4'-O-methylpyridoxine: Preparation from Ginkgo biloba Seeds and Cytotoxicity in GES-1 Cells.

Ginkgo biloba seeds are wildly used in the food and medicine industry. It has been found that 4'-O-methylpyridoxine (MPN) is responsible for the poisoning caused by G. biloba seeds. The objective of this study was to explore and optimize the extraction method of MPN from G. biloba seeds, and investigate its toxic effect on human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) and the potential related mechanisms. The results showed that the extraction amount of MPN was 1.933 µg/mg, when extracted at 40 °C for 100 min, with the solid-liquid ratio at 1:10. MPN inhibited the proliferation of GES-1 cells, for which the inhibition rate was 38.27% when the concentration of MPN was 100 µM, and the IC50 value was 127.80 µM; meanwhile, the cell cycle was arrested in G2 phase. High concentration of MPN (100 µM) had significant effects on the nucleus of GES-1 cells, and the proportion of apoptotic cells reached 43.80%. Furthermore, the Western blotting analysis showed that MPN could reduce mitochondrial membrane potential by increasing the expression levels of apoptotic proteins Caspase 8 and Bax in GES-1 cells. In conclusion, MPN may induce apoptosis in GES-1 cells, which leads to toxicity in the human body.

Synthesis and characterization of pyridoxine, nicotine and nicotinamide salts of dithiophosphoric acids as antibacterial agents against resistant wound infection.

The pyridine-derived biomolecules are of considerable interest in developing medicinal compounds with various specific activities. Novel ammonium salts of pyridoxine, (S)-(-)-nicotine and nicotinamide with O,O-diorganyl dithiophosphoric acids (DTPA) were synthesized and characterized. The complexation of chiral monoterpenyl DTPA, including (S)-(-)-menthyl, (R)-(+)-menthyl, (1R)-endo-(+)-fenchyl, (1S,2S,3S,5R)-(+)-isopinocampheolyl derivatives, with pyridoxine and nicotine provided effective antibacterial compounds 3a,b,e,f, and 5a,b,d,f with MIC values against Gram-positive bacteria as low as 10 µM (6 µg/mL). Two selected pyridoxine and nicotine salts based on menthyl DTPA 3a and 5a were similarly active against antibiotic-resistant bacteria from burn wounds including MRSA. The compounds had enhanced amphiphilic and hemolytic properties and effectively altered surface characteristics and matrix-secreting ability of P. aeroginosa and S. aureus. MBC/MIC ratios of 3a and 5a suggested the bactericidal mode of their action. Furthermore, the compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxicity towards human skin fibroblasts (IC50 = 48.6 and 57.6 µM, respectively, 72 h), encouraging their further investigation as potential antimicrobials against skin and wound infections.

Protective role of vitamin B6 (PLP) against DNA damage in Drosophila models of type 2 diabetes.

Growing evidence shows that improper intake of vitamin B6 increases cancer risk and several studies indicate that diabetic patients have a higher risk of developing tumors. We previously demonstrated that in Drosophila the deficiency of Pyridoxal 5' phosphate (PLP), the active form of vitamin B6, causes chromosome aberrations (CABs), one of cancer prerequisites, and increases hemolymph glucose content. Starting from these data we asked if it was possible to provide a link between the aforementioned studies. Thus, we tested the effect of low PLP levels on DNA integrity in diabetic cells. To this aim we generated two Drosophila models of type 2 diabetes, the first by impairing insulin signaling and the second by rearing flies in high sugar diet. We showed that glucose treatment induced CABs in diabetic individuals but not in controls. More interestingly, PLP deficiency caused high frequencies of CABs in both diabetic models demonstrating that hyperglycemia, combined to reduced PLP level, impairs DNA integrity. PLP-depleted diabetic cells accumulated Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) that largely contribute to CABs as α-lipoic acid, an AGE inhibitor, rescued not only AGEs but also CABs. These data, extrapolated to humans, indicate that low PLP levels, impacting on DNA integrity, may be considered one of the possible links between diabetes and cancer.

Methionine tumor starvation by erythrocyte-encapsulated methionine gamma-lyase activity controlled with per os vitamin B6.

Erymet is a new therapy resulting from the encapsulation of a methionine gamma-lyase (MGL; EC number 4.4.1.11) in red blood cells (RBC). The aim of this study was to evaluate erymet potential efficacy in methionine (Met)-dependent cancers. We produced a highly purified MGL using a cGMP process, determined the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) properties of erymet in mice, and assessed its efficacy on tumor growth prevention. Cytotoxicity of purified MGL was tested in six cancer cell lines. CD1 mice were injected with single erymet product supplemented or not with vitamin B6 vitamer pyridoxine (PN; a precursor of PLP cofactor). NMRI nude mice were xenografted in the flank with U-87 MG-luc2 glioblastoma cells for tumor growth study following five intravenous (IV) injections of erymet with daily PN oral administration. Endpoints included efficacy and event-free survival (EFS). Finally, a repeated dose toxicity study of erymet combined with PN cofactor was conducted in CD1 mice. Recombinant MGL was cytotoxic on 4/6 cell lines tested. MGL half-life was increased from <24 h to 9-12 days when encapsulated in RBC. Conversion of PN into PLP by RBC was demonstrated. Combined erymet + PN treatment led to a sustained Met depletion in plasma for several days with a 85% reduction of tumor volume after 45 days following cells implantation, and a significant EFS prolongation for treated mice. Repeated injections in mice exhibited a very good tolerability with only minor impact on clinical state (piloerection, lean aspect) and a slight decrease in hemoglobin and triglyceride concentrations. This study demonstrated that encapsulation of methioninase inside erythrocyte greatly enhanced pharmacokinetics properties of the enzyme and is efficacy against tumor growth. The perspective on these results is the clinical evaluation of the erymet product in patients with Met starvation-sensitive tumors.

Basic measures and systemic medical treatment of patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis.

BACKGROUND: With an incidence of 1.5-1.8/1 million inhabitants per year, toxic epidermal necrolysis is a rare but life threatening disease. It is almost always drug-induced and its lethality is pronounced with up to 50 %. Several therapeutic options are described in literature; however, there is still lack of a universally accepted and specific therapy of toxic epidermal necrolysis. METHODS: This survey considers 8 cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis diagnosed and treated in our clinic from 2003 to 2007. The epidermal sloughing was > 30 % of the body surface in each case. RESULTS: After immediately discontinuing the drug suspected of being responsible for toxic epidermal necrolysis, we treated with systemic corticosteroids in an initial dose of up to 1.5 mg/kg. Moreover, special emphasis was put on basic measures such as control of vital parameters. With this treatment we reached good results; none of the patients died. conclusions: Immediate beginning of therapy is essential for a successful treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis. Besides systemic therapy with corticosteroids, certain basic measures such as isolation of patients at adequate room temperature to prevent hypothermia, strict control of circulation, temperature and laboratory parameters, daily smears of skin and mucous membranes and a diet rich in calories due to the catabolic metabolic status are very important for successful outcome.

Opposite effects of nicotinic acid and pyridoxine on systemic prostacyclin, thromboxane and leukotriene production in man.

The effects of nicotinic acid (2500 mg orally during 12 hr) and pyridoxine (300 mg orally twice daily for seven days) on the excretion of urinary 2,3-dinor-6-ketoprostaglandin F1alpha, 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 and leukotriene E4, the markers of systemic prostacyclin, thromboxane A2 and cysteinyl leukotriene production, respectively, were investigated in healthy male volunteers (n=6-8). Nicotinic acid increased 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 and leukotriene E4 excretions to 2.6- and 2.0 times the initial values (P<0.05), respectively. In the volunteers treated with pyridoxine, 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 and leukotriene E4 excretions were decreased to 70% (P<0.05) and 65% (P<0.01) of the initial values, respectively, but the excretion of 2,3-dinor-6-ketoprostaglandin F1alpha was increased 1.7 times (P<0.01). The results suggest that nicotinic acid increases thromboxane and leukotriene synthesis which may not be beneficial for patients with cardiovascular diseases or asthma. In contrast, the increase in prostacyclin production and the inhibition in thromboxane and leukotriene synthesis by pyridoxine might be beneficial in disorders where the production of prostacyclin is decreased and the formation of thromboxane and cysteinyl leukotrienes is enhanced.

Improved risk assessment by screening sperm parameters.

The question of whether a 4 or 9 week premating treatment period is more suitable in studies for effects on fertility and early embryonic development, and the extent to which the screening of sperm parameters may contribute to the detection of effects, has been under discussion since the ICH guideline changed in 1994/1995. This study presents a comparison between 4 and 9 weeks treatment with known male reproductive toxicants with regard to sperm motility, count, morphology, abnormal movements and testicular and epididymal histopathology. Mating outcome was examined after 4 weeks treatment. Three compounds with different targets and mechanisms of action were chosen: two testicular toxicants, Pyridoxine and Adriamycin and the epididymal toxicant, alpha-Chlorohydrine. Sperm motility was reduced in males treated with Pyridoxine (markedly) and alpha-Chlorohydrine (slightly) after 4 weeks treatment and in males treated with Adriamycin after 9 weeks treatment. With Pyridoxine and Adriamycin, sperm count was significantly increased after 4 weeks. Histopathological examination after 4 weeks showed characteristic changes leading to marked testicular tubular atrophy at 8/9 weeks, which was confirmed by a significantly reduced sperm count at 8/9 weeks. With alpha-Chlorohydrine, sperm count was not affected and the results of the histopathological examination were equivocal. Changes in sperm morphology were observed after 4/9 weeks of treatment with Pyridoxine. Mating outcome after 4 weeks was markedly affected with both Pyridoxine and alpha-Chlorohydrine, but no effect was observed with Adriamycin. The results of this study indicate that the two testicular toxicants would have been detected as male reproductive toxicants in a 4-week general toxicity study with routine testicular histopathology and examination of sperm parameters, without the need for mating trials. For the epididymal toxicant, alpha-Chlorohydrine, there was slightly reduced sperm motility after 4 weeks treatment, but mating trials were necessary for confirmation of the toxic effect. Without sperm motility examination, this effect would have been missed in early drug development causing problems in clinical studies. Further comparisons of the validity of 4 or 9 weeks treatment require the testing of other compounds with different targets/mechanism of actions, as well as evaluation of dose-response relationships.

Effect of pyridoxal deficiency on pancreatic DNA damage and nodule induction by azaserine.

The effects of pyridoxal deficiency on the genotoxicity and nodule inducing ability of azaserine in rat pancreas were examined. Azaserine at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight which causes substantial DNA damage in normal rat pancreas, failed to induce DNA damage detectable by alkaline elution in the pancreas of pyridoxal-deficient rats. Studies of the distribution of [14C]azaserine in rat tissues revealed that uptake of azaserine in pancreas of pyridoxal deficient rats was not significantly different from that of normal rats. The ability of a structurally unrelated amino acid carcinogen N delta-(N-methyl-N- nitrosocarbamoyl )-L-ornithine to damage rat pancreatic DNA was not affected by pyridoxal deficiency. In another study, the pyridoxal antagonist 4'-deoxypyridoxine was administered i.p. to rats prior to and during azaserine treatment. Four months later, quantitative sterological analysis of atypical acinar cell nodules revealed that there was a significant reduction in the number but not size of nodules in the pancreases of 4'-deoxypyridoxine-treated rats. These results confirm the relationship of the induction of DNA damage by azaserine to its ability to induce pancreatic tumors, and support previous studies of azaserine metabolism, strongly suggesting that the in vivo activation of this carcinogen is pyridoxal dependent.

[Toxicity, tolerance and blood concentrations of iron and tylosin with the use of preparation FV-82]. / Toksichnost, ponosimost i kruvni kontsentratsii na zheliazoto i tilozina pri prilagane na preparata FV-82.

A pharmacologic evaluation was made of a technologic model of a liquid drug form (code name phi B-82), having the following composition: tylosine tartrate 3500000 UI, cyanocobalamine 0.008 g, pyridoxin hydrochloride 0.500 g, tartaric acid 0.100 g, and feridextran (dextrofer-100) up to 100 cm3; pH from 5.5 to 6.5, and Fe3+ 100 mg/cm3. It was found that phi B-82 at i/m application to rabbits, subcutaneous injection to albino mice, and intra-abdominal introduction to albino rats and mice at rates that were equal to ED100 and 3 to 5 times higher than those used with pigs did not lead to local and total lack of tolerance. The acute toxicity (LD50) of phi B-82 at intra-abdominal application to 18-20 g albino mice was 29.2 cm3/kg. The single muscular application to guinea pigs at 2 cm3 per kg of body mass showed good absorption of the preparation - it did not differ essentially from those of dextrofer-100 and aquaous solution of tylosine tartrate used in equivalent amounts. The bacteriostatic concentrations of tylosine were maintained for 24 hours. It was shown that the optimal effect would be produced by a combined preparation having the qualities of the feridextrane complexes with a rapid absorption and those of the erythropoietic vitamins of the B12 group and B6 along with the participation of tylosine as an antibiotic.

The subacute neurotoxicity of excess pyridoxine HCl and clioquinol (5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinoline) in beagle dogs. I. Clinical disease.

The clinical and clinicopathologic effects of excess oral pyridoxine hydrochloride (150 mg/kg body weight/day) and clioquinol (200 mg/kg body weight/day) alone and in combination were evaluated in adult Beagle dogs over an experimental period of approximately 100 days. Anorexia and loss of body weight occurred in the first weeks of the trial period in each treatment group, but was most severe in dogs given both compounds. Dogs in each treatment group (10 of 10 pyridoxine-treated dogs, 6 of 13 clioquinol-treated dogs and 12 of 13 pyridoxine plus clioquinol-treated dogs) developed neurologic disease, manifested principally by ataxia. Pyridoxine-treated dogs had proprioceptive loss involving both fore- and hindquarters, characterized by stiff, spastic, dysmetric leg movements. In clioquinol-treated dogs, dysmetric leg movements were accompanied by failure to support body weight in the hindquarters, but similar forelimb involvement occurred in severely affected dogs. The neurologic disease in dogs given both compounds varied; signs in some dogs resembled those of affected dogs of the pyridoxine-treated group, and in others, those in clioquinol-treated group. Erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentrations and packed cell volumes were reduced in dogs in each treatment group and were lowest in dogs given both compounds. Plasma protein was mildly reduced in dogs given pyridoxine or pyridoxine plus clioquinol. Few or no differences were present in the leukocyte counts, blood urea nitrogen concentrations, in activities of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and in concentrations of sodium, chloride or potassium in treated dogs as compared to control dogs.

The subacute neurotoxicity of excess pyridoxine HCl and clioquinol (5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxyquinoline) in beagle dogs. II. Pathology.

The lesions caused by excess oral pyridoxine hydrochloride (150 mg/kg body weight/day) and clioquinol (200 mg/kg body weight/day), given individually and in combination to adult Beagle dogs, were evaluated. The experimental period was 100 to 112 days, except that four dogs in each of the clioquinol and combined-treatment groups were killed early because of severe debilitation or neurologic disease, and one dog given both compounds died on the third day of compound administration. Degenerative neurologic lesions had distribution specific for the compound given. Pyridoxine-treated dogs had lesions limited to tracts and nerves with neuronal bodies of their nerve fibers in the spinal and trigeminal ganglia. Clioquinol-treated dogs had neurologic lesions limited to the central nervous system. The most lesions were in the rostral dorsal funiculus and distal aspects of the optic nerve fibers, but minimal to mild degenerative changes also occurred in distal aspects of the corticospinal and spinocerebellar tracts. Dogs given both pyridoxine hydrochloride and clioquinol had a combination of the lesions in dogs given pyridoxine or clioquinol individually. Several dogs given clioquinol or pyridoxine plus clioquinol had extraneural lesions, including myocardial degeneration and thyroidal alterations.

Methionine, pyridoxine and endothelial lesion in rats.

Methionine administered orally to rats produced a prolonged dose-dependent increase in endothelemia. The increase was observed after doses exceeding 100 mg/kg and was inhibited by a simultaneous administration of pyridoxine. The effect of methionine was also inhibited by trihydroxyethylrutoside and acetylsalicyclic acid. Endothelemia was increased furthermore by oral administration of cysteine and cystine and this increase was again inhibited by pyridoxine.