Potential active constituents responsible for treating acute pharyngitis in the flowers of Hosta plantaginea (Lam.) Aschers and their pharmacokinetics.

In Asia, the flower of Hosta plantaginea (Lam.) Aschers (hosta flower) is both an edible food and medicine. The hosta flower is often used as a material for cooking porridge and scented tea and in combination with other plants for alleviating pharyngitis. To clarify the anti-pharyngitis effect of the hosta flower and evaluate its potential active ingredients, an ethanol extract of the hosta flower was prepared and partially purified via chromatography on a column packed with D101 macroporous resin, which was eluted with different concentrations of ethanol. The anti-pharyngitis effect of the crude extract and the various partially purified fractions was examined in an ammonia-induced acute pharyngitis rat model. The 30% ethanol-eluted fraction significantly alleviated the severity of pharyngitis in the rat, as evaluated by changes in the levels of cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) and histological changes in the pharynx tissues. Subsequent HPLC-QTOF/MS (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry) analysis of this fraction revealed kaempferol and its glycosides as the main components. Three of the main components were isolated and identified by 1D NMR. Their pharmacokinetics were studied for the first time by UHPLC-QQQ/MS (ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry). The findings suggested that the 30% ethanol-eluted fraction of the hosta flower extract may be a potential functional food for treating pharyngitis.

Inhibitory effects of phenolic glycosides from Trollius chinensis Bunge on α-glucosidase: inhibition kinetics and mechanisms.

Two undescribed phenolic glycosides, trochinenols B and C (1 and2), together with four known analogues (3-6), were isolated from the functional tea Trollius chinensis Bunge and their α-glucosidase inhibitory kinetics and mechanisms were investigated. It was found that 1 inhibited α-glucosidase in a noncompetitive manner with an IC50 value of 25.96 µM, while 3 showed a notable inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase in an uncompetitive manner with an IC50 value of 3.14 µM. Analysis of synchronous fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that the binding of 1 to α-glucosidase led to the rearrangement and conformational alteration of the α-glucosidase enzyme. Furthermore, molecular docking indicated that 1 had a high affinity close to the active site pocket of α-glucosidase and indirectly inhibited the catalytic activity of the enzyme. However, 3 was bound to the entrance part of the active center of α-glucosidase and could hinder the release of the substrate as well as the catalytic reaction product, eventually suppressing the catalytic activity of α-glucosidase.

Increase water solubility of Centella asiatica extract by indigenous bioenhancers could improve oral bioavailability and disposition kinetics of triterpenoid glycosides in beagle dogs.

A newly standardised extract of Centella asiatica (Centell-S) with better water solubility than the previous standardised extract of C. asiatica (ECa 233) was developed, and pharmacokinetic profiles of bioactive triterpenoids were investigated in beagle dogs. The test substances were administered via intravenous or oral administration with single and multiple doses for 7 days. The concentrations of major bioactive triterpenoids, including madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, and asiatic acid, in biological samples were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The dogs in this study showed good tolerability to all test substances, based on the physical appearance and blood chemistry 24 h after dosing. The major bioactive triterpenoids found in systemic blood circulation were madecassoside, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid; the concentration of these components ranged from 1 to 10,000 µg/L after intravenous administration of 1.0 mg/kg Centell-S. Oral administration of 10 and 20 mg/kg Centell-S generated approximately twofold higher plasma levels of both madecassoside and asiaticoside compared with equivalent doses of ECa 233. In addition, there was an accumulation of triterpenoid glycosides after multiple oral administrations of Centell-S for 7 days, while triterpenic acids showed little tendency for accumulation. Beagles had good tolerability to both standardised extracts of C. asiatica, and showed a similar pattern of bioactive triterpenoids to humans. Centell-S increased oral bioavailability of major triterpenoid glycosides and can be further developed into a phytopharmaceutical product.

Total Sesquiterpene Glycosides from Loquat Leaves Ameliorate HFD-Induced Insulin Resistance by Modulating IRS-1/GLUT4, TRPV1, and SIRT6/Nrf2 Signaling Pathways.

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.), a subtropical fruit tree native to Asia, is not only known to be nutritive but also beneficial for the treatment of diabetes in the south of China. To expand its development, this study was undertaken concerning the potential therapeutic role of total sesquiterpene glycosides (TSGs) from loquat leaves in insulin resistance (IR), the major causative factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Male C57BL/6 mice were fed on high-fat diet (HFD) to induce IR and then were given TSG by oral administration at 25 and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively. TSG notably improved metabolic parameters including body weight, serum glucose, and insulin levels and prevented hepatic injury. Moreover, inflammatory response and oxidative stress were found to be remarkably alleviated in IR mice with TSG supplement. Further research in liver of IR mice demonstrated that TSG repaired the signalings of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1)/glucose transporter member 4 (GLUT4) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which improved glucose and lipid metabolism and prevented lipid accumulation in liver. It was also observed that TSG suppressed the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), whereas the signaling pathway of sirtuin-6 (SIRT6)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was significantly promoted. Based on the results, the current study demonstrated that TSG from loquat leaves potentially ameliorated IR in vivo by enhancing IRS-1/GLUT4 signaling and AMPK activation and modulating TRPV1 and SIRT6/Nrf2 signaling pathways.

Development and Validation of a UPLC-MS/MS Method for the Quantitative Determination and Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Cirsimarin in Rat Plasma.

Cirsimarin is a bioactive antilipogenic flavonoid isolated from the cotyledons of Abrus precatorius and represents one of the most abundant flavonoids present in this plant species. Cirsimarin exhibits excellent antioxidant, lipolysis, and other biological properties; it can effectively trigger lipid movement and demonstrates antiobesity effects. In this work, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of cirsimarin in rat plasma after intravenous administration. A standard curve of cirsimarin in blank rat plasma was generated over the concentration range of 1-3000 ng/mL. Six rats were administered cirsimarin intravenously (1 mg/kg). The method only required 50 µL of plasma for sample preparation, and the plasma proteins were precipitated with acetonitrile to pretreat the plasma sample. The precisions of cirsimarin in rat plasma were less than 14%, while the accuracies varied between 92.5% and 107.3%. In addition, the matrix effect varied between 103.6% and 107.4%, while the recoveries were greater than 84.2%. This UPLC-MS/MS method was then applied in measuring the pharmacokinetics of cirsimarin in rats. The AUC(0-t) values of cirsimarin from the pharmacokinetic analysis were 1068.2 ± 359.2 ng/mL·h for intravenous administration. The half-life (t 1/2) was 1.1 ± 0.4 h (intravenous), indicating that the metabolism of the compound was quick in the rats. Exploring the pharmacokinetics of cirsimarin in vivo can help better understand its metabolism.

A review of pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties of Forsythiaside A.

Traditional Chinese medicine plays a significant role in the treatment of various diseases and has attracted increasing attention for clinical applications. Forsythiae Fructus, the dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl, is a widely used Chinese medicinal herb in clinic for its extensive pharmacological activities. Forsythiaside A is the main active index component isolated from Forsythiae Fructus and possesses prominent bioactivities. Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that Forsythiaside A exhibits significant activities in treating various diseases, including inflammation, virus infection, neurodegeneration, oxidative stress, liver injury, and bacterial infection. In this review, the pharmacological activities of Forsythiaside A have been comprehensively reviewed and summarized. According to the data, Forsythiaside A shows remarkable anti-inflammation, antivirus, neuroprotection, antioxidant, hepatoprotection, and antibacterial activities through regulating multiple signaling transduction pathways such as NF-κB, MAPK, JAK/STAT, Nrf2, RLRs, TRAF, TLR7, and ER stress. In addition, the toxicity and pharmacokinetic properties of Forsythiaside A are also discussed in this review, thus providing a solid foundation and evidence for further studies to explore novel effective drugs from Chinese medicine monomers.

Multiple component-pharmacokinetic studies on 10 bioactive constituents of Peiyuan Tongnao capsule using parallel reaction monitoring mode.

Peiyuan Tongnao capsule (PTC) plays an important role in clinical application due to its excellent curative efficacy in the treatment of ischemic stroke and chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency. To standardize and rationalize the clinical application of PTC, a rapid and sensitive method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry with parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) mode was developed and validated for the pharmacokinetic (PK) study. Ten bioactive compounds (aucubin, salidroside, echinacoside, paeoniflorin, verbascoside, liquiritin, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-ß-d-glucoside, coumarin, glycyrrhizic acid, and emodin) were simultaneously determined in rat plasma. All calibration curves exhibited good linearity (r2 > 0.99). The lower limits of quantification were 0.082-13.291 ng mL-1 . The intra- and inter-day precision was 0.54-12.36%, whereas the intra- and inter-day accuracy ranged from 100.45 to 114.00%. The mean extraction recoveries were 81.77-117.66%, and the average matrix effects (MEs) were 86.23-109.96%. The high extraction recoveries and acceptable MEs indicated that the pretreatment method was feasible. And the stability was acceptable under various storage conditions and processing procedures. The validated method was successfully applied to the multiple components-PK studies, which lay the foundation for further pharmacological and clinical research of PTC and may provide a reference for other traditional Chinese medicines.

Inhibitory effects of Coptidis Rhizoma on the intestinal absorption and metabolism of Scutellariae Radix.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Scutellariae Radix (SR) and Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) herb couple is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for the treatment of diabetes mellitus due to its interaction and synergistic effect compared to either herb alone, but the underlying mechanism of interaction between these herbs is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CR on the metabolism and absorption of SR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After rats were treated with normal saline (NS group) or the CR extract (CR-treated group) for seven consecutive days, the intestinal flora was extracted from rat faeces for a co-incubation with the SR extract to investigate the metabolism of SR flavonoids, and a non-everted gut sac was prepared in vitro to evaluate the intestinal absorption of the SR extract. The components of the SR extract, the metabolites of the SR extract that was co-incubated with intestinal flora, and the dialysate acquired from non-everted gut sacs were identified and determined by an HPLC-MS/MS method. The absorption rate constant (Ka) and the apparent permeability (Papp) of each compound were calculated, and the effects of CR on the metabolism and absorption of flavonoids in SR were evaluated, by comparison the Ka and Papp between two groups using Student's t-test. RESULTS: Twenty-nine flavonoids were detected and identified in the SR extract, including 16 glycosides and 13 aglycones. In the co-incubation with the intestinal flora, differences in metabolite classes were not observed between the NS group and CR-treated group; however, the metabolic rates of 17 flavonoids in the CR-treated group were significantly higher than the NS group. The Papp of 11 compounds (4 glycosides and 7 aglycones) across the gut sac were greater than 2 × 10-5 cm/s in both groups, while the Papp values of 7 compounds including wogonoside (WG) and other aglycones were significantly decreased in the CR-treated group. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, CR decreased the metabolism and absorption of SR flavonoids, and exerted much greater inhibitory effects on aglycones than glycosides, which may be one of the potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of the combination of SR and CR on diabetes mellitus.

Distributions of eight bioactive components in rat tissues administered Marsdenia tenacissima extract orally detected through UPLC-MS/MS.

Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Wight et Arn. (M. tenacissima) is considered an anticancer medicine in traditional Chinese medicine, which is extensively used in clinical application since it has great therapeutic effects. Currently, although a number of articles have examined M. tenacissima in terms of its pharmacology and quality control, few have investigated the in vivo mechanism of M. tenacissima active ingredients. Previously, we have studied the pharmacokinetics of eight active ingredients after oral administration of M. tenacissima extracts in rat plasma. This study constructed a new scientific ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) approach to simultaneously quantify the contents of tenacissosides B, G, H and I, cryptochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid and caffeic acid in rats orally administered M. tenacissima extract. The proposed approach was successfully used for investigating the distributions of those eight analytes in rat tissues, with digoxin being used as an internal control. The Eclipse Plus C18 RRHD column was used for determination at a column temperature of 30°C. The mobile phase system consisted of acetonitrile and water (supplemented with 0.1% formic acid) under optimal gradient elution conditions. Afterwards, this approach was validated according to the requirements for the analysis of biological samples developed by the US Food and Drug Administration, including precision, accuracy, stability and matrix effects. Based on tissue distribution analysis, those eight analytes showed rapid distribution within all the tested tissues. With regard to organic acid distribution, it followed the order stomach > liver > kidney > small intestine > lung > spleen > heart, whereas the four steroids followed the order stomach > lung > spleen > small intestine > liver > kidney > heart. The present study lays the theoretical foundation for the use and development of M. tenacissima in clinical practice.

Pharmacokinetic Study of Thirteen Ingredients after the Oral Administration of Flos Chrysanthemi Extract in Rats by UPLC-MS/MS.

A rapid and reliable UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of thirteen bioactive compounds (luteolin, cynaroside, luteolin 7-O-glucuronide, isochlorogenic acid C, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, apigenin, apigenin 7-glucoside, acacetin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, tilianin, and hesperidin) in rat plasma. The compounds were separated on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 µm) with a gradient mobile phase system of acetonitrile and 0.1% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. All compounds were quantitated using Agilent Jet Stream electrospray ionization (AJS ESI) in a negative ion mode. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for all compounds was below 5 ng/mL. The intra- and interday accuracy ranged from -13.0% to 14.0%, and precisions were less than 12.2%. The extraction recoveries of the compounds were in the range of 56.9% to 95.0%, and the matrix effect ranged between 71.6% and 109.3%. Stability studies proved that the thirteen compounds were stable under tested conditions, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 11.4%. This developed method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of the 13 bioactive compounds after oral administration of Flos Chrysanthemi extract in rat by UPLC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic parameters of 8 out of the 13 compounds investigated are presented in this paper.

Development of a sensitive and rapid UHPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of nine compounds in rat plasma and application in a comparative pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction and nimodipine.

Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription used for the clinical treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose of this work was to develop a sensitive and rapid UHPLC-MS/MS method to simultaneously study the pharmacokinetics of nimodipine and eight components of XFZYD, namely, amygdalin, hydroxysafflor yellow A, rutin, liquiritin, narirutin, naringin, neohesperidin and saikosaponin A, in rats with and without TBI. Multiple reaction monitoring was highly selective in the detection of nine analytes and the internal standard without obvious interference. The calibration curves displayed good linearity (r > 0.99) over a wide concentration range. The mean absolute recoveries of the nine analytes were 85-106%, and all matrix effects were in the range 80-120%. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were acceptable (RSD, <15%; RE%, ±20%). The validated method was successfully applied to compare the pharmacokinetics in four experimental groups, including control rats orally administered XFZYD and TBI model rats orally administered XFZYD, XFZYD and nimodipine, or nimodipine alone. The results showed that herb-drug interactions occurred between XFZYD and nimodipine in the treatment of TBI, nimodipine affected the pharmacokinetics of XFZYD, and XFZYD affected the absorption, distribution and excretion of nimodipine in vivo.

Odiparcil, a potential glycosaminoglycans clearance therapy in mucopolysaccharidosis VI-Evidence from in vitro and in vivo models.

Mucopolysaccharidoses are a class of lysosomal storage diseases, characterized by enzymatic deficiency in the degradation of specific glycosaminoglycans (GAG). Pathological accumulation of excess GAG leads to multiple clinical symptoms with systemic character, most severely affecting bones, muscles and connective tissues. Current therapies include periodic intravenous infusion of supplementary recombinant enzyme (Enzyme Replacement Therapy-ERT) or bone marrow transplantation. However, ERT has limited efficacy due to poor penetration in some organs and tissues. Here, we investigated the potential of the ß-D-xyloside derivative odiparcil as an oral GAG clearance therapy for Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI, MPS VI). In vitro, in bovine aortic endothelial cells, odiparcil stimulated the secretion of sulphated GAG into culture media, mainly of chondroitin sulphate (CS) /dermatan sulphate (DS) type. Efficacy of odiparcil in reducing intracellular GAG content was investigated in skin fibroblasts from MPS VI patients where odiparcil was shown to reduce efficiently the accumulation of intracellular CS with an EC50 in the range of 1 µM. In vivo, in wild type rats, after oral administrations, odiparcil was well distributed, achieving µM concentrations in MPS VI disease-relevant tissues and organs (bone, cartilage, heart and cornea). In MPS VI Arylsulphatase B deficient mice (Arsb-), after chronic oral administration, odiparcil consistently stimulated the urinary excretion of sulphated GAG throughout the treatment period and significantly reduced tissue GAG accumulation in liver and kidney. Furthermore, odiparcil diminished the pathological cartilage thickening observed in trachea and femoral growth plates of MPS VI mice. The therapeutic efficacy of odiparcil was similar in models of early (treatment starting in juvenile, 4 weeks old mice) or established disease (treatment starting in adult, 3 months old mice). Our data demonstrate that odiparcil effectively diverts the synthesis of cellular glycosaminoglycans into secreted soluble species and this effect can be used for reducing cellular and tissue GAG accumulation in MPS VI models. Therefore, our data reveal the potential of odiparcil as an oral GAG clearance therapy for MPS VI patients.

Pharmacokinetic interaction of Forsythia suspensa extract and azithromycin injection after single and co-intravenous administration in rats.

Azithromycin and Chinese medicine forsythia are often used together to treat pediatric mycoplasma infections in China. We aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic interaction of Forsythia suspensa extract and azithromycin after single and co-intravenous administration in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received single (Forsythia suspensa extract or azithromycin) treatment or co-administration of Forsythia suspensa extract and azithromycin. Blood samples were collected at scheduled times, and drug concentrations were determined by HPLC-UV or HPLC-MS/MS methods. Both non-compartmental analyses and nonlinear mixed-effects modeling approaches were applied to fit pharmacokinetic data and evaluate the impact of co-administration. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that the area under the curve of azithromycin and forsythiaside increased, and clearance decreased significantly (P < 0.05), after co-administration. The in vivo behavior of both azithromycin and forsythiaside could be appropriately described by the two-compartmental model. The final population pharmacokinetic model indicated that co-administration decreased the central volume of azithromycin and forsythiaside clearance significantly. Co-administration of Forsythia suspensa extract and azithromycin significantly decreased the clearance and increased exposure for both drugs. Pharmacokinetic data suggest that drug co-administration may increase efficiency.

Identification of prototypes from Ligustri Lucidi Fructus in rat plasma based on a data-dependent acquisition and multicomponent pharmacokinetic study.

The identification and quantization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are a challenge for researchers and industry. Using untargeted analytical methods, the in vivo detection and identification of TCM compounds are difficult because of the significant interference of endogenous substances. Fortunately, the ongoing development of new analytical technologies, especially Q-Orbitrap-MS, offers some solutions. Our team developed a holistic MS method, combining untargeted data-dependent MS2 (dd-MS2 ) modes to extensively identify TCM prototypes in vivo. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (LLF). LLF is a widely used TCM with a remarkable nourishing effect on the liver and kidney. In the study, we aimed to identify the prototypes in rat plasma after oral administration of LLF extract. Following separation on an HSS T3 column, LLF extract and rat plasma were performed in untargeted dd-MS2 mode. Forty-seven compounds were characterized in rats plasma as prototypes of LLF extract. Furthermore, seven major prototypes were chosen as pharmacokinetic markers to investigate LLF's pharmacokinetic properties. The results provides comprehensive determination of compounds in LLF both in vitro and in vivo, which is important for quality control, pharmacology studies and clinical use of LLF.

Simultaneous Quantification of Four Phenylethanoid Glycosides in Rat Plasma by UPLC-MS/MS and Its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study of Acanthus Ilicifolius Herb.

Acanthus ilicifolius herb (AIH), the dry plant of Acanthus ilicifolius L., has long been used as a folk medicine for treating acute and chronic hepatitis. Phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) are one family of the main components in AIH with hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, the pharmacokinetics of AIH was investigated preliminarily by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). A simultaneously quantitative determination method for four PhGs (acteoside, isoacteoside, martynoside, and crenatoside) in rat plasma was first established by UPLC-MS/MS. These four PhGs were separated with an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 µm) by gradient elution (mobile phase: MeCN and 0.1% formic acid in water, 0.4 mL/min). The mass spectrometry detection was performed using negative electrospray ionization (ESI-) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. By the established method, the preliminary pharmacokinetics of AIH was elucidated using the kinetic parameters of the four PhGs in rat plasma after intragastric administration of AIH ethanol extract. All four PhGs showed double peaks on concentration-time curves, approximately at 0.5 h and 6 h, respectively. Their elimination half-lives (t1/2) were different, ranging from 3.42 h to 8.99 h, although they shared similar molecular structures. This work may provide a basis for the elucidation of the pharmacokinetic characteristics of bioactive components from AIH.

Pharmacokinetic of gastrodigenin rhamnopyranoside from Moringa seeds in rodents.

Gastrodigenin rhamnopyranoside (GR) is a hepatoprotective compound that exists in Moringa oleifera seeds. However, the UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of GR (in-vitro/in-vivo) is lacking clarification. Herein, this study established the UPLC-MS/MS technique, which was effective and sensitive for the investigation of the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of GR in rats and mice. The separation was achieved with a Shim-pack XR-ODS III C18 column (2.0 × 75 mm, 1.6 µm) at 40 °C, while the mobile phase (Acetonitrile/0.1% Formic acid =12:82, v/v) was at an eluting rate of 0.2 mL/min. The Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) was selected for quantification, i.e., m/z [M + HCOO]- 314.9 → 269 for GR and m/z [M + HCOO] - 182.85 → 137 for Tyrosol as the internal standard. The calibration curves were linearly ranged from 10 to 2500 ng/mL (r ≥ 0.999) with a lower-limit-of-quantification (LLOQ) of 10 ng/mL in the various biological samples (plasma, liver, heart, lung, spleen, brain, kidney). The intra- and inter-day precision was within 5%, while accuracy ranged from -11.4% - 8.33%. Recovery and matrix effect were with 80.32 to 101.31% and 90.36 to 103.76%, respectively, in a reasonable range. After oral and intravenous administration, GR was detected within 3 h but decreased rapidly in plasma, indicating fast elimination. Also, GR was quickly distributed in the various tissues, particularly in the kidney and spleen. The results demonstrated that the established UPLC-MS/MS method was highly linear, precise and accurate with the potential to be used for the quantitative analysis of GR in-vivo.

MSG-10: a Phase 2 study of oral ibrexafungerp (SCY-078) following initial echinocandin therapy in non-neutropenic patients with invasive candidiasis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of two dosing regimens of oral ibrexafungerp (formerly SCY-078), a novel orally bioavailable ß-glucan synthase inhibitor, in subjects with invasive candidiasis versus the standard of care (SOC) and to identify the dose to achieve target exposure (15.4 µM·h) in >80% of the intended population. METHODS: In a multinational, open-label study, patients with documented invasive candidiasis were randomized to receive step-down therapy to one of three treatment arms: two dosing regimens of novel oral ibrexafungerp or the SOC treatment following initial echinocandin therapy. Plasma samples were collected to evaluate exposure by population pharmacokinetic (PK) modelling. Safety was assessed throughout the study and global response at the end of treatment. RESULTS: Out of 27 subjects enrolled, 7 received ibrexafungerp 500 mg, 7 received ibrexafungerp 750 mg and 8 received the SOC. Five did not meet criteria for randomization. Population PK analysis indicated that an ibrexafungerp 750 mg regimen is predicted to achieve the target exposure in ∼85% of the population. The rate of adverse events was similar among patients receiving ibrexafungerp or fluconazole. Similar favourable response rates were reported among all groups: 86% (n = 6) in the ibrexafungerp 750 mg versus 71% (n = 5) in both the fluconazole and ibrexafungerp 500 mg treatment arms. The one subject treated with continued micafungin had a favourable global response. CONCLUSIONS: The oral ibrexafungerp dose estimated to achieve the target exposure in subjects with invasive candidiasis is 750 mg daily. This dose was well tolerated and achieved a favourable global response rate, similar to the SOC.

Rapid identification and analysis of the active components of traditional Chinese medicine Xiaoxuming decoction for ischemic stroke treatment by integrating UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and RRLC-QTRAP MSn method.

Xiaoxuming decoction (XXMD) is a key Chinese medicine prescription, which has been clinically used for stroke treatment for thousands of years in ancient China. The extracted active fraction of XXMD (AF-XXMD) contains almost pharmacological active components with anti-cerebral ischemic effects. However, the illumination of its complex ingredients remains challenging. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS) and rapid resolution liquid chromatography-triple quad linear ion trap mass spectrometry (RRLC-QTRAP MSn) methods were developed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of AF-XXMD, respectively. Data showed that 48 compounds were identified in AF-XXMD by using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, including 14 alkaloids, 14 flavonoids, 12 triterpenoids, 3 chromones, 3 monoterpenes, 1 cyanide glycoside, and 1 volatile oil. Among them, 38 components were unambiguously characterized by their reference standards. A total of 15 compounds in AF-XXMD were first reported. Additionally, 33 compounds were quantified by using RRLC-QTRAP MSn in AF-XXMD. This developed RRLC-QTRAP MSn method provides an adequate linearity (r2 > 0.99) and intrabatch and interbatch variations (RSD < 15%), with recovery (60.3%-107.5%) of 33 compounds concerned. The total content of 33 compounds in AF-XXMD reached 31.53%. The high total contents of compounds of Xing Ren, Shao Yao, and Huang Qin in AF-XXMD were 9.52%, 8.85%, and 7.62%, respectively. The data further showed that cyanophoric glycosides, monoterpenes, and flavonoids were the three most abundant components in AF-XXMD. Results provide advantageous information for the comprehensive study of the pharmacokinetic features and pharmacological mechanisms of AF-XXMD.

Memory Enhancement by Oral Administration of Extract of Eleutherococcus senticosus Leaves and Active Compounds Transferred in the Brain.

The pharmacological properties of Eleutherococcus senticosus leaf have not been clarified although it is taken as a food item. In this study, the effects of water extract of Eleutherococcus senticosus leaves on memory function were investigated in normal mice. Oral administration of the extract for 17 days significantly enhanced object recognition memory. Compounds absorbed in blood and the brain after oral administration of the leaf extract were detected by LC-MS/MS analyses. Primarily detected compounds in plasma and the cerebral cortex were ciwujianoside C3, eleutheroside M, ciwujianoside B, and ciwujianoside A1. Pure compounds except for ciwujianoside A1 were administered orally for 17 days to normal mice. Ciwujianoside C3, eleutheroside M, and ciwujianoside B significantly enhanced object recognition memory. These results demonstrated that oral administration of the leaf extract of E. senticosus enhances memory function, and that active ingredients in the extract, such as ciwujianoside C3, eleutheroside M, and ciwujianoside B, were able to penetrate and work in the brain. Those three compounds as well as the leaf extract had dendrite extension activity against primary cultured cortical neurons. The effect might relate to memory enhancement.

Pharmacokinetic study on bruceoside A revealed the potential role of quassinoid glycosides for the anticancer properties of Fructus Bruceae.

Bruceoside A, an abundant quassinoid glycoside in Fructus Bruceae, was chosen for the pharmacokinetic study. It is the first case report on the pharmacokinetic study of quassinoid glycosides so far. A sensitive, accurate, and repeatable UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of bruceoside A and its major metabolite. The results showed bruceoside A could be transformed into the potent anticancer component brusatol in vivo, rather than its direct deglycosylated metabolite bruceosin. And the intestinal bacteria were proposed to take a potential role during such transformation. Based on the present study, it could be concluded that the quassinoid glycosides possessing weak activities in vitro could do contribution to the anticancer properties of Fructus Bruceae in vivo via transforming into more active metabolites.