Multiple green spectroscopic methods for erdosteine determination in bulk and dosage form with extensive greenness evaluation.

Four simple, sensitive, economical, and eco-friendly spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric methods for the assay of erdosteine (ERD) in bulk and dosage form have been developed and validated as per the current ICH guidelines. Method I involved the addition of the powerful oxidizing agent, potassium permanganate to ERD and measuring the oxidation product at 600 nm. Another oxidizing agent; ceric ammonium sulfate was used in Method II where ERD is oxidized resulting in a decline in the absorbance intensity of cerium (IV) ions, measured at 320 nm. Similarly, Method III employed the use of ceric ammonium sulfate, However, the fluorescence intensity of the resulting cerium (III) ions was recorded at λex/λem 255/355 nm, respectively. Whereas in Method IV, ERD was added to acriflavine leading to a proportional decrease in its native fluorescence. Various reaction conditions affecting the intensity of measurement were attentively investigated, optimized, and validated. All the suggested methods did not require any tedious extraction procedures nor organic solvents. The implementation of the proposed methods in ERD assay resulted in linear relationships between the measured signals and the corresponding concentrations of ERD in the range of 1-6, 0.1-1.0, 0.01-0.1, and 10-100 µg/mL with LOD values 0.179, 0.024, 0.0027 and, 3.2 µg/mL for methods I, II, III and IV respectively. The suggested methods were successfully applied to ERD analysis in pure form and in commercial capsules. Furthermore, the eco-friendliness of the proposed methods was thoroughly checked using various greenness testing tools. Lastly, this work, not only presents highly sensitive, green, mix-and-read methods for ERD determination, but also, describes the determination of ERD spectrofluorimetrically for the first time in the literature.

Nicorandil/ morphine crosstalk accounts for antinociception and hepatoprotection in hepatic fibrosis in rats: Distinct roles of opioid/cGMP and NO/KATP pathways.

Previous report indicated that nicorandil potentiated morphine antinociception and attenuated hepatic injury in liver fibrotic rats. Herein, the underlying mechanisms of nicorandil/morphine interaction were investigated using pharmacological, biochemical, histopathological, and molecular docking studies. Male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, 40%, 2 ml/kg) twice weekly for 5 weeks to induce hepatic fibrosis. Nicorandil (15 mg/kg/day) was administered per os (p.o.) for 14 days in presence of the blockers; glibenclamide (KATP channel blocker, 5 mg/kg, p.o.), L-NG-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, 15 mg/kg, p.o.), methylene blue (MB, guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, 2 mg/kg, i.p.) and naltrexone (opioid antagonist, 20 mg/kg, i.p.). At the end of the 5th week, analgesia was evaluated using tail flick and formalin tests along with biochemical determinations of liver function tests, oxidative stress markers and histopathological examination of liver tissues. Naltrexone and MB inhibited the antinociceptive activity of the combination. Furthermore, combined nicorandil/morphine regimen attenuated the release of endogenous peptides. Docking studies revealed a possible interaction of nicorandil on µ, κ and δ opioid receptors. Nicorandil/morphine combination protected against liver damage as evident by decreased liver enzymes, liver index, hyaluronic acid, lipid peroxidation, fibrotic insults, and increased superoxide dismutase activity. Nicorandil/morphine hepatoprotection and antioxidant activity were inhibited by glibenclamide and L-NAME but not by naltrexone or MB. These findings implicate opioid activation/cGMP versus NO/KATP channels in the augmented antinociception, and hepatoprotection, respectively, of the combined therapy and implicate provoked cross talk by nicorandil and morphine on opioid receptors and cGMP signaling pathway. That said, nicorandil/morphine combination provides a potential multitargeted therapy to alleviate pain and preserve liver function.

Recent analytical methodologies for the determination of anti-covid-19 drug therapies in various matrices: a critical review.

Since the discovery of the first case infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) in Wuhan, China in December 2019, it has turned into a global pandemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, about 603.7 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 6.4 million deaths have been reported. Remdesivir (RMD) was the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved antiviral drug for the treatment of coronavirus in pediatrics and adults with different disease severities, ranging from mild to severe, in both hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. Various drug regimens are used in Covid-19 treatment, all of which rely on the use of antiviral agents including ritonavir (RTN)/nirmatrelvir (NTV) combination, molnupiravir (MLP) and favipiravir (FVP). Optimizing analytical methods for the selective and sensitive quantification of the above-mentioned drugs in pharmaceutical dosage forms and biological matrices is a must in the current pandemic. Several analytical techniques were reported for estimation of antivirals used in Covid-19 therapy. Chromatographic methods include Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) densitometry, High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), Reversed Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) or Ultraviolet detectors (HPLC-UV), Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC-MS/MS) or (UPLC-UV) and Micellar Liquid Chromatography (MLC). In addition to other spectroscopic methods including Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry (PS-MS), UV-Visible Spectrophotometry, and Spectrofluorimetry. Herein, we will focus on the clarification of trendy, simple, rapid, accurate, precise, sensitive, selective, and eco-friendly analytical methods used for the analysis of anti-Covid-19 drugs in dosage forms as well as biological matrices.

Inexpensive bioluminescent genosensor for sensitive determination of DNA damage induced by some commonly used sunscreens.

Sunscreens (SSs) are highly applied all over the world on large areas of human body. Benzophenone chemical group constitute a major part in most SSs. Benzophenones are reported to induce changes in nucleic acids upon UV-irradiation. These alterations may potentially lead to DNA mutation, cell apoptosis, and eventually skin cancer. This work compares the kinetics of the induced DNA damage by some SSs after UV-irradiation. Six commonly used SSs; 4-t-butyl-4-methoxy dibenzoyl methane, 4-methoxycinnamic acid, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BZ-3), Dibenzoyl methane, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone (BZ-8) and p-methylbenzoic acid; are investigated. In this work, terbium chloride bioluminescent genosensor is used for sensitive, simple and inexpensive determination of induced DNA-damage. Results reveal that only BZ-3 and BZ-8 induced DNA-damage upon UV-irradiation that are confirmed by both absorption spectroscopy and viscosity measurements. Moreover, viscosity studies indicated the possible intercalation of the SS into DNA prior to initiation of DNA damage. Furthermore, the potency of BZ-3 and BZ-8 to induce DNA damage upon UVA irradiation was assessed on calf thymus DNA. The low cost of the proposed bioluminescent genosensor allows it to be an automatic simple process for the investigation of any DNA-drug interactions without the need of coupling with other analytical methods.

Hyperlipidemia Alters the Pharmacokinetics of Posaconazole and Vincristine Upon Co-Administration in Rats.

OBJECTIVES: Co-administration of posaconazole (PSZ) and vincristine (VCR) in the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia increases the neurotoxicity of VCR. Our aim is to study the effect of increased lipoprotein levels on the pharmacokinetics of PSZ and VCR upon co-administration in rats. METHODS: Rats were assigned to three groups, normolipidemic (NL), intermediate hyperlipidemic (IHL), and extreme hyperlipidemic (HL) groups. All rats were administered PSZ orally followed by VCR intravenously 4 h later. For the pharmacokinetic study, serial plasma samples were collected over 96 h and for tissue distribution study; plasma, lung, and liver tissues were collected over 48 h post oral dosing. RESULTS: Posaconazole showed higher plasma concentrations than VCR at all time points. Co-administration of VCR with PSZ reduced PSZ weight normalized oral clearance, increased PSZ area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from time zero to infinity, showed higher PSZ liver concentrations, and increased VCR volume of distribution of the central compartment. Upon increasing the lipoprotein levels, PSZ showed higher plasma availability and delayed tissue distribution, whereas VCR had shown a significant decrease in PSZ AUC0-24h, AUC0-tlast, and AUCo-inf (NL = IHL > HL) and a significant increase in the volume of distribution (NL = IHL < HL). Vincristine has shown higher tissue uptake and concentrations. CONCLUSION: Monitoring cholesterol and triglyceride levels in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is advisable to decrease VCR neurological side effect incidences and delay the activity of both PSZ and VCR.

The effect of increased lipoproteins levels on the disposition of vincristine in rat.

BACKGROUND: Vincristine (VCR), an antineoplastic agent, is a key component in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphomas, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and Wilms' tumor diseases. Recently, high incidence of hyperlipidemia was reported to be associated with allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and VCR/L-asparaginase therapy. The aim of this study is to test the effects of incremental increase in lipoproteins levels on vincristine disposition in rat. METHOD: To study VCR pharmacokinetics and protein binding, rats (n = 25) were assigned to three groups, normal lipidemic (NL), intermediate (IHL) and extreme hyperlipidemic (HL). Hyperlipidemia was induced by ip injection of (1 g/Kg) poloxamer 407 in rats. Serial blood samples were collected using the pre-inserted jugular vein cannula for 72 h post VCR (0.15 mg/Kg) i.v. dose. VCR unbound fractions in NL, IHL and HL plasma were determined using ultrafiltration kits. RESULTS: VCR demonstrated a rapid distribution phase (6-8 h) followed by a slower elimination phase with a mean elimination t½ of ~ 14 h. VCR exhibited moderate binding to plasma proteins ~ 83 %. It showed a relatively small Vc (~0.17 L/Kg) and a larger Vß (1.53 L/Kg) indicating good tissue distribution. As the lipoproteins levels were increased, no significant changes were noted in VCR unbound fraction, plasma concentration, or volume of distribution indicating low affinity to lipoprotein binding. Induced HL also did not affect VCR elimination where similar VCR AUC0-∞, Cl and elimination phase t½ were reported along the different lipemic groups. CONCLUSION: Incremental increase in lipoprotein levels resulted in no significant effect on VCR disposition as such ALL malignant lymphoma and allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients need not to worry about HL-VCR interaction. Whether, HL can potentiate another drug-drug or drug-disease interaction involving VCR warrants further studying and monitoring to ensure therapeutic safety and efficiency.

The effect of hyperlipidemia on the pharmacokinetics, hepatic and pulmonary uptake of posaconazole in rat.

OBJECTIVES: Posaconazole (PSZ), lipophilic antifungal drug, is used for prophylactic purposes in immunocompromised patients. Our aim is to study its pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution in different elevated lipoprotein levels in rat. METHODS: To study PSZ pharmacokinetics and protein binding, rats (n=30) were assigned to three groups, normal lipidemic (NL), intermediate (IHL) and extreme hyperlipidemic (HL). Hyperlipidemia was induced by i.p. injection of (1g/kg) poloxamer 407 in rats. Serial blood samples were collected for 72h p.o. PSZ (40mg/kg). PSZ unbound fractions in NL, IHL and HL plasma were determined using ultrafiltration kits. To study tissue distribution, rats (n=64) were allocated into NL and HL groups. After p.o. administration of PSZ 40mg/kg, blood samples were collected, lungs and liver tissues were extracted over 72h. RESULTS: Orally dosed rats showed two distinct Cmax peaks reflecting PSZ enterohepatic circulation. The incremental increase in lipoprotein levels have resulted in significant decrease in PSZ unbound fraction, a significant increase in Cmax1 and the AUC0-24h (NL=IHL

High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Assay for the Simultaneous Determination of Posaconazole and Vincristine in Rat Plasma.

Purpose. Developing a validated HPLC-DAD method for simultaneous determination of posaconazole (PSZ) and vincristine (VCR) in rat plasma. Methods. PSZ, VCR, and itraconazole (ITZ) were extracted from 200 µL plasma using diethyl ether in the presence of 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution. The organic layer was evaporated in vacuo and dried residue was reconstituted and injected through HC-C18 (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 µm) column. In the mobile phase, acetonitrile and 0.015 M potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate (30 : 70 to 80 : 20, linear gradient over 7 minutes) pumped at 1.5 mL/min. VCR and PSZ were measured at 220 and 262 nm, respectively. Two Sprague Dawley rats were orally dosed PSZ followed by iv dosing of VCR and serial blood sampling was performed. Results. VCR, PSZ, and ITZ were successfully separated within 11 min. Calibration curves were linear over the range of 50-5000 ng/mL for both drugs. The CV% and % error of the mean were ≤18% and limit of quantitation was 50 ng/mL for both drugs. Rat plasma concentrations of PSZ and VCR were simultaneously measured up to 72 h and their calculated pharmacokinetics parameters were comparable to the literature. Conclusion. The assay was validated as per ICH guidelines and is appropriate for pharmacokinetics drug-drug interaction studies.