An Easily Fabricated Electrochemical Sensor Based on a Graphene-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for Determination of Octopamine and Tyramine.

A simple electrochemical sensor has been developed for highly sensitive detection of octopamine and tyramine by electrodepositing reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) nanosheets onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The electrocatalytic oxidation of octopamine and tyramine is individually investigated at the surface of the ERGO modified glassy carbon electrode (ERGO/GCE) by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Several essential factors including the deposition cycle of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets and the pH of the running buffer were investigated in order to determine the optimum conditions. Furthermore, the sensor was applied to the quantification of octopamine and tyramine by DPV in the concentration ranges from 0.5 to 40 µM and 0.1 to 25 µM, respectively. In addition, the limits of detection of octopamine and tyramine were calculated to be 0.1 µM and 0.03 µM (S/N = 3), respectively. The sensor showed good reproducibility, selectivity and stability. Finally, the sensor successfully detected octopamine and tyramine in commercially available beer with satisfactory recovery ranges which were 98.5%-104.7% and 102.2%-103.1%, respectively. These results indicate the ERGO/GCE based sensor is suitable for the detection of octopamine and tyramine.

Separation of octopamine racemate on (R,S)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol imprinted polymer--Experimental and computational studies.

Ten molecularly imprinted polymers coded as MIP1-MIP10 were prepared by the radical bulk polymerization using (R,S)-(±)-2-amino-1-phenylethanol as the structural analog of the target analyte (R,S)-octopamine. The functional monomers, 4-vinylbenzoic acid (1), methacrylic acid (2), acrylic acid (3), trifluoromethacrylic acid (4), itaconic acid (5), acrylamide (6), isopropenylbenzene (7), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (8), 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (9), allylamine (10) were polymerized consecutively with the ethylene glycol dimethacrylate cross-linker in methanol as the porogen. On the basis of the binding capacity of (R,S)-octopamine MIP1 with affinity factor equal to 6.37 was selected for further analysis. The affinity of polymer matrix MIP1 was tested by the non-competitive binding experiments of eight structurally related analytes. Finally, molecularly imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE) of (R,S)-octopamine from spiked human serum albumin was carried out in order to verify the applicability of novel sorbent. The molecular modeling was employed to rationalize the stereodifferentiation of the analytes by the stereospecific sites formed in the polymer matrix.

Effect of the tyrosinase inhibitor (S)-N-trans-feruloyloctopamine from garlic skin on tyrosinase gene expression and melanine accumulation in melanoma cells.

In our searching for novel tyrosinase inhibitors from natural sources, (S)-N-trans-feruloyloctopamine isolated from garlic skin was found to be a potential mushroom tyrosinase inhibitor. Here, we examined the effects of the potential tyrosinase inhibitor in B16F10 cells on intracellular melanin contents, cytotoxicity, and the signaling mechanism involved in the expression of tyrosinase. The results showed the inhibitor displayed little or no cytotoxicity at all concentrations examined and decreased the relative melanin contents in a dose-dependent manner in the α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis showed that it inhibits melanogenesis signaling by down-regulates mRNA and protein expression levels of tyrosinase, which leads to a lower melanin contents. These results suggested that (S)-N-trans-feruloyloctopamine was an ideal tyrosinase inhibitor, and could be used in food and medical industry.

Physiological functions and pharmacological and toxicological effects of p-octopamine.

p-Octopamine occurs naturally in plants, invertebrates and animals with diverse functions and effects. This review summarizes the chemistry, metabolism, receptor binding characteristics, known physiological functions, and pharmacological and toxicological effects of p-octopamine. Databases used included PubMed and Google Scholar Advanced. p-Octopamine binds to neuroreceptors in insects that are not present in humans, while exhibiting poor binding to α-1, α-2, ß-1, and ß-2 adrenergic receptors in mammalian systems. p-Octopamine modestly binds to ß-3 adrenergic receptors and may therefore promote lipolysis and weight loss. p-Octopamine is produced in brain and nerve tissues of mammals and is present and can be measured in the blood of normal human subjects. p-Octopamine is considered to be a CNS stimulant in spite of the fact that it binds poorly to adrenergic receptors. Variations occur in blood levels in association with neurological and hepatic diseases. Its precise role in normal neurophysiology is unclear. No human studies have been reported that demonstrate adverse cardiovascular effects following oral administration. No human studies have examined the effects of p-octopamine on athletic performance or weight loss and weight management. A need exists for both animal and human safety and efficacy studies involving oral administration of p-octopamine.

Chiral separations on multichannel microfluidic chips.

Chiral separations of FITC-labeled basic drugs on multichannel microfluidic chips with LIF detector were investigated. A preliminary screening procedure for seven neutral CDs was performed under optimized conditions for chiral separations of three FITC-labeled drugs (baclofen, norfenefrine, and tocainide) on a mono-channel microfluidic chip. According to the results of screening, FITC-baclofen and FITC-norfenefrine as well as two chiral selectors including gamma-CD and dimethyl-beta-CD (DM-beta-CD) were selected as models to perform chiral separations on a two-channel chip. FITC-baclofen enantiomers were separated completely by gamma-CD in one channel, while resolution of FITC-norfenefrine enantiomers was achieved by DM-beta-CD in the other channel in the same run. Furthermore, the feasibility of using one chiral selector to separate multiple chiral samples was studied on a four-channel chip. These results show that multichannel chip has a potential for chiral high-throughput screening.

High-performance liquid chromatography methods for the analysis of adrenergic amines and flavanones in Citrus aurantium L. var. amara.

Reverse-phase HPLC coupled with photodiode array detection was used for the simultaneous separation and determination of naturally occurring adrenergic amines (octopamine, synephrine and tyramine) in fruits and dry extracts of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara and in herbal medicines derived therefrom. Synephrine was the main component in fruits (0.10-0.35%) and in dry extracts (3.00-3.08%) and was present in the range 0.25-0.99% in herbal medicines. Flavanones were analysed in the same samples using a reverse-phase HPLC technique which allowed the identification and quantification of neoeriocitrin, narirutin, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, naringenin and hesperetin. C. aurantium fruits and derivatives contained mainly glycosylated flavanones: in particular, naringin and neohesperidin were found to be the major flavonoids and their concentrations ranged from 1.80 to 26.30 and from 3.90 to 14.71 mg/g, respectively. The levels of aglycones were very low in all samples tested.

Direct chiral resolution of phenylalkylamines using a crown ether chiral stationary phase.

A direct, isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the enantiomeric resolution of a number of phenylalkylamines, namely, racemic cathinone, amphetamine, norephedrine, and norphenylephrine, without sample derivatization. The separations were achieved on an S-18-crown-6-ether chiral stationary phase known as CR(+). The chromatographic parameters alpha (separation factor) and Rs (resolution factor) lay within a narrow range for all compounds used in this study except for cathinone, which resulted in high alpha and Rs values. The recognition mechanism for this column involves the interaction of the crown structure with a charged primary ammonium ion. The stereochemical structures of the compounds in this study contribute to the results obtained for the chromatographic parameters, especially in cathinone's case. This paper will discuss the recognition mechanism contributing to the high alpha and Rs, values obtained for cathinone.

Enantiomers resolution in capillary zone electrophoresis by using cyclodextrins.

Cyclodextrins added to the background electrolyte are shown to be useful for the resolution of racemic compounds in their enantiomers. Several parameters have to be controlled in order to achieve resolution, e.g., cyclodextrin type, concentration, analyte shape, as well as column temperature. The resolution of nor-epinephrine, epinephrine and isoproterenol in their enantiomers decreased by increasing the column temperature. Octopamine and ketamine have been resolved by supporting the background electrolyte with 2, 6-di-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. In spite of the stronger inclusion-complex of ketamine than octopamine with the modified cyclodextrin its resolution was not satisfactory.

Simultaneous analyses of phenethylamine, phenylethanolamine, tyramine and octopamine in rat brain using fluorescamine.

A fluorometric method for the simultaneous analyses of phenethylamine, phenylethanolamine, tyramine and octopamine has been developed. The method involves ion-exchange chromatography, derivatization with fluorescamine, solvent extraction and then separation by thin-layer chromatography. The fluorescent spots are then quantitated by scanning. The detection limits of this method are about 10 pmoles for phenethylamine, phenylethanolamine and tyramine, and 20 pmoles for octopamine. The method was used for simultaneous analyses of putative neurotransmitter amines in whole rat brain.

Evidence for the lack of a carrier effect in the solvent extraction and determination of octopamine by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

It has been shown that there is no significant carrier effect when low levels of [3H]octopamine (100 pg) are extracted by ethyl acetate from aqueous solutions containing a 10(3) or 10(6) times excess of unlabelled octopamine. It is also shown that there is no carrier effect when low levels of octopamine as the tetrakis-TMS derivative are injected with 100 times the amount of the [2H3] analogue on an SE 30 column.

Octopamine as a putative neurotransmitter.

Octopamine is a normally occurring amine in nervous tissues in many species of animals. In mammals, octopamine is formed from tyramine through beta-hydroxylation by DBH in the sympathetic nerves, and it is partially stored in nerve endings with a subcellular distribution similar to that of NE. It is capable of replacing NE in its storage sites, and it is released by sympathetic nerve stimulation. High concentrations are found in the crustacean central nerve cord. Specific octopamine-containing cells have been identified in Aplysia and other lower animals. On the basis of neurophysiological evidence, the existence of specific octopamine receptors in Aplysia has been postulated. In insects, octopamine produces specific biochemical responses such as increased synthesis of cyclic AMP and phosphorylase activation. The present evidence strongly suggests that octopamine may function as a neurotransmitter in lower animals. Although the physiological role of this amine has not been established in mammals, it appears likely that octopamine may function as a cotransmitter together with NE in the peripheral sympathetic nervous system.