Quantitative Assessment of Poorly Soluble Anticoagulant Rivaroxaban by Microemulsion Electrokinetic Chromatography.

Microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) is an electrophoretic methodology based on the separation of compounds by a microemulsionated electrolyte. There are few options for the evaluation of the stability and content of the oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban (RIV) in pharmaceutical formulations. RIV has low water solubility and undergoes ionization only under restricted pH conditions (pH < 1 or pH > 13), thus, hindering the application of free zone capillary electrophoresis as an analytical method. Therefore, the work aimed at developing and validating a stability-indicating MEEKC method for the analysis of RIV in pharmaceutical formulations. Separation was performed in a fused-silica capillary applying a voltage of 30 kV. The microemulsion system consisted of 13 mM tetraborate, pH 9.75 + 1.2% SDS + 1.0% ethyl acetate + 2.4% butanol. The linearity range was 25-150 µg mL-1, with r = 0.9982. Drug degradations were performed in acid and basic media (HCl 1 M and NaOH 0.1 M, respectively), oxidation with 3%H2O2, 60°C temperature and exposure to UV-C radiation. No interferences with RIV or internal standard peaks were detected. Method robustness was accessed through Plackett-Burman experimental design, after evaluation of model validity. Trueness values between 100.49 and 100.68% were obtained with repeatability. The method developed was found appropriate for quality control of RIV tablets, as a consistent analytical technique that is considered less damaging to the environment due to its low consumption of organic reagents.

Hydroethanolic extracts from different genotypes of açaí (Euterpe oleracea) presented antioxidant potential and protected human neuron-like cells (SH-SY5Y).

Fruit breeding programs have resulted in bioactive compounds increase and health effects. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects of the hydroethanolic extracts from six açaí (Euterpe oleracea) genotypes using ABTS, deoxyribose, and glutathione oxidation assays, as well as, SH-SY5Y cells insulted with H2O2. L22P13 genotype showed the highest total content of anthocyanins, while L06P13 showed a high content of total carotenoids. However, the genotypes showed no difference in the antioxidant activity by ABTS and deoxyribose assays. The hydroethanolic extracts from different genotypes of açaí showed a protective effect (13-62%) on SH-SY5Y cells insulted by H2O2 at a concentration of 50µg/mL by DCFH-DA assay. Except L04P16, no genotypes showed cytotoxicity in the SRB assay. These results indicate that açaí genotypes have antioxidant effect against reactive species generated in SH-SY5Y cells, suggesting a neuroprotective effect of the hydroethanolic extracts from these fruits.

Effect of cooking on the concentration of bioactive compounds in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Avenger) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Alphina F1) grown in an organic system.

Brassica vegetables have been shown to have antioxidant capacities due to the presence of carotenoids, flavonoids and vitamins. This study evaluates the influence of different processing conditions (boiling, steaming, microwaving and sous vide) on the stability of flavonoids, carotenoids and vitamin A in broccoli and cauliflower inflorescences grown in an organic system. Results indicated that sous vide processing resulted in greater antioxidant capacity and that all processes contributed in some way to an increased content of antioxidant compounds in both cauliflower and broccoli.

Characterisation and stability evaluation of bixin nanocapsules.

The aim of this study was to produce bixin nanocapsules by the interfacial deposition of preformed poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL). PCL (250 mg), capric/caprylic triglyceride (400 µL), sorbitan monostearate (95 mg) and bixin were dissolved in a mixture of acetone (60 mL) and ethanol (7.5 mL) under stirring (40 °C). This organic solution was added to the aqueous solution (130 mL) containing Tween 80 (195 mg). The size distributions in the formulations with bixin concentration from 11 to 100 µg/mL were evaluated periodically during 3 weeks of storage at ambient temperature. The optimal formulation (bixin concentration of 16.92±0.16 µg/mL) was characterised in terms of particle size distribution, zeta potential, bixin content and encapsulation efficiency, and showed a volume-weighted mean diameter (D4,3) of 195±27 nm, around 100% of encapsulation efficiency and the nanocapsules were considered physically stable during 119 days of storage at ambient temperature.

Stability of carotenoids, total phenolics and in vitro antioxidant capacity in the thermal processing of orange-fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) cultivars grown in Brazil.

Intervention strategies regarding the biofortification of orange-fleshed sweet potato, which is a rich source of carotenoids for combating vitamin A deficiency, are being developed in Brazil. This study was conducted to evaluate the concentrations of individual carotenoids, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity in the roots of four biofortified sweet potato cultivars that were raw or processed by four common heat treatments. HPLC, Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH and ABTS assays were used. All cultivars showed high levels of carotenoids in raw roots, predominantly all-trans-ß-carotene (79.1-128.5 mg.100 g(-1) DW), suggesting a high estimated vitamin A activity. The CNPH 1194 cultivar reported carotenoids values highest than those of other cultivars (p < 0.05). The total phenolic compounds varied among cultivars and heat treatments (0.96-2.05 mg.g(-1) DW). In most cases, the heat treatments resulted in a significant decrease in the carotenoids and phenolic compounds contents as well as antioxidant capacity. Processing of flour presented the greatest losses of major carotenoids and phenolics. The phenolic compounds showed more stability than carotenoids after processing. There were significant correlations between the carotenoids and phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity.

Characterization and antioxidant potential of Brazilian fruits from the Myrtaceae family.

The objective of this study is to evaluating the Brazilian biodiversity through physicochemical characterization and determination of antioxidant potential of three species from the Myrtaceae family, namely yellow guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine), guabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg), and uvaia ( Eugenia pyriformis Cambess). Guabiroba had the greater quantity of phenolic compounds (9033 mg chlorogenic acid/100 g) and vitamin C (30.58 mg/g) and showed the best TSS/TTA (total soluble solid/total titratable acid) ratio (45.12). For the ABTS (2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) method, the guabiroba (507.49 µM Trolox/g) presented the highest antioxidant potential; however, in the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, uvaia (170.26 g/g DPPH) and guabiroba (161.29 g/g DPPH) were not statistically different. The uvaia outranked the other fruits with respect to its high carotenoid (909.33 µg/g) and vitamin A (37.83 µg/g) contents, and the yellow guava, although showing a lower bioactive compound content and antioxidant activity, nevertheless presented much higher values than many traditionally consumed fruits.

Validation of a capillary electrophoresis method for analysis of rabeprazole sodium in a pharmaceutical dosage form.

Rabeprazole sodium is an antisecretory agent that inhibits the enzyme H+/K+ ATPase present in the stomach parietal cells. There are few data about its quantitative determinations in laboratorial routines. Capillary electrophoresis is a method being used increasingly for analysis of pharmaceutical compounds, the main advantages of which are the simplicity of instrumentation, low consumption of sample and reagents, and fast analysis. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a capillary electrophoresis method for determination of rabeprazole sodium in coated tablets. The conditions used were a bare fused silica capillary with 48.0 cm length (39.5 cm effective) and 75 microm id; a 10mM, pH 9.0, sodium tetraborate run buffer; a diode array detector set at 291 nm; hydrodynamic injection (50 mbar/5 s); and a voltage of 20 kV. HP Chemstation CE rev. A.06.03 software was used for system control, data acquisition, and analysis. The method was demonstrated to be linear in the concentration range of 5.0-40.0 microg/mL (r = 0.9993), precise (interday relative standard deviation = 0.49), accurate (mean recovery = 103.1%), and specific. The limits of detection and quantitation were 1.29 and 3.91 microg/mL, respectively.

Capillary electrophoresis method for fexofenadine hydrochloride in capsules.

A simple, accurate, and effective capillary electrophoresis method with ultraviolet absorbance detection was developed and validated for the quantitation of the antihistamine fexofenadine in capsules. The separation was performed with an uncoated fused-silica capillary (47 cm x 75 microm id) and was operated at 20 kV potential. Temperature was maintained at 25 degrees C. The run buffer was prepared with 20mM Na2B4O7 x 10 H2O. Software was used for system control, data acquisition, and analysis. Method validation was performed by evaluation of the analytical parameters linearity, precision, accuracy, limits of detection and quantitation, and specificity. The method was linear (r = 0.9999) at concentrations ranging from 20 to 100 microg/mL, precise (relative standard deviation intra-assay = 1.2, 1.6, and 1.8% and interassay = 1.5%); accurate (recovery = 98.1%); and specific. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.69 and 2.09 microg/mL, respectively. The method was compared to the liquid chromatography method developed previously by the authors for the same drug, and no significant difference was found between the 2 methods in fexofenadine hydrochloride quantitation.

Determination of rosiglitazone in coated tablets by MEKC and HPLC methods.

Micellar electrokinetic chromatographic (MEKC) and high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods were developed and subsequently validated for the determination of rosiglitazone (RSG) in coated tablet, a potent new oral antihyperglicemic agent. The electrophoretic separation was performed in a fused-silica capillary of total length 48.0 cm (effective length 39.5 cm, 75 microm i.d.) using 10 mM sodium tetraborate buffer (pH 9.0) containing 30 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as the background electrolyte (BGE). The separating voltage used was of 20 kV at 25 degrees C and the diode array detector was set at 247 nm. The MEKC method was compared with HPLC method using a RP-18 column (125 x 4.0mm i.d.) eluted with a mobile phase consisting of mixture of 25 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer and acetonitrile (55:45, v/v), adjusting the pH to 6.2 with dilute potassium hydroxide. Statistical analysis by Student's t-test showed no significant differences between the results obtained by two methods. The results indicated that MEKC can be used an alternative method to HPLC for the determination of rosiglitazone in pharmaceutical dosage form.