Recent advances in the assessment of the antioxidant capacity of pharmaceutical drugs: from in vitro to in vivo evidence.

In this review, some well-established assays and more recent markers developed for the understanding of the biological activity of pharmaceutical drugs belonging to different pharmacological classes (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cardiovascular drugs, and central-nervous-system-acting drugs) are considered. The results of in vitro studies are reviewed and critically compared with those available from clinical trials, and their relevance for the elucidation of the mechanism of action of the drugs is discussed. Although from this examination a positive correlation between the in vitro and in vivo data seems to emerge, the small number of clinical trials available, their low number of patients enrolled, and sometimes the arbitrary or inappropriate choice of the biomarker(s) used highlight the need for (1) more standardized protocols to allow a reliable comparison of the results from different studies and (2) the development of new and more appropriate and specific biomarkers for the evaluation of oxidative stress before and after drug intervention.

Anti-ischemic activity and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effect of hydrolysable tannins from the leaves of Rhus coriaria (Sumac) in isolated rabbit heart and thoracic aorta.

The aim of this work was to investigate the cardioprotective activity of hydrolysable gallotannins from Rhus coriaria L. leaves extract (RCLE) in isolated rabbit heart preparations, submitted to low-flow ischemia/reperfusion damage. RCLE induces a dose-dependent normalization of coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), reducing left ventricular contracture during ischemia, and improving left ventricular developed pressure and the maximum rate of rise and fall of left ventricular pressure at reperfusion. Creatinine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) outflow were significantly reduced during reperfusion. In parallel there was a rise in the release of the cytoprotective 6-ketoprostaglandin F (1alpha) (6-keto-PGF (1alpha)) and a decrease of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), both significant only at the highest RCLE concentrations (150-500 microg/mL). The vasorelaxant activity of RCLE was studied in isolated rabbit aorta rings precontracted with norepinephrine (NE) with and without endothelium. The vasorelaxation induced by RCLE was predominantly endothelium-dependent as demonstrated by the loss of RCLE vasorelaxant ability in i) de-endothelized rings and ii) in intact aortic rings after pretreatment with NG-monomethyl- L-arginine (L-NMMA) and 1 H-[1.2.4]oxadiazolo[4.3- A]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ). The inhibition of vasorelaxation in intact rings by indomethacin (INDO) demonstrates the ability of RCLE to modulate the coronary endothelium cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway. The K-ATP channel antagonist glibenclamide (GLIB) was ineffective. The antioxidant activity of RCLE, investigated in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) model and in living cell systems (rat erythrocytes), was stronger than that of gallic acid, ascorbic acid and trolox. The structure of its main bioactive constituents, profiled by HPLC-ESI-HR-S, comprised a mixture of polygalloylated D-glucopyranose with different degrees of galloylation and 3- O-methylgallic acid. The cardiovascular protective effect of RCLE seems to be due to an interplay of different factors: COX pathway activation, TNF-alpha inhibition, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation, and free radical and ROS scavenging.

A tandem MS precursor-ion scan approach to identify variable covalent modification of albumin Cys34: a new tool for studying vascular carbonylation.

We developed a liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation multi-stage mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) approach based on precursor-ion scanning and evaluated it to characterize the covalent modifications of Cys34 human serum albumin (HSA) caused by oxidative stress and reactive carbonyl species (RCS) adduction. HSA was isolated and digested enzymatically to generate a suitable-length peptide (LQQCPF) containing the modified tag residue. The resulting LQQCPF peptides were identified by LC-ESI-MS/MS in precursor-ion scan mode and further characterized in product-ion scan mode. The product ions for precursor-ion scanning were selected by studying the MS/MS fragmentation of a series of LQQCPF derivatives containing Cys34 modified with different alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and di and ketoaldehydes. We used a Boolean logic to enhance the specificity of the method: this reconstitutes a virtual current trace (vCT) showing the peaks in the three precursor-ion scans, marked by the same parent ion. The method was first evaluated to identify and characterize the Cys34 covalent adducts of HSA incubated with 4-hydroxy-hexenal, 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE) and acrolein (ACR). Then we studied the Cys34 modification of human plasma incubated with mildly oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and the method easily identified the LQQCPF adducts with HNE and ACR. In other experiments, plasma was oxidized by 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) HCl (AAPH) or by Fe2+/H2O2. In both conditions, the sulfinic derivative of LQQCPF was identified and characterized, indicating that the method is suitable not only for studying RCS-modified albumin, but also to check the oxidative state of Cys34 as a marker of oxidative damage.

Quenching of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes by green tea polyphenols: HPLC-ESI-MS/MS studies.

The aim of this work was to investigate in vitro the quenching activity of green tea polyphenols against alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde, using 4-hydroxy-nonenal (HNE) as prototype and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS techniques. HNE is the most abundant and genotoxic product of oxidation of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, and is believed to be involved in the early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis on account of its genotoxic potential. Both epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, 1.0-3.5mM), the main constituent of green tea polyphenols, and a green tea aqueous extract are able to quench HNE (50 microM) in colorectal physiomimetic conditions (10mM phosphate buffer, pH 8.0, 37 degrees C), giving rise to the formation of six diastereomeric covalent adducts at the ring A of EGCG, as indicated by their ESI-MS/MS fragmentation pathways. The specificity of the adduction positions was explained by (1)H NMR experiments. HNE quenching is pH-dependent and maximum at pH 8.0. ESI-MS analysis showed no formation of 4-hydroxy-2,3-epoxy-nonanal, or adduction of the epoxide to EGCG. This implies that too little hydrogen peroxide (1mM, 24h incubation, FOX-2 method) develops from auto-oxidation of EGCG in our aerobic experimental conditions to oxidize HNE to its corresponding epoxide, so this mechanism is not responsible for the compound's disappearance. EGCG and green tea extract also quenched acrolein, another genotoxic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde, giving one predominant adduct and minor isobaric species, probably due the adduction of acrolein at different positions of the EGCG ring A. These results suggest that EGCG and green tea extract, beside the proposed mechanisms of chemoprevention that target multiple cell-signaling pathways that control cell proliferation and apoptosis in cancer cells, can also prevent protein carbonylation in the tumor tissue environment, depending on the pH of the medium surrounding the tissue, the type of tumor, the stage of dysregulation of lipid peroxidation and, finally, the stage of carcinoma development.

Non-covalent inclusion of ferulic acid with alpha-cyclodextrin improves photo-stability and delivery: NMR and modeling studies.

Ferulic acid (FA) is a highly effective antioxidant and photo-protective agent, already approved in Japan as a sunscreen, but it is poorly suited for cosmetic application because of its low physicochemical stability. We prepared the inclusion complex of FA with alpha-cyclodextrin by co-precipitation from an aqueous solution, and used (1)H NMR and molecular dynamics to investigate the most probable structure of the inclusion complex. In rotating frame nuclear Overhouser effect spectroscopy (ROESY) experiments FA penetrated the alpha-CD hydrophobic cavity with the alpha,beta-unsaturated part of the molecule and some of its aromatic skeleton. In proton chemical shift measurements of FA and alpha-cyclodextrins we determined the stoichiometry of the association complex (1:1) by Job's method, and its stability constant (K(1:1) 1162+/-140 M(-1)) and described the molecular dynamics of the complex on the basis of theoretical studies. Encapsulation with alpha-cyclodextrin improves (i) the chemical stability of FA against UVB stress (10 MED [Minimal Erythemal Dose: 1 MED=25 mJ/cm(2) for skin phototype II: 30]), since no degradation products are formed after irradiation, and (ii) the bioavailability of FA on the skin, slowing its delivery (Strainer cell model).

Analytical characterization of a ferulic acid/gamma-cyclodextrin inclusion complex.

Ferulic acid (FA) is a well-known antioxidant of natural source with promising properties as photoprotective agent (approved in Japan as sunscreen) and its derivatives (alkyl ferulates) are under screening for the prevention of photoinduced skin tumours. In the present work we describe the preparation of a solid inclusion complex between ferulic acid and gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) and its characterization by different analytical techniques: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) and by supporting information of molecular modelling. All these approaches indicate that ferulic acid is able to form an association complex with gamma-CD but only 1H NMR and molecular modelling studies give an unequivocal evidence that the antioxidant molecule is embedded into the gamma-CD cavity to form an inclusion complex. In detail it is entrapped inside the hydrophobic core of gamma-CD with the lipophilic aromatic ring and the ethylenic moieties, leaving the more polar functional groups close to wider rim or outside the cavity.

LC-ESI-MS/MS determination of 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal Michael adducts with cysteine and histidine-containing peptides as early markers of oxidative stress in excitable tissues.

A sensitive, selective, specific and rapid liquid chromatographic-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric assay was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination in skeletal muscle of the Michael adducts between 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE), one of the most reactive lipid peroxidation-driven unsaturated aldehyde, and glutathione (GSH) and the endogenous histidine-containing dipeptides carnosine (CAR) and anserine (ANS), with the final aim to use conjugated adducts as specific and unequivocal markers of lipid peroxidation. Samples (skeletal muscle homogenates from male rats) were prepared by protein precipitation with 1 vol. of a HClO(4) solution (4.2%; w/v) containing H-Tyr-His-OH as internal standard. The supernatant, diluted (1:1, v/v) in mobile phase, was separated on a Phenomenex Sinergy polar-RP column with a mobile phase of water-acetonitrile-heptafluorobutyric acid (9:1:0.01, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2 ml/min, with a run time of 12 min. Detection was on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an ESI interface operating in positive ionization mode. The acquisitions were in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using the following precursor-->product ion combinations: H-Tyr-His-OH (IS): m/z 319.2--> 156.5+301.6; GS-HNE: m/z 464.3--> 179.1+308.0; CAR-HNE: m/z 383.1--> 110.1+266.6; ANS-HNE: m/z 397.2--> 109.1+126.1. The method was validated over the concentration ranges 1.5-90 (GS-HNE) and 0.4-40 (CAR-HNE, ANS-HNE) nmoles/g wet tissue, and the LLOQ were 1.25 and 0.33 pmoles injected respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions (CV%) were <7.38% (

Carnosine and related dipeptides as quenchers of reactive carbonyl species: from structural studies to therapeutic perspectives.

Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) and related peptides such as homocarnosine (gamma-amino-butyryl-histidine), balenine beta-alanyl-L-3-methylhistidine) and anserine beta-alanyl-L-1-methylhistidine) are histidine-containing dipeptides (HD) particularly abundant in excitable tissues such as nervous system and skeletal muscle. Although their biochemical role is still unknown, several evidences indicate that these endogenous compounds act as quenchers of reactive and cytotoxic carbonyl species. In this presentation we will review the structural evidences and ex vivo data supporting this hypothesis. We first elucidated the reaction mechanism of carnosine as quencher of alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehydes such as 4-hydroxy-trans-2,3-nonenal (HNE) and acrolein (ACR) and then demonstrated the efficacy of carnosine and related peptides as detoxifying agents of HNE in spontaneously oxidized rat skeletal muscle, by detecting the corresponding HNE-Michael adducts in the crude biological matrix by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Finally, we set-up and validated a sensitive, selective and specific LC-ESI-MS/MS method for the determination of HD and of the corresponding HNE-Michael adducts to monitor their profile in physiological (aging) and pathological conditions (diabetes, atherosclerosis) characterized by a carbonyl-mediated degenerative overload. The results obtained, beside to give a contribution to the understanding of the biochemical role of histidine-dipeptides, provide a strong rational to the design of novel derivatives, active as exogenous agents able to detoxify carbonyl compounds.

Acrolein-sequestering ability of endogenous dipeptides: characterization of carnosine and homocarnosine/acrolein adducts by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Acrolein (ACR), the carbonyl toxin produced by lipid peroxidation, is significantly increased in Alzheimer's disease brain. Since ACR is one of the most reactive and neurotoxic aldehydes, and human brain contains both carnosine (beta-alanine-L-histidine) and homocarnosine (gamma-aminobutyryl-L-histidine), the aim of this work was first to evaluate the quenching ability of the two peptides towards ACR and then to characterize their reaction products by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS; infusion experiments; positive-ion mode). The reaction progress of ACR with carnosine or homocarnosine was studied in phosphate buffer, by monitoring ACR consumption (by reverse-phase LC) and formation of the reaction products by ESI-MS/MS at different incubation times. N-Acetylcarnosine was used as reference compound to identify the sites of reaction. Both the dipeptides were able to quench ACR by almost 60% at 1 h and by more than 85% after 3 h incubation. Different reaction products between ACR and carnosine/homocarnosine were detected after 3 and 24 h, to indicate a complex reaction pathway involving sequential addition of 1, 2 and 3 moles of ACR/mole of the dipeptide to both the beta-alanine and histidine residues. The ESI mass spectra of ACR/carnosine reaction mixtures indicate formation of several molecular species, among which the predominant are: (a) the 14-membered macrocyclic derivatives, deriving from the formation of the iminic bond between the terminal amino group followed by intramolecular Michael addition of the C(3) of the ACR moiety to histidine; (b) the N(beta)-(3-formyl-3,4-dehydropiperidino) derivatives arising from the Michael addition of two acrolein molecules to the amino group of beta-alanine, followed by an aldol condensation and dehydration.The reaction of homocarnosine with ACR follows the same pathway, giving rise to the formation of homologous adducts. The results of this study shed light on the mechanism, until now never demonstrated, through which carnosine and homocarnosine detoxify the highly reactive aldehyde acrolein in a buffer system, and represent the starting point for further studies aimed at elucidating the biological role of these dipeptides in brain.

Procyanidins from grape seeds protect endothelial cells from peroxynitrite damage and enhance endothelium-dependent relaxation in human artery: new evidences for cardio-protection.

The peroxynitrite scavenging ability of Procyanidins from Vitis vinifera L. seeds was studied in homogeneous solution and in human umbilical endothelial cells (EA.hy926 cell line) using 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) as peroxynitrite generator. In homogeneous phase procyanidins dose-dependently inhibited 2',7'-dichloro-dihydrofluorescein (DCFH) oxidation induced by SIN-1 with an IC50 value of 0.28 microM. When endothelial cells (EC) were exposed to 5 mM SIN-1, marked morphological alterations indicating a necrotic cell death (cell viability reduced to 16 +/- 2.5%) were observed. Cell damage was suppressed by procyanidins, with a minimal effective concentration of 1 microM (cell morphology and integrity completely recovered at 20 microM). Cellular localization of procyanidins in EC was confirmed using a new staining procedure and site-specific peroxyl radical inducers: AAPH and cumene hydroperoxide (CuOOH). Endothelial cells (EC) pre-incubated with procyanidins (20 microM) and exposed to FeCl3/K3Fe(CN)6 showed a characteristic blue staining, index of a site-specific binding of procyanidins to EC. Procyanidins dose-dependently inhibit the AAPH induced lipid oxidation and reverse the consequent loss of cell viability, but were ineffective when oxidation was driven at intracellular level (CuOOH). This demonstrates that the protective effect is due to their specific binding to the outer surface of EC thus to quench exogenous harmful radicals. Procyanidins dose-dependently relaxed human internal mammary aortic (IMA) rings (with intact endothelium) pre-contracted with norepinephrine (NE), showing a maximal vasorelaxant effect (85 +/- 9%) at 50 microM (catechin: 18 +/- 2% relaxation at 50 microM). This effect was completely abolished when IMA-rings were de-endothelized and when IMA-rings with intact endothelium were pretreated with L-NMMA or with the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, ODQ. Pre-incubation with indomethacin reduces (by almost 50%) the vasodilating effect of procyanidins, indicating the involvement also of a COX-dependent mechanism. This was confirmed in another set of experiments, where procyanidins dose-dependently stimulate the prostacyclin (PGI2) release, reaching a plateau between 25 and 50 microM. Finally, pre-incubation of IMA-rings with procyanidins (from 6.25 to 25 microM) resulted in a dose-dependent prevention of the endothelin-1 (ET-1) vasoconstriction. The ability of procyanidins to prevent peroxynitrite attack to vascular cells, by layering on the surface of coronary EC, and to enhance endothelial NO-synthase-mediated relaxation in IMA rings provide further insight into the molecular mechanisms through which they exert cardioprotective activity in ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo.

Metabolic profile of NO-flurbiprofen (HCT1026) in rat brain and plasma: a LC-MS study.

Male rats were given the nitrooxybutyl ester of flurbiprofen HCT1026 (15 mg/Kg) by oral administration and plasma and brain levels of the parent drug and its potential metabolites (HCT1027 and flurbiprofen) were determined at different times post-administration by a validated HPLC method (UV-DAD detection; LOQ: 0.13 nmoles/ml and 0.3 nmoles/g respectively in plasma and brain tissue). Structural confirmation of the analytes was achieved by MS monitoring of their de-protonated (negative ion mode) or cationized/protonated (positive ion mode) molecular ions and of the relative fragment ions obtained by collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments. The results indicate that flurbiprofen is the only metabolite found at measurable levels in both plasma and brain, while HCT1026 or its de-nitrated metabolite HCT1027 were always below the limit of detection at all the observation times. The same was observed after administration of the higher dose of HCT1026 (100 mg/Kg, i.p.). In orally-treated animals the time-course of flurbiprofen formation strictly parallels that of NOx (nitrite/nitrate) in plasma but not in brain, where the levels were always in the range of the controls. These data indicate that the NO molecule is not released from the parent drug within the brain.

Antioxidant activity of ferulic acid alkyl esters in a heterophasic system: a mechanistic insight.

The antioxidant activity of some esters of ferulic acid with the linear fatty alcohols C7, C8 (branched and linear), C9, C11, C12, C13, C15, C16, and C18 has been studied in homogeneous and heterogeneous phases. Whereas in homogeneous phase all of the alkyl ferulates possessed similar radical-scavenging abilities, in rat liver microsomes they showed striking differences, the more effective being C12 (7) (IC50 = 11.03 M), linear C8 (3) (IC50 = 12.40 microM), C13 (8) (IC50 = 18.60 microM), and C9 (5) (IC50 = 19.74 microM), followed by C7 (2), C15 (9), C11 (6), branched C8 (4), C16 (10), and C18 (11) (ferulic acid was the less active, IC50 = 243.84 microM). All of the molecules showed similar partition coefficients in an octanol-buffer system. Three-dimensional studies (NMR in solution, modeling in vacuo) indicate that this behavior might be due to a different anchorage of the molecules with the ester side chain to the microsomal phospholipid bilayer and to a consequent different orientation/positioning of the scavenging phenoxy group outside the membrane surface against the flux of oxy radicals.

Chemiluminescence and LC-MS/MS analyses for the study of nitric oxide release and distribution following oral administration of nitroaspirin (NCX 4016) in healthy volunteers.

The metabolic fate of nitric oxide (NO) released from nitroaspirin, benzoic acid, 2-(acetyloxy)-3-[(nitrooxy)methyl]phenyl ester (NCX 4016), the lead compound of a new class of NO-releasing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NO-NSAIDs) has been studied in eight healthy male Caucasian subjects following p.o. administration of 1600 mg (single dose), by monitoring at different times in plasma the bioactive storage forms of NO, S-nitrosothiols (RSNO) and its oxidation products (NOx). Plasma levels of NOx and RSNO and urinary levels of NOx were determined by an ozone-based chemiluminescent assay using a sensitive Nitric Oxide Analyzer (LOQ: 10 pmol NO injected). In parallel plasma samples were analyzed by a newly developed LC-MS/MS method for analysis of NCX 4015, the metabolite bearing the nitrate ester function. Using MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in negative ion mode for NCX 4015 and the internal standard (NCX 4015- 13C-D2) it was possible to detect with sufficient accuracy and precision the metabolite in plasma with a quantification limit of 78.1 ng ml(-1). Concentration versus time profile of plasma NCX 4015 gave a Cmax value of 161.94 +/- 47.4 ng ml(-1) and a tmax 4.5 +/- 1 h. The results indicate that both NOx and RSNO (these last for the first time determined in vivo in man following oral administration of a NO-donor drug) are effective plasma markers of NO release in vivo, the latter being an earlier indicator of NO distribution (tmax 2.0 +/- 0.6 h versus 5.4 +/- 1.2 h).

Conformational analysis: a tool for the elucidation of the antioxidant properties of ferulic acid derivatives in membrane models.

With the aim to search and design more effective and safe antioxidant molecules to be used as functional ingredients in cosmetic formulations for UV protection, we evaluated the antioxidant/radical scavenging activities of ferulic acid and of some alkyl ferulates in both acellular and cellular systems. Ferulic acid esters, equipotent as antioxidant in homogeneous phase, showed when tested in membranous systems (rat liver microsomes, rat erythrocytes) marked differences in antioxidant potency. The n-C(12) derivative was the most potent, followed by n-C(8), n-C(16) and branched C(8), and then by ferulic acid. A conformational study carried out by NMR and modelling, indicates that the different antioxidant activity of ferulates in membrane models is due to the different spatial conformation and arrangement of the side chain of the molecule, which governs the access and binding to the phospholipid bilayer, the modality of orientation of the scavenging/quenching nucleus (phenol moiety), and hence the overall antioxidant potency of the derivative. These results emphasize the need of analytical studies (NMR and molecular modelling) addressed to the knowledge of the conformational parameters in combination with conventional antioxidant testings for understanding the antioxidant behaviour of a molecule in a biological membrane/system.

The human olfactory receptor 17-40: requisites for fitting into the binding pocket.

To gain structural insight on the interactions between odorants and the human olfactory receptor, we did homology modelling of the receptor structure, followed by molecular docking simulation with ligands. Molecular dynamics simulation on the structures resulting from docking served to estimate the binding free energy of the various odorant families. A correlation with the odorous properties of the ligands is proposed. We also investigated which residues were involved in the binding of a set of properly synthesised ligands and which were required for fitting inside the binding pocket. Olfactive stimulation of the olfactory receptor with odorous molecules was also investigated, using calcium imaging or electrophysiological recordings.

Screening of fibrillogenesis inhibitors of ß2-microglobulin: integrated strategies by mass spectrometry capillary electrophoresis and in silico simulations.

The challenging search of ligands for the amyloidogenic protein ß(2)-microglobulin led us to set up an integrated strategy that combines analytical techniques and molecular modelling. Using a chemical library composed of 90 sulphonated molecules and a novel MS screening approach, we initially single out a few new binders. To check for anti-amyloid activity, the best hit obtained was thoroughly studied by docking analysis, affinity and refolding experiments by capillary electrophoresis and in vitro fibrillogenesis Thioflavin T test. Correlative analysis of the overall results obtained from the MS screening led to develop an equation able to identify the key factors of the affinity for ß(2)-microglobulin and to predict the affinity for novel derivatives. The proposed equation was then used for a virtual screening of a large compound database. Studies on the new hit thus retrieved confirm the predictive potential of both the equation on affinity and of docking analysis on anti-amyloid activity.

A simplified screening procedure for determination of total N-NO groups (TNG) and nitrite (NO2-) in commercial low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) by selective chemical denitrosation followed by high-sensitivity chemiluminescence detection (NO-analyzer, NOA).

Aim of this work was to set up a method for the sensitive and selective determination of nitrite (NO(2)(-)) and total N-nitroso groups (TNG) in dalteparin and nadroparin, commercial low- molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), prepared by deaminative depolymerization of heparin with nitrous acid. The European Pharmacopoeia VI ed. indicates respectively 5 ppm as the maximum content for contaminant NO(2)(-) in the former and 0.25 ppm for TNG in the latter and no clear indication is given for N-NO groups in dalteparin, i.e. TNG must be absent because of the specific manufacturing process. The proposed technique is based on the development of a pre-analytical device, coupled to a chemiluminometer, constituted by three sequentially connected and commercially available purge vessels, where selective reagents are employed for the conversion of NO(2)(-) and N-NO to nitric oxide (NO). In detail, NO(2)(-) was determined in the first chamber and non-volatile and volatile TNG in the second and third. This method was validated for selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, accuracy and precision. The method was shown to be selective, with a quantitative linear range of 1-1000 ppb). The bias, intra- and inter-day percent relative error was lower than 1%. The contamination of NO(2)(-) and TNG in nadreparin was below the limits; for dalteparin NO(2)(-) fell within the limit, but there was a huge amount of TNG (15.80+/-0.05 ppm-6.69+/-0.02 ppm). Preliminary investigation on the solvent-extractable material from dalteparin showed the majority of chemiluminescence retained in the aqueous residue to indicate that this N-NO groups may belong to solvent unextractable material or be tightly bound to the dalteparin backbone.

Quinoline alkaloids in honey: further analytical (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS, multidimensional diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy), theoretical and chemometric studies.

The wound-healing properties of honey are well established and it has been suggested that, among its pharmaco-active constituents, kynurenic acid (KA) exerts antinociceptive action on injured tissue by antagonizing NMDA at peripheral GABA receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate the quantitative profile of KA and of two recently identified, structurally related derivatives, 3-pyrrolidinyl-kynurenic acid (3-PKA) and its gamma-lactamic derivative (gamma-LACT-3-PKA), by examining their mass spectrometric behavior, in honeys from different botanical sources. We used a combination of HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and NMR techniques (one-dimensional (1)H NMR and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy NMR). Chestnut honey constantly contained KA (2114.9-23 g/kg), 3-PKA (482.8-80 mg/kg) and gamma-LACT-3-PKA (845.8-32 mg/kg), confirming their reliability as markers of origin. A new metabolite, 4-quinolone (4-QUIN), was identified for the first time in one chestnut honey sample (743.4 mg/kg). Small amounts of KA were found in honeydew, sunflower, multifloral, almond and eucalyptus honeys, in the range of 23.1-143 mg/kg, suggesting contamination with chestnut honey. Total phenol content (TPC) was in the range from 194.9 to 1636.3 mg(GAE)/kg and total antiradical activity (TAA) from 61 to 940 mg/(GAE)/kg), depending on the botanical origin. Principal component analysis (PCA) was then done on these data. The three different clusters depicted: (i) antinociceptive activity from KA and/or its derivatives, typical of chestnut honey; (ii) antioxidant/radical scavenging activity by antioxidants responsible for the antiinflammatory action (dark honeys); (iii) peroxide-dependent antibacterial activity due to H(2)O(2) production by glucose oxidase in honey. The PCA findings provide useful indications for the dermatologist for the treatment of topical diseases, and the profiling of KA and its derivatives may shed light on new aspects of the kynurenine pathway involved in tryptophan metabolism.

Albumin is the main nucleophilic target of human plasma: a protective role against pro-atherogenic electrophilic reactive carbonyl species?

The aim of this work was to study the metabolic fate of 4-hydroxy- trans-2-nonenal (HNE) in human plasma, which represents the main vascular site of reactive carbonyl species (RCS) formation and where the main pro-atherogenic target proteins are formed. When HNE was spiked in human plasma, it rapidly disappeared (within 40 s) and no phase I metabolites were detected, suggesting that the main fate of HNE is due to an adduction mechanism. HNE consumption was then monitored in two plasma fractions: low molecular weight plasma protein fractions (<10 kDa; LMWF) and high molecular weight plasma protein fractions (>10 kDa; HMWF). HNE was almost stable in LMWF, while in HMWF it was consumed by almost 70% within 5 min. Proteomics identified albumin (HSA) as the main protein target, as further confirmed by a significantly reduced HNE quenching of dealbuminated plasma. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis identified Cys34 and Lys199 as the most reactive adduction sites of HSA, through the formation of a Michael and Schiff base adducts, respectively. The rate constant of HNE trapping by albumin was 50.61 +/- 1.89 M (-1) s (-1) and that of Cys34 (29.37 M (-1) s (-1)) was 1 order of magnitude higher with respect to that of GSH (3.81 +/- 0.17 M (-1) s (-1)), as explained by molecular modeling studies. In conclusion, we suggest that albumin, through nucleophilic residues, and in particular Cys34, can act as an endogenous detoxifying agent of circulating RCS.