Online solid phase extraction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to analyze remoxipride in small plasma-, brain homogenate-, and brain microdialysate samples.

Remoxipride is a selective dopamine D(2) receptor antagonist, and useful as a model compound in mechanism-based pharmacological investigations. To that end, studies in small animals with serial sampling over time are needed. For these small volume samples currently no suitable analytical methods are available. We propose analytical methods for the detection of low concentrations remoxipride in small sample volumes of plasma, brain homogenate, and brain microdialysate, using online solid phase extraction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Method development, optimization and validation are described in terms of calibration curves, extraction yield, lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), precision, accuracy, inter-day- and intra-day variability. The 20 microl plasma samples showed an extraction yield of 76%, with a LLOQ of 0.5 ng/ml. For 0.6 ml brain homogenate samples the extraction yield was 45%, with a LLOQ of 1.8 ng/ml. The 20 microl brain microdialysate samples, without pre-treatment, had a LLOQ of 0.25 ng/ml. The precision and accuracy were well within the acceptable 15% range. Considering the small sample volumes, the high sensitivity and good reproducibility, the analytical methods are suitable for analyzing small sample volumes with low remoxipride concentrations.

Artemisia annua as a self-reliant treatment for malaria in developing countries.

Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by the protozoan Plasmodium parasites. Each year, it causes disease in approximately 515 million people and kills between one and three million people, the majority of whom are young children in sub-Saharan Africa. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Due to climate change and the gradual warming of the temperate regions the future distribution of the malaria disease might include regions which are today seen as safe. Currently, malaria control requires an integrated approach comprising of mainly prevention, including vector control and the use of effective prophylactic medicines, and treatment of infected patients with antimalarials. The antimalarial chloroquine, which was in the past a mainstay of malaria control, is now ineffective in most malaria areas and resistance to other antimalarials is also increasing rapidly. The discovery and development of artemisinins from Artemisia annua have provided a new class of highly effective antimalarials. ACTs are now generally considered as the best current treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. This review gives a short history of the malaria disease, the people forming a high risk group and the botanical aspects of A. annua. Furthermore the review provides an insight in the use of ART and its derivatives for the treatment of malaria. Its mechanism of action and kinetics will be described as well as the possibilities for a self-reliant treatment will be revealed. This self-reliant treatment includes the local production practices of A. annua followed by the possibilities for using traditional prepared teas from A. annua as an effective treatment for malaria. Finally, HMM will be described and the advantages and disadvantages discussed.