Ganoderma lucidum promotes sleep through a gut microbiota-dependent and serotonin-involved pathway in mice.

Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine with putative tranquilizing effects. However, the component of G. lucidum that promotes sleep has not been clearly identified. Here, the effect and mechanism of the acidic part of the alcohol extract of G. lucidum mycelia (GLAA) on sleep were studied in mice. Administration of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg GLAA for 28 days promoted sleep in pentobarbital-treated mice by shortening sleep latency and prolonging sleeping time. GLAA administration increased the levels of the sleep-promoting neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine and the Tph2, Iptr3 and Gng13 transcripts in the sleep-regulating serotonergic synapse pathway in the hypothalamus during this process. Moreover, GLAA administration reduced lipopolysaccharide and raised peptidoglycan levels in serum. GLAA-enriched gut bacteria and metabolites, including Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium animalis, indole-3-carboxylic acid and acetylphosphate were negatively correlated with sleep latency and positively correlated with sleeping time and the hypothalamus 5-hydroxytryptamine concentration. Both the GLAA sleep promotion effect and the altered faecal metabolites correlated with sleep behaviours disappeared after gut microbiota depletion with antibiotics. Our results showed that GLAA promotes sleep through a gut microbiota-dependent and serotonin-associated pathway in mice.

Determination of Tranquilizers in Swine Urine by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

A rapid, reliable, and sensitive method was developed for the determination of ten tranquilizers in swine urine. Sample preparation was based on solid-phase extraction, which combined isolation of the compounds and sample cleanup in a single step. Separation was performed on a reversed phase C18 column by gradient elution with a chromatographic run time of seven minutes, consisting of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Multiple reaction monitoring in positive mode was applied for data acquisition. Matrix-matched calibration was used for quantification and good linearity was obtained with coefficients of determination higher than 0.99. The average recoveries of fortified samples at concentrations between 0.05 and 10 µg/L ranged from 85% to 106% with interday relative standard deviations of less than 13% in all cases. The limits of detection and limits of quantification obtained for tranquilizers in the urine were in the ranges of 0.03⁻0.1 µg/L and 0.05⁻0.25 µg/L, respectively. The applicability of the proposed method was demonstrated by analyzing real samples; diazepam was detected at concentrations between 0.3 and 0.6 µg/L.

Rapid method for the determination of tranquilizers and a beta-blocker in porcine and bovine kidney by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

A fast and simple liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for detection and confirmation of tranquilizers (chlorpromazine, propionylpromazine, acepromazine, triflupromazine, promazine, azaperone and its metabolite, azaperol) and beta-blocker (carazolol) in porcine and bovine kidney has been presented. The method relies on the extraction with acetonitrile followed by centrifugation. After evaporation of acetonitrile, the residue was reconstituted in a mobile phase and filtrated. The separation of analytes was performed on a C18 column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile and ammonium formate buffer (0.05 M, pH 4.5) with gradient elution. The electrospray ionization was used to obtain the protonated molecules [M+H](+) and two product ions were monitored for each compound. For quantification deutered internal standards were used. The whole method has been validated according to the European Union requirements. Specificity, decision limit (CCalpha), detection capability (CCbeta), trueness and precision were determined. The results showed good trueness ranged from 73.2% to 110.6% with a good R.S.D., less than 13.0% under within-laboratory reproducibility conditions. The calculated critical concentrations of CCalpha for phenothiazines were between 5.8 and 6.6 microgkg(-1) while for azaperone CCalpha was 105.5 microgkg(-1) and for azaperol was 121.4 microgkg(-1). CCalpha for carazolol was 16.7 microgkg(-1) in bovine and 21.9 microgkg(-1) in porcine kidney. CCbeta for phenothiazines were between 6.3 and 7.6 microgkg(-1), for azaperone was 119.0 microgkg(-1) and for azaperol was 140.0 microgkg(-1). For carazolol in bovine kidney CCbeta was 18.6 microgkg(-1) whereas in porcine kidney was 24.4 microgkg(-1).

[Androsace septentrionalis (author's transl)]. / Androsace septentrionalis -- eine Heilpflanze der Volksmedizin in Sibirien

PIP: Morphology, culture requirements, and medicinal effects of Androsace septentrionalis L. (Primulaceae) are described. In mice, water extracts of the plant (.5 ml/100g body weight) produced disturbances of the menstrual cycle and infertility after copulation. Histological studies showed enlargement of glandular mucosa cells and increased uterine connective tissue. Compared with controls, more corpora lutea were found in the fallopian tubes of treated animals. The plant is used in Siberian folk medicine for angina, heart diseases, epilepsy, gonorrhea, and as a contraceptive. The contraceptive and tranquilizing effects of the water extract of Androsace were evident in this experimentation.^ieng

Separation of tricyclic psychosedative drugs by high-speed ion-pair partition and liquid-solid adsorption chromatography.

The application of high-speed ion-pair partition and liquid-solid adsorption chromatography to the separation of twenty common tricyclic tranquilizers and antidepressant drugs is described. In the ion-pair system, amine-perchlorate ion-pairs were extracted from an aqueous stationary phase supported on 10-mum silica gel by organic eluents containing a chloromethane and a higher aliphatic alcohol, and chromatographic parameters for elution by eight eluent mixtures are presented. Using 5 mm times 120 mm columns good separations, according to chemical class, were achieved. For adsorption chromatography, the components were eluted from 20-mum spherical alumina using eluents containing methylene chloride, n-hexane or n-pentane, and acetic acid. Chromatographic parameters are given for eight eluent compositions. Components differing little in structure are well separated by liquid-solid adsorption chromatography. Compared with ion-pair partition chromatography, adsorption chromatography is much more selective for compounds of the same chemical type. The two methods are therefore complementary. Both methods gave plate heights in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 mm.