additives included 79 colorants, 13 sweeteners, 12 preservatives and 7 antioxidants was established. Thirty-three commercial samples including beverages, candies, and sauces were surveyed for testing additives. Sweeteners (rebaudioside A) and flavoring agents (malic acid and fumaric acid) were found the most under declared additives. HPLC column often do not provide adequate retention for highly polar compounds such as organic acids (flavoring agents). In this study they were coeluted, but were able to be separated and determined by HRMS worked as the secondary separation tool. The surveillance results showed there is still room for food manufacturers to improve the connection between their product information and consumers.     

Metabolic study of new psychoactive substance methoxpropamine in mice by UHPLC-QTOF-HRMS

Methoxpropamine (MXPr) is an arylcyclohexylamine dissociative drug structurally similar to 3-methoxyeticyclidine, ketamine, and deschloroketamine, recently appeared in the European illegal market, and was classified within the new psychoactive substances (NPS). Our study investigated the metabolism of MXPr to elucidate the distribution of the parent drug and its metabolites in body fluids and fur of 16 mice. After the intraperitoneal administration of MXPr (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg), urine samples from eight male and eight female mice were collected every hour for six consecutive hours and then at 12- to 24-h intervals. Additionally, plasma samples were collected 24 h after MXPr (1 and 3 mg/kg) administration. Urine and plasma were diluted 1:3 with acetonitrile/methanol (95:5) and directly injected into the UHPLC-QTOF-HRMS system. The phase-I and phase-II metabolites were preliminarily identified by means of the fragmentation patterns and the exact masses of both their precursor and fragment ions. Lastly, the mice fur was analyzed following an extraction procedure specific for the keratin matrix. Desmethyl-MXPr-glucoronide was identified in urine as the main metabolite, detected up to 24 h after administration. The presence of norMXPr in urine, plasma, and fur was also relevant, following a N-dealkylation process of the parent drug. Other metabolites that were identified in fur and plasma included desmethyl-MXPr and dihydro-MXPr. Knowledge of the MXPr metabolites evolution is likely to support their introduction as target compounds in NPS toxicological screening analysis on real samples, both to confirm intake and extend the detection window of the dissociative drug MXPr in the biological matrices.     

Towards compound identification of synthetic opioids in nontargeted screening using machine learning techniques

The constant evolution of the illicit drug market makes the identification of unknown compounds problematic. Obtaining certified reference materials for a broad array of new analogues can be difficult and cost prohibitive. Machine learning provides a promising avenue to putatively identify a compound before confirmation against a standard. In this study, machine learning approaches were used to develop class prediction and retention time prediction models. The developed class prediction model used a naïve Bayes architecture to classify opioids as belonging to either the fentanyl analogues, AH series or U series, with an accuracy of 89.5%. The model was most accurate for the fentanyl analogues, most likely due to their greater number in the training data. This classification model can provide guidance to an analyst when determining a suspected structure. A retention time prediction model was also trained for a wide array of synthetic opioids. This model utilised Gaussian process regression to predict the retention time of analytes based on multiple generated molecular features with 79.7% of the samples predicted within ±0.1 min of their experimental retention time. Once the suspected structure of an unknown compound is determined, molecular features can be generated and input for the prediction model to compare with experimental retention time. The incorporation of machine learning prediction models into a compound identification workflow can assist putative identifications with greater confidence and ultimately save time and money in the purchase and/or production of superfluous certified reference materials.     

Liporetro-D-peptides - a novel class of highly selective thrombin inhibitors

Introduction

Plasma serine protease thrombin plays a key role in coagulation, haemostasis and thromboembolic diseases. Direct thrombin inhibitors could be beneficial for future anticoagulant therapy. We have synthesized and studied liporetro-D-peptides - efficient thrombin inhibitors resistant to enzymatic degradation.

Materials and Methods

Compounds X-D-Arg-D-Phe-OMe, where X = residue of lauric or myristic acid or 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl, have been synthesized by conventional peptide synthesis in solution and their comparative inhibitory analysis in relation to thrombin, factor X, plasmin and trypsin has been conducted.

Results

Modification of the synthetic liporetro-D-peptides with the myristic acid residue was the most successful one. This modification has dramatically increased the inhibition efficacy (Ki = 0,17 μM) and selectivity toward the chosen target enzyme, thrombin, in comparison to factor X, plasmin and trypsin (more than 600, 900, and 5000-fold, respectively).

Conclusions

Our findings establish an important role of the fatty moiety in the structure of peptide inhibitors with regards to their potency and selectivity toward thrombin.     

A Penicillium sp. F33 metabolite and its synthetic derivatives inhibit acetyl-CoA:1-O-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine acetyltransferase (a key enzyme in platelet-activating factor biosynthesis) and carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice

Acetyl-CoA:1-O-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (lyso-PAF) acetyltransferase is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAF) in inflammatory cells. Substances which inhibit this enzyme are of therapeutic interest. In this study, we screened for new inhibitors of lyso-PAF acetyltransferase with anti-inflammatory effects. In a metabolite from Penicillium sp. F33, we isolated an acetyltransferase inhibitor identified as dihydrofumigatin (2-methoxy-1,3,4-trihydroxy-5-methylbenzene) from high resolution mass spectrometer and NMR data. Dihydrofumigatin had strong acetyltransferase inhibitory activity, but was not stable in aqueous solution. Thus, we chemically synthesized its oxidized form fumigatin (3-hydroxy-2-methoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone) and derivatives thereof, and evaluated their inhibitory effects. Strong inhibitory activity was observed for saturated fatty acid esters of fumigatin; the order of inhibition was 3-decanoyloxy-2-methoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (termed FUD-7, IC₅₀ = 3 μM) > 2-methoxy-5-methyl-3-tetradecanoyloxy-1,4-benzoquinone (termed FUD-8, IC₅₀ = 20 μM) > 3-hexanoyloxy-2-methoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (IC₅₀ = 139 μM). Interestingly, these compounds also significantly suppressed the gene expression of lyso-PAF acetyltransferase/LPCAT2 in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We further evaluated the effect of these substances on anti-inflammatory activity in vivo using the carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema test. FUD-7 and FUD-8 at 2.5 mg/kg showed significant, 47.9–51.7%, inhibition stronger than that of prednisolone at 10 mg/kg (41.9%). These results suggest that FUD-7 and FUD-8 are potent inhibitors with anti-inflammatory activity.