Densitometric method for assessment of six specialized metabolites in four Sida sp. and its congener Abutilon indicum: Targeted metabolomics, greenness assessment, and chemometrics analysis.

Sida is one of the most diverse genera, with about 200 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Among 18 species distributed in India, Sida acuta, Sida cordifolia, Sida rhombifolia, and Sida cordata are used in traditional medicines along with its possible adulterant Abutilon indicum for several therapeutic uses. The non-availability of marker-based validated methods for the identification and classification of these species leads to adulteration. Indoloquinoline and quinazoline are the major bioactive alkaloids distributed in Sida spp. First time, a simple, economical and high throughput method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 20-hydroxyecdysone (1), vasicine (2), vasicinone (3), cryptolepine (4), quindolinone (5), and cryptolepinone (6) using HPTLC-UV densitometry. The method was validated to meet globally accepted ICH guidelines. The method was sensitive with LOD and LOQ ranging from 0.38-0.63 and 1.57-2.12 µg/band. The samples were spiked at 3 different concentrations, the recovery values were 93.49-98.88%. In addition, the greenness index of the HPTLC method was estimated using four different greenness assessment techniques. Targeted HPTLC analysis indicated the distribution of specialized metabolites in Sida spp. and A. indicum. However, the occurrence of cryptolepine in A. indicum was not reported in the literature, so this was further confirmed by liquid chromatographic studies of the samples from different locations. The chromatographic data was statistically evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (HCA). HPTLC-based targeted metabolite quantitation explains the adulteration/substitution in Sida raw material and derived herbal preparations.

Simultaneous estimation of five biomarkers of neuroprotective herb Ashwagandha NMITLI-118R AF1 in rat plasma and brain using LC-ESI-MS/MS: Application to its pharmacokinetic and stability studies.

Withania Somnifera (WS) is a popular nutritional supplement in the USA, Europe, and Asia, known for its pharmacological effects on neurological disorders. However, the bioanalytical method development, validation, and pharmacokinetics of WS NMITLI-118R AF1 biomarkers Withanolide A (WLD A), Withanone (WNONE), Withanolide B (WLD B), Withaferin A (WF A), and 12 Deoxywithastramonolide (12 DEOXY) in rats have not been comprehensively explored. This study aimed to develop and validate a sensitive and selective LC-ESI-MS/MS method for these biomarkers in male Sprague Dawley rats plasma and brain matrix. Rats were divided into eight groups, each containing five rats. A plant extract of NMITLI-118R AF1 at 50 mg/kg was orally administered to the rats for in-vivo pharmacokinetic investigation. All the analytes had a linear calibration curve (r2 > 0.999), and intra-day and inter-day precision (%) were found in the range of 2.46 - 13.71% and accuracy were within the acceptable range (±15%). The biomarkers of NMITLI-118R AF1 were found stable in in-vitro plasma and simulated gastro-intestinal fluids. The observed (Cmax) and (Tmax) values for the biomarkers in the systemic circulation were WLD A (5.59 ± 0.34 ng/mL, Tmax 1.00 ± 0.00 h), WNONE (6.28 ± 0.41 ng/mL, Tmax 0.95 ± 0.11 h), WLD B (6.45 ± 2.87 ng/mL, Tmax 0.95 ± 0.11 h), WF A (6.50 ± 0.27 ng/mL, Tmax 1.00 ± 0.00 h), and 12 DEOXY (5.68 ± 0.39 ng/mL, Tmax 1.00 ± 0.00 h). In contrast to the old method, our approach exhibits a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), shorter run time (less than10 min), and enables the detection of WF A and WNONE in fresh rat plasma by other quantitative analysis of mass spectrometry (m/z) [M]+. Shows high sample volumes for both, larger plasma volumes, costlier sample collection techniques dried blood spot (DBS), more expensive solid phase extraction techniques (SPE) and longer analysis time 14 min. Moreover, our method requires a smaller sample volume 10 µL, offers faster analysis time 4 min, and achieves a higher sensitivity 1 ng/mL. This is the first report of a comprehensive study on in-vitro and in-vivo pharmacokinetics of NMITLI-118R AF1 biomarkers, which may aid in further pre-clinical and clinical trial investigations.

Validated HPTLC method for the simultaneous quantification of diterpenoids in Vitex trifolia L.

Vitex trifolia L. is an important Indian medicinal plant with diverse pharmacological properties. In a recent study, we reported the isolation and antitubercular activity evaluation of three new diterpenoids from its leaves; here we have developed a validated rapid, simple, precise, and accurate high-performance TLC method for the simultaneous quantification of isolated diterpenoids in V. trifolia. Diterpenoids, 6α,7α-diacetoxy-13-hydroxy-8(9),14-labdadien (A), 13-hydroxy-5(10),14-halimadien-6-one (B), and 9-hydroxy-13(14)-labden-16,15-olide (C) were separated on silica gel 60F254 high-performance TLC plates using chloroform/acetone (98:2, v/v) as mobile phase. The quantitation of diterpenoids was carried out using densitometric reflection/absorption mode at 610 nm after postchromatographic derivatization using a vanillin/sulfuric acid reagent. A precise and accurate quantification can be performed for compounds A and B in the linear working concentration range of 333-1000 ng/band and for C in the range of 670-2000 ng/band with good correlations (r = 0.9984, 0.9991, and 0.9994, respectively). The method was validated for peak purity, precision, accuracy, robustness, LOD, and LOQ, as per the ICH guidelines. The method reported here is simple, reproducible and may be applied for the quantitative analysis of the above diterpenoids in the leaves of V. trifolia.

Antitubercular diterpenoids from Vitex trifolia.

A new halimane diterpenoid, 13-hydroxy-5(10),14-halimadien-6-one (1) and two new labdane diterpenoids, 6α,7α-diacetoxy-13-hydroxy-8(9),14-labdadien (2) and 9-hydroxy-13(14)-labden-15,16-olide (3), were isolated for the first time, along with fifteen known compounds, from the hexane soluble fraction of methanolic extract of Vitex trifolia leaves. The structures of these new diterpenoids were elucidated by spectral analysis. Their relative configurations were established using analysis of NOESY correlations and coupling constants observed in (1)H NMR. Compounds 2, 3 and another known diterpenoid, isoambreinolide (4) were evaluated for antitubercular activity. 3 and 4 exhibited antitubercular activity (MIC=100 and 25 µg/ml) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv in BACTEC-460 assay.

Validated high performance thin layer chromatographic method for simultaneous quantification of major iridoids in Vitex trifolia and their antioxidant studies.

Negundoside (1), agnuside (2) and 6'-p-hydroxy benzoyl mussaenosidic acid (3) are known bioactive metabolites in Vitex trifolia. In the present study a simple precise and reproducible method was developed for simultaneous quantitation of NS (1), AS (2) and HMA (3) and the antioxidant capacity of above markers has also been determined. Marker compounds have been resolved using silica gel 60 F(254) plates, petroleum ether (60-80)/toluene/acetone/water (10:10:80:2 v/v/v/v) as the mobile phases. The method does not employ any derivatisation procedure and can be used as a quality control tool for routine analysis of drugs V. trifolia and V. negundo together with their commercial extracts. NS (1), AS (2) and HMA (3) showed significant activity in DPPH and NO radical scavenging assays.

Simultaneous quantification of diterpenoids in Premna integrifolia using a validated HPTLC method.

A sensitive, selective and robust densitometric high-performance thin layer chromatographic method was developed and validated for the determination of diterpenoids in the root bark of Premna integrifolia. Diterpenoids 1ß,3α,8ß-trihydroxy-pimara-15-ene (A), 6α,11,12,16-tetrahydroxy-7-oxo-abieta-8,11,13-triene (B) and 2α,19-dihydroxy-pimara-7,15-diene (C) were used as chemical markers for the standardization of P. integrifolia plant extracts. The separation was performed on silica gel 60F(254) high-performance thin layer chromatography plates using hexane/acetone/ethylacetate (60:20:20 v/v) as mobile phase. The quantitation of diterpenoids was carried out using densitometric reflection/absorption mode at 475 nm after post-chromatographic derivatization using vanillin-sulfuric acid reagent. A precise and accurate quantification can be performed for compounds A, B and C in the linear working concentration range of 1-10 µg/spot with good correlations (r(2) =0.9985, 0.9996 and 0.9992, respectively). The method was validated for peak purity, precision, robustness, limit of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) etc., as per the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Specificity of quantitation was confirmed using retention factor (R(f)) and spectra correlation of markers in standard and sample tracks. The method reported here is simple and reproducible which may be applied for quantitative analysis of above diterpenoids in the root bark of P. integrifolia.