Simultaneous Determination of Caffeic Acid and Ferulic Acid Using a Carbon Nanofiber-Based Screen-Printed Sensor.

This work aims to achieve the simultaneous qualitative and quantitative determination of two hydroxycinnamic acids (ferulic acid and caffeic acid) from standard solutions and from a phyto-homeopathic product using a carbon nanofiber-based screen-printed sensor (CNF/SPE). The two compounds are mentioned in the manufacturer's specifications but without indicating their concentrations. The stability and reproducibility of the CNF/SPE were found to be effective and the sensitivity was high for both caffeic acid-CA (limit of detection 2.39 × 10-7 M) and ferrulic acid-FA (limit of detection 2.33 × 10-7 M). The antioxidant capacity of the compounds in the analyzed product was also determined by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The electrochemical method was efficient and less expensive than other analytical methods; therefore, its use can be extended for the detection of these phenolic compounds in various dietary supplements or pharmaceutical products.

Carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of morphine from opium and heroin samples originating in the four major heroin producing regions.

The forensic analysis of stable isotopes is a valuable tool to geo-source natural or semisynthetic drugs such as cocaine and heroin. The present study describes a novel methodology to isolate morphine from opium for isotopic analysis. Furthermore, this isotopic data from regional sources is corroborated with morphine data obtained from seized heroin (deacetylated to morphine) from the same regions. All five primary alkaloids of opium, namely, morphine, codeine, thebaine, noscapine, and papaverine, were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array (PDA) detector before the preparative experiment to gather a complete major alkaloidal profile. Morphine fractions of authentic opium submissions from Mexico, South America, Southwest Asia, and Southeast Asia were isolated and collected using preparative high performance liquid chromatography, and the collected morphine samples were subsequently analyzed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Carbon and nitrogen isotope data are presented. The data demonstrate that nitrogen ratios are capable of differentiating samples from Mexico and South America while carbon ratios are able to distinguish Southwest Asian samples from other source regions. Analogous results have routinely been observed (as part of Heroin Signature Program analysis) for morphine obtained from deacetylated authentic heroin samples from the same source regions. The results suggest that the poppy growing region has a greater influence on the carbon and nitrogen isotope values than the heroin manufacturing processes employed. When utilized in conjunction with existing signature methodologies, carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio data can enhance the ability to geo-source heroin.

Flow injection potentiometric determination of pancuronium bromide in pharmaceutical preparation and urine samples using modified carbon paste electrodes.

Carbon paste electrodes for pancuronium bromide was prepared based on ion association complexes of pancuronium bromide with sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) or ammonium reineckate using dibutyl phthalate as solvent mediator and tetradodecylammonium tetrakis-(4-chlorophenyl)borate (ETH 500) as lipophilic additive. The sensors showed a near-Nernstian slope of 28.1 mV concentration decade(-1) at 25°C within the concentration range 6.31×10(-6)-1.00×10(-2) M in case of pancuronium-tetraphenylborate electrode and 26.6 mV concentration decade(-1) in the concentration range 5.66×10(-5)-1.00×10(-2) M in case of pancuronium-reineckate electrode. The sensors were successfully applied for the potentiometric determination of pancuronium bromide in pharmaceutical preparation and biological fluids in batch and flow injection conditions.

Combination of electrochemistry with chemometrics to introduce an efficient analytical method for simultaneous quantification of five opium alkaloids in complex matrices.

For the first time, an analytical methodology based on differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and integration of three efficient strategies including variable selection based on ant colony optimization (ACO), mathematical pre-processing selection by genetic algorithm (GA), and sample selection (SS) through a distance-based procedure to improve partial least squares-1 (PLS-1, ACO-GA-SS-PLS-1) multivariate calibration (MVC) for the simultaneous determination of five opium alkaloids including morphine (MOP), noscapine (NOP), thebaine (TEB), codeine (COD), and papaverine (PAP) was used and validated. The baselines of the DPV signals were modeled as a smooth curve, using P-splines, a combination of B-splines and a discrete roughness penalty. After subtraction of the baseline we got a signal with a two-component probability density. One component was for the peaks and it was approximated by a uniform distribution on the potential axis. The other component was for the observed noise around the baseline. Some sources of bi-linearity deviation for electrochemical data were discussed and analyzed. The lack of bi-linearity was tackled by potential shift correction using correlation optimized warping (COW) algorithm. The MVC model was developed as a quinternary calibration model in a blank human serum sample (drug-free) provided by a healthy volunteer to regard the presence of a strong matrix effect which may be caused by the possible interferents present in the serum, and it was validated and tested with two independent sets of analytes mixtures in the blank and actual human serum samples, respectively. Fortunately, the proposed methodology was successful in simultaneous determination of MOP, NOP, TEB, COD, and PAP in both blank and actual human serum samples and its results were satisfactory comparable to those obtained by applying the reference method based on high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV).

Prolonged cataleptogenic effects of potentized homoeopathic drugs.

The four homoeopathic drugs, Gelsemium, Cannabis Indica, Graphites and Agaricus Muscarius, administered orally in 30th and 200th potencies on white rats, enhanced restraint-induced catalepsy in a similar manner to the two standard drugs pilocarpine and haloperidol (IP injection at 5 mg/kg). All the drugs tested differed from each other in the duration of cataleptogenic effect, which was more prolonged with Cannabis, Graphites and Agaricus than with Gelsemium and the two non-homoeopathic drugs used. The 200th potency of any homoeopathic drug tested acted longer than its 30th potency.

[Pharmacologic effects of an extract of Arillus longan (Lour.) Steud. and Gecko].

ALG is an extract from Arillus longan and Gecko. Our experiment has shown that ALG ig 20 ml/kg/d X 10 elevates significantly tolerance in mice under low and high temperatures and anoxia, and also increases the body-weight of normal mice, while ALG ig 15 ml/kg/d X 14 protects body-weight from decreasing in reserpinized mice. An increase in spleen-weight has also been observed in normal mice with ALG ig 20 ml/kg/d X 7, and ALG ig 15 ml/kg/d X 10 elevates the clearance rate of iv charcoal particles in normal mice.

Degradation of morphine in opium poppy processing waste composting.

To investigate morphine degradation and optimize turning frequency in opium poppy processing waste composting, a pilot scale windrow composting trial was run for 55 days. Four treatments were designed as without turning (A1), every 5 days turning (A2), every 10 days turning (A3) and every 15 days turning (A4). During composting, a range of physicochemical parameters including the residual morphine degradation, temperature, pH, and the contents of total C, total N, total P and total K were investigated. For all treatments, the residual morphine content decreased below the detection limit and reached the safety standards after day 30 of composting, the longest duration of high temperature (⩾50 °C) was observed in A3, pH increased 16.9-17.54%, total carbon content decreased 15.5-22.5%, C/N ratio reduced from 46 to 26, and the content of total phosphorus and total potassium increased slightly. The final compost obtained by a mixture of all four piles was up to 55.3% of organic matter, 3.3% of total nutrient (N, P2O5 and K2O) and 7.6 of pH. A turning frequency of every ten days for a windrow composting of opium poppy processing waste is recommended to produce homogenous compost.

Symptomatic nuclei of homeopathic remedies: remedies derived from carbon as case-study / Núcleo sintomático dos medicamentos homeopáticos derivados do Carbono

Homeopathic clinical practice requires both accuracy and agility in diagnosis and prescription of treatment during real-time consultations. Several approaches have been attempted to facilitate this process including different criteria to group homeopathic remedies. This study sought to establish whether classification according to the chemical composition of substances used as basis of homeopathic remedies have correspondence in the experimental homeopathic materia medica. Methods: The homeopathic remedies derived from carbon were selected as case-study. The experimental symptoms of these remedies were compared and a nucleus of symptoms common to all could be found. This nucleus was then compared to similarly obtained nuclei of experimental symptoms of homeopathic remedies derived from sulfur and phosphor to test qualitative specificity and finally to the traditionally described clinical picture of the so-called homeopathic carbonic constitution to establish whether the latter has homeopathic experimental grounds. Results: a nucleus of experimental symptoms common to homeopathic remedies derived from carbon was found, qualitatively different from the symptomatic nuclei of homeopathic remedies derived from sulfur and phosphor; no correlation was found, however, with the clinical image of so-called carbonic constitution.

A prática homeopática exige simultaneamente, rapidez e exatidão no diagnóstico e a prescrição do tratamento nas consultas, em tempo real. Para isso, diversas estratégias tem sido implementadas para facilitar tal processo, incluindo critérios para agrupar os medicamentos homeopáticos. Este estudo se propôs a verificar se classificações baseadas na composição química das substâncias utilizadas nos medicamentos homeopáticos tem correlação com a materia médica homeopática experimental. Métodos: Como estudo de caso, foram selecionados os medicamentos homeopáticos derivados de carbono. Os sintomas experimentais destes medicamentos foram comparados de maneira a definir um núcleo de síntomas comuns ao grupo. Este núcleo foi comparado aos outros núcleos correspondentes a sintomas experimentais de medicamentos homeopáticos derivados de Enxofre e Fósforo, com o propósito de determinar a especificidade qualitativa do núcleo carbônico em estudo. Finalmente, comparamos o núcleo proposto com o quadro tradicional atribuído à chamada constituição carbônica homeopática, com o objetivo de verificar se esta tem alguma fundamentação experimental. Resultados: foi encontrado um núcleo sintomático comum aos medicamentos derivados de carbono, qualitativamente diferente dos núcleos sintomáticos dos medicamentos derivados do Enxofre e Fósforo. No entanto, não foi encontrada correlação entre este núcleo e o quadro clínico do grupo chamado de constituição carbônica.

Symptomatic nuclei of homeopathic remedies: remedies derived from carbon as case-study / Núcleo sintomático dos medicamentos homeopáticos derivados do Carbono

Homeopathic clinical practice requires both accuracy and agility in diagnosis and prescription of treatment during real-time consultations. Several approaches have been attempted to facilitate this process including different criteria to group homeopathic remedies. This study sought to establish whether classification according to the chemical composition of substances used as basis of homeopathic remedies have correspondence in the experimental homeopathic materia medica. Methods: The homeopathic remedies derived from carbon were selected as case-study. The experimental symptoms of these remedies were compared and a nucleus of symptoms common to all could be found. This nucleus was then compared to similarly obtained nuclei of experimental symptoms of homeopathic remedies derived from sulfur and phosphor to test qualitative specificity and finally to the traditionally described clinical picture of the so-called homeopathic carbonic constitution to establish whether the latter has homeopathic experimental grounds. Results: a nucleus of experimental symptoms common to homeopathic remedies derived from carbon was found, qualitatively different from the symptomatic nuclei of homeopathic remedies derived from sulfur and phosphor; no correlation was found, however, with the clinical image of so-called carbonic constitution.(AU)

A prática homeopática exige simultaneamente, rapidez e exatidão no diagnóstico e a prescrição do tratamento nas consultas, em tempo real. Para isso, diversas estratégias tem sido implementadas para facilitar tal processo, incluindo critérios para agrupar os medicamentos homeopáticos. Este estudo se propôs a verificar se classificações baseadas na composição química das substâncias utilizadas nos medicamentos homeopáticos tem correlação com a materia médica homeopática experimental. Métodos: Como estudo de caso, foram selecionados os medicamentos homeopáticos derivados de carbono. Os sintomas experimentais destes medicamentos foram comparados de maneira a definir um núcleo de síntomas comuns ao grupo. Este núcleo foi comparado aos outros núcleos correspondentes a sintomas experimentais de medicamentos homeopáticos derivados de Enxofre e Fósforo, com o propósito de determinar a especificidade qualitativa do núcleo carbônico em estudo. Finalmente, comparamos o núcleo proposto com o quadro tradicional atribuído à chamada constituição carbônica homeopática, com o objetivo de verificar se esta tem alguma fundamentação experimental. Resultados: foi encontrado um núcleo sintomático comum aos medicamentos derivados de carbono, qualitativamente diferente dos núcleos sintomáticos dos medicamentos derivados do Enxofre e Fósforo. No entanto, não foi encontrada correlação entre este núcleo e o quadro clínico do grupo chamado de constituição carbônica.(AU)