The value of universally available raw NMR data for transparency, reproducibility, and integrity in natural product research.

Covering: up to 2018With contributions from the global natural product (NP) research community, and continuing the Raw Data Initiative, this review collects a comprehensive demonstration of the immense scientific value of disseminating raw nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data, independently of, and in parallel with, classical publishing outlets. A comprehensive compilation of historic to present-day cases as well as contemporary and future applications show that addressing the urgent need for a repository of publicly accessible raw NMR data has the potential to transform natural products (NPs) and associated fields of chemical and biomedical research. The call for advancing open sharing mechanisms for raw data is intended to enhance the transparency of experimental protocols, augment the reproducibility of reported outcomes, including biological studies, become a regular component of responsible research, and thereby enrich the integrity of NP research and related fields.

Correction: The value of universally available raw NMR data for transparency, reproducibility, and integrity in natural product research.

Correction for 'The value of universally available raw NMR data for transparency, reproducibility, and integrity in natural product research' by James B. McAlpine et al., Nat. Prod. Rep., 2018, DOI: .

Antistaphylococcal Prenylated Acylphoroglucinol and Xanthones from Kielmeyera variabilis.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the EtOH extract of the branches of Kielmeyera variabilis led to the isolation of a new acylphoroglucinol (1), which was active against all the MRSA strains tested herein, with pronounced activity against strain EMRSA-16. Compound 1 displayed an MIC of 0.5 mg/L as compared with an MIC of 128 mg/L for the control antibiotic norfloxacin. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis and mass spectrometry, and experimental and calculated ECD were used to determine the absolute configurations. The compounds ß-sitosterol (2), stigmasterol (3), ergost-5-en-3-ol (4), and osajaxanthone (5) also occurred in the n-hexane fraction. The EtOAc fraction contained nine known xanthones: 3,6-dihydroxy-1,4,8-trimethoxyxanthone (6), 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxyxanthone (7), 3,4-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxyxanthone (8), 3,4-dihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone (9), 5-hydroxy-1,3-dimethoxyxanthone (10), 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxyxanthone (11), kielcorin (12), 3-hydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone (13), and 2-hydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone (14), which showed moderate to low activity against the tested MRSA strains.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction between nifedipine and metformin in rats: competitive inhibition for metabolism of nifedipine and metformin by each other via CYP isozymes.

It has been reported that hypertension exponentially increases in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between nifedipine and metformin, since both drugs were commonly metabolized via hepatic CYP2C and 3A subfamilies in rats. Nifedipine (3 mg/kg) and metformin (100 mg/kg) were simultaneously administered intravenously or orally to rats. Concentrations (I) of each drug in the liver and intestine, maximum velocity (V(max)), Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)), and intrinsic clearance (CL(int)) for the disappearance of each drug, apparent inhibition constant (K(i)) and [I]/K(i) ratios of each drug in liver and intestine were determined. Also the metabolism of each drug in rat and human CYPs and blood pressure were also measured. After the simultaneous single intravenous administration of both drugs together, the AUCs of each drug were significantly greater than that in each drug alone due to the competitive inhibition for the metabolism of nifedipine by metformin via hepatic CYP3A1/2 and of metformin by nifedipine via hepatic CYP2C6 and 3A1/2. After the simultaneous single oral administration of both drugs, the significantly greater AUCs of each drug than that in each drug alone could have mainly been due to the competitive inhibition for the metabolism of nifedipine and metformin by each other via intestinal CYP3A1/2 in addition to competitive inhibition for the hepatic metabolism of each drug as same as the intravenous study.

Transcript and metabolite analysis in Trincadeira cultivar reveals novel information regarding the dynamics of grape ripening.

BACKGROUND: Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are economically the most important fruit crop worldwide. However, the complexity of molecular and biochemical events that lead to the onset of ripening of nonclimacteric fruits is not fully understood which is further complicated in grapes due to seasonal and cultivar specific variation. The Portuguese wine variety Trincadeira gives rise to high quality wines but presents extremely irregular berry ripening among seasons probably due to high susceptibility to abiotic and biotic stresses. RESULTS: Ripening of Trincadeira grapes was studied taking into account the transcriptional and metabolic profilings complemented with biochemical data. The mRNA expression profiles of four time points spanning developmental stages from pea size green berries, through véraison and mature berries (EL 32, EL 34, EL 35 and EL 36) and in two seasons (2007 and 2008) were compared using the Affymetrix GrapeGen® genome array containing 23096 probesets corresponding to 18726 unique sequences. Over 50% of these probesets were significantly differentially expressed (1.5 fold) between at least two developmental stages. A common set of modulated transcripts corresponding to 5877 unigenes indicates the activation of common pathways between years despite the irregular development of Trincadeira grapes. These unigenes were assigned to the functional categories of "metabolism", "development", "cellular process", "diverse/miscellanenous functions", "regulation overview", "response to stimulus, stress", "signaling", "transport overview", "xenoprotein, transposable element" and "unknown". Quantitative RT-PCR validated microarrays results being carried out for eight selected genes and five developmental stages (EL 32, EL 34, EL 35, EL 36 and EL 38). Metabolic profiling using 1H NMR spectroscopy associated to two-dimensional techniques showed the importance of metabolites related to oxidative stress response, amino acid and sugar metabolism as well as secondary metabolism. These results were integrated with transcriptional profiling obtained using genome array to provide new information regarding the network of events leading to grape ripening. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether the data obtained provides the most extensive survey obtained so far for gene expression and metabolites accumulated during grape ripening. Moreover, it highlighted information obtained in a poorly known variety exhibiting particular characteristics that may be cultivar specific or dependent upon climatic conditions. Several genes were identified that had not been previously reported in the context of grape ripening namely genes involved in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolisms as well as in growth regulators; metabolism, epigenetic factors and signaling pathways. Some of these genes were annotated as receptors, transcription factors, and kinases and constitute good candidates for functional analysis in order to establish a model for ripening control of a non-climacteric fruit.

An overview of NMR-based metabolomics to identify secondary plant compounds involved in host plant resistance.

Secondary metabolites provide a potential source for the generation of host plant resistance and development of biopesticides. This is especially important in view of the rapid and vast spread of agricultural and horticultural pests worldwide. Multiple pests control tactics in the framework of an integrated pest management (IPM) programme are necessary. One important strategy of IPM is the use of chemical host plant resistance. Up to now the study of chemical host plant resistance has, for technical reasons, been restricted to the identification of single compounds applying specific chemical analyses adapted to the compound in question. In biological processes however, usually more than one compound is involved. Metabolomics allows the simultaneous detection of a wide range of compounds, providing an immediate image of the metabolome of a plant. One of the most universally used metabolomic approaches comprises nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). It has been NMR which has been applied as a proof of principle to show that metabolomics can constitute a major advancement in the study of host plant resistance. Here we give an overview on the application of NMR to identify candidate compounds for host plant resistance. We focus on host plant resistance to western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) which has been used as a model for different plant species.

Metabolic alterations in different developmental stages of Pilocarpus microphyllus.

Pilocarpine is an imidazole alkaloid that has been used for more than a century in glaucoma treatment. It is present in several species of the Pilocarpus genus (jaborandi), with its highest concentrations in P. microphyllus. In addition to pilocarpine, pilosine--an imidazole alkaloid without pharmacological use--is produced in high concentrations in mature plants. A metabolomic study was carried out on juvenile and mature plants to obtain information about pilocarpine metabolism at different developmental stages. Methanol-water and alkaloid extracts were analyzed by ¹H NMR and ESI-MS. Metabolic profiles from both techniques showed clear differences between various developmental stages. Intense signals in the aromatic region of the ¹H NMR spectrum and ions from pilosine and related alkaloids by ESI/MS were found only in extracts from mature plant. Two new imidazole alkaloids were identified by MS(n). Our results suggest that pilosine is produced exclusively in mature developmental stage, and juvenile plant material seems to be appropriate for further studies on pilocarpine biosynthesis.

Pharmacokinetics of mirodenafil and its two metabolites, SK3541 and SK3544, in spontaneously or DOCA-salt-induced hypertensive rats.

Hypertension is the most common comorbidity and major risk factor in patients with erectile dysfunction. The pharmacokinetics of mirodenafil, used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, after the intravenous and oral administration (20 mg/kg) to 6-week-old rats (with blood pressure within the normotensive range) and 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and their age-matched control normotensive Kyoto-Wistar (KW) rats, and 16-week-old deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertensive rats (DOCA-salt rats) and their age-matched control Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were compared. It was found that time-averaged renal clearance (Cl(r)) was of minor importance and that time-averaged non-renal clearance (Cl(nr)) was dominant. In both 6- and 16-week-old SHRs, the Cl(nr)s and areas under the curve (AUCs) of intravenous mirodenafil were significantly smaller and greater than those of the controls, but in 16-week-old DOCA-salt rats, they were comparable to the controls. Although the AUC of oral mirodenafil in 16-week-old SHRs was comparable to the controls, the Cl(nr)s (or total body clearances, Cls) of intravenous mirodenafil and intestinal intrinsic clearances were significantly smaller than the controls and comparable to the controls for both 6- and 16-week-old SHRs, unlike in the 16-week-old DOCA-salt rats. The above data suggest that the significantly smaller Cl(nr) and greater AUC of intravenous mirodenafil and comparable AUC of oral mirodenafil in 16-week-old SHR could be due to the hereditary characteristics of SHRs, and not due to the hypertensive state itself.

Pharmacokinetics of itraconazole in diabetic rats.

After intravenous or oral administration of 10 mg/kg itraconazole to rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus and to control rats, the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24) for itraconazole and that for its metabolite, 7-hydroxyitraconazole, were similar between the two groups of rats. This may be explained by the comparable hepatic and intestinal intrinsic clearance rates for the disappearance of itraconazole and the formation of 7-hydroxyitraconazole in both groups of rats.

Shoot differentiation from protocorm callus cultures of Vanilla planifolia (Orchidaceae): proteomic and metabolic responses at early stage.

BACKGROUND: Vanilla planifolia is an important Orchid commercially cultivated for the production of natural vanilla flavour. Vanilla plants are conventionally propagated by stem cuttings and thus causing injury to the mother plants. Regeneration and in vitro mass multiplication are proposed as an alternative to minimize damage to mother plants. Because mass production of V. planifolia through indirect shoot differentiation from callus culture is rare and may be a successful use of in vitro techniques for producing somaclonal variants, we have established a novel protocol for the regeneration of vanilla plants and investigated the initial biochemical and molecular mechanisms that trigger shoot organogenesis from embryogenic/organogenic callus. RESULTS: For embryogenic callus induction, seeds obtained from 7-month-old green pods of V. planifolia were inoculated on MS basal medium (BM) containing TDZ (0.5 mg l(-1)). Germination of unorganized mass callus such as protocorm -like structure (PLS) arising from each seed has been observed. The primary embryogenic calli have been formed after transferring on BM containing IAA (0.5 mg l(-1)) and TDZ (0.5 mg l(-1)). These calli were maintained by subculturing on BM containing IAA (0.5 mg l(-1)) and TDZ (0.3 mg l(-1)) during 6 months and formed embryogenic/organogenic calli. Histological analysis showed that shoot organogenesis was induced between 15 and 20 days after embryogenic/organogenic calli were transferred onto MS basal medium with NAA (0.5 mg l(-1)). By associating proteomics and metabolomics analyses, the biochemical and molecular markers responsible for shoot induction have been studied in 15-day-old calli at the stage where no differentiating part was visible on organogenic calli. Two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight-tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS) analysis revealed that 15 protein spots are significantly expressed (P < 0.05) at earlier stages of shoot differentiation. The majority of these proteins are involved in amino acid-protein metabolism and photosynthetic activity. In accordance with proteomic analysis, metabolic profiling using 1D and 2D NMR techniques showed the importance of numerous compounds related with sugar mobilization and nitrogen metabolism. NMR analysis techniques also allowed the identification of some secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds whose accumulation was enhanced during shoot differentiation. CONCLUSION: The subculture of embryogenic/organogenic calli onto shoot differentiation medium triggers the stimulation of cell metabolism principally at three levels namely (i) initiation of photosynthesis, glycolysis and phenolic compounds synthesis; (ii) amino acid-protein synthesis, and protein stabilization; (iii) sugar degradation. These biochemical mechanisms associated with the initiation of shoot formation during protocorm-like body (PLB) organogenesis could be coordinated by the removal of TDZ in callus maintenance medium. These results might contribute to elucidate the complex mechanism that leads to vanilla callus differentiation and subsequent shoot formation into PLB organogenesis. Moreover, our results highlight an early intermediate metabolic event in vanillin biosynthetic pathway with respect to secondary metabolism. Indeed, for the first time in vanilla tissue culture, phenolic compounds such as glucoside A and glucoside B were identified. The degradation of these compounds in specialized tissue (i.e. young green beans) probably contributes to the biosynthesis of glucovanillin, the parent compound of vanillin.

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of SP-8203 in rats.

The pharmacokinetics of SP-8203, a potential protective agent for the treatment of cerebral infarction, were evaluated after its intravenous (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg) and oral (10, 20, 30 and 100 mg/kg) administration in rats. After the intravenous administration of SP-8203, the AUCs of SP-8203 were dose-dependent; the dose-normalized AUCs were significantly greater with increasing doses. After the oral administration of SP-8203, plasma concentrations of SP-8203 were much lower than those after intravenous administration. This could be due to considerable hepatic and intestinal metabolism and the high percent of the dose recovered from the gastrointestinal tract (including its contents and feces) at 24 h as unchanged drug.

Antibiotic production in Streptomyces is organized by a division of labor through terminal genomic differentiation.

One of the hallmark behaviors of social groups is division of labor, where different group members become specialized to carry out complementary tasks. By dividing labor, cooperative groups increase efficiency, thereby raising group fitness even if these behaviors reduce individual fitness. We find that antibiotic production in colonies of Streptomyces coelicolor is coordinated by a division of labor. We show that S. coelicolor colonies are genetically heterogeneous because of amplifications and deletions to the chromosome. Cells with chromosomal changes produce diversified secondary metabolites and secrete more antibiotics; however, these changes reduced individual fitness, providing evidence for a trade-off between antibiotic production and fitness. Last, we show that colonies containing mixtures of mutants and their parents produce significantly more antibiotics, while colony-wide spore production remains unchanged. By generating specialized mutants that hyper-produce antibiotics, streptomycetes reduce the fitness costs of secreted secondary metabolites while maximizing the yield and diversity of these products.

NMR metabolomics of thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) resistance in Senecio hybrids.

Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) has become a key insect pest of agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide. Little is known about host plant resistance to thrips. In this study, we investigated thrips resistance in F (2) hybrids of Senecio jacobaea and Senecio aquaticus. We identified thrips-resistant hybrids applying three different bioassays. Subsequently, we compared the metabolomic profiles of these hybrids applying nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The new developments of NMR facilitate a wide range coverage of the metabolome. This makes NMR especially suitable if there is no a priori knowledge of the compounds related to herbivore resistance and allows a holistic approach analyzing different chemical compounds simultaneously. We show that the metabolomes of thrips-resistant and -susceptible hybrids differed considerably. Thrips-resistant hybrids contained higher amounts of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), jacobine, and jaconine, especially in younger leaves. Also, a flavanoid, kaempferol glucoside, accumulated in the resistant plants. Both PAs and kaempferol are known for their inhibitory effect on herbivores. In resistant and susceptible F (2) hybrids, young leaves showed less thrips damage than old leaves. Consistent with the optimal plant defense theory, young leaves contained increased levels of primary metabolites such as sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose, but also accumulated jacaranone as a secondary plant defense compound. Our results prove NMR as a promising tool to identify different metabolites involved in herbivore resistance. It constitutes a significant advance in the study of plant-insect relationships, providing key information on the implementation of herbivore resistance breeding strategies in plants.

Effects of cytochrome P450 inducers and inhibitors on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous furosemide in rats: involvement of CYP2C11, 2E1, 3A1 and 3A2 in furosemide metabolism.

OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that the non-renal clearance of furosemide was significantly faster in rats pretreated with phenobarbital but was not altered in rats pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene. However, no studies on other cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes have yet been reported in rats. METHOD: Furosemide 20 mg/kg was administered intravenously to rats pretreated with various CYP inducers--3-methylcholanthrene, orphenadrine citrate and isoniazid, inducers of CYP1A1/2, 2B1/2 and 2E1, respectively, in rats--and inhibitors--SKF-525A (a non-specific inhibitor of CYP isozymes), sulfaphenazole, cimetidine, quinine hydrochloride and troleandomycin, inhibitors of CYP2C6, 2C11, 2D and 3A1/2, respectively, in rats. KEY FINDINGS: The non-renal clearance of furosemide was significantly faster (55.9% increase) in rats pretreated with isoniazid, but slower in those pretreated with cimetidine or troleandomycin (38.5% and 22.7% decreases, respectively), than controls. After incubation of furosemide with baculovirus-infected insect cells expressing CYP2C11, 2E1, 3A1 or 3A2, furosemide was metabolized via CYP2C11, 2E1, 3A1 and 3A2. CONCLUSIONS: These findings could help explain possible pharmacokinetic changes of furosemide in various rat disease models (where CYP2C11, 2E1, 3A1 and/or CYP3A2 are altered) and drug-drug interactions between furosemide and other drugs (mainly metabolized via CYP2C11, 2E1, 3A1 and/or 3A2).

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and first-pass effects of mirodenafil, a new erectogenic, in rats.

The pharmacokinetics of mirodenafil and its two metabolites, SK3541 and SK3544, after intravenous (5, 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg) and oral (10, 20 and 50 mg/kg) administration of mirodenafil, and the first-pass effect of mirodenafil after intravenous, oral, intraportal, intragastric and intraduodenal (20 mg/kg) administration of mirodenafil were evaluated in rats. The pharmacokinetics of mirodenafil and SK3541 were dose-dependent after both intravenous and oral administration of mirodenafil due to the saturable hepatic metabolism of mirodenafil. After oral administration of mirodenafil, approximately 2.59% of the oral dose was not absorbed, the F value was approximately 29.4%, and the hepatic and gastrointestinal first-pass effects of mirodenafil were approximately 21.4% and 54.3% of the oral dose, respectively. The low F value of mirodenafil in rats was mainly due to considerable hepatic and gastrointestinal first-pass effects in rats. The equilibrium plasma-to-blood cell partition ratios of mirodenafil were independent of the initial blood mirodenafil concentrations of 1-10 microg/ml; the mean values were 1.08-1.21. The plasma binding values of mirodenafil to rat plasma was 87.8%.

Time-dependent effects of Klebsiella pneumoniae endotoxin on the pharmacokinetics of chlorzoxazone and its main metabolite, 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone, in rats: restoration of the parameters in 96 hour in KPLPS rats to control levels.

It has been reported that chlorzoxazone (CZX) was primarily metabolized via hepatic Cyp2e1 to form 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone (OH-CZX) in rats, and the activity of aniline hydroxylase (a Cyp2e1 marker) in the liver was significantly decreased in rats at 24 h after pretreatment with lipopolysaccharide derived from Klebsiella pneumoniae (24 h KPLPS rats), whereas the levels were not changed at 2 h and 96 h in the KPLPS rats. Thus, the time-dependent pharmacokinetic parameters of CZX and OH-CZX were evaluated after the intravenous administration of CZX (20 mg/kg) to control rats, and the 2 h, 24 h and 96 h KPLPS rats along with the time-dependent changes in the protein expression of hepatic Cyp2e1. After the intravenous administration of CZX to 24 h KPLPS rats, the AUC(0-2 h) of OH-CZX and AUC(OH-CZX, 0-2 h)/AUC(CZX) were significantly smaller (by 40.5% and 71.2%, respectively) than those of controls due to the significant decrease (by 75.3%) in the protein expression of hepatic Cyp2e1. However, in 96 h KPLPS rats, the pharmacokinetic parameters of both CZX and OH-CZX were unchanged compared with controls due to the restoration of the protein expression of hepatic Cyp2e1 to control levels. These observations highlighted the existence of the time-dependent effects of KPLPS on the pharmacokinetics of CZX and OH-CZX in rats.

High variability of teicoplanin concentration in patients with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration.

INTRODUCTION: Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) may alter teicoplanin pharmacokinetics and increase the risk of incorrect dosing. The objective of this prospective observational study was to assess the effect of CVVHDF on the pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin as maintenance therapy. METHODS: Blood, urine, and dialysate samples were collected to measure teicoplanin levels. CVVHDF clearance (CLCVVHDF ), total clearance (CLTOTAL ), and volume of distribution (Vd) were calculated by simplex-linear modeling. The influence of CVVHDF dose on teicoplanin pharmacokinetics was assessed. FINDINGS: Ten samples from eight patients were studied. Creatinine clearance was 3.4 ± 5.1 ml/min/1.73 m2 . Three patients were anuria. The dose for CVVHDF was 32.1 ± 7.0 mL/kg/h. Vd was 1.6 ± 0.7 L/kg. T1/2 was 100.1 ± 42.7 hours. CLTOTAL of teicoplanin was 11.9 ± 5.4 mL/min and CLCVVHDF was 5.8 ± 4.2 mL/min. Contribution of CLCVVHDF to CLTOTAL was 51.2% ± 23.6%. CLCVVHDF of individual teicoplanin varied widely. Large intra-occasion differences were also observed. Dose of CLCVVHDF did not influence overall CLTOTAL , Vd, or half-life. The proportion of CLTOTAL due to CLCVVHDF varied widely. It was high in some cases. DISCUSSION: In patients receiving CVVHDF, there is great variability in teicoplanin pharmacokinetics which complicates empiric approach to dosing, suggesting the need for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Organogenic nodule development in hop (Humulus lupulus L.): transcript and metabolic responses.

BACKGROUND: Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is an economically important plant forming organogenic nodules which can be used for genetic transformation and micropropagation. We are interested in the mechanisms underlying reprogramming of cells through stress and hormone treatments. RESULTS: An integrated molecular and metabolomic approach was used to investigate global gene expression and metabolic responses during development of hop's organogenic nodules. Transcript profiling using a 3,324-cDNA clone array revealed differential regulation of 133 unigenes, classified into 11 functional categories. Several pathways seem to be determinant in organogenic nodule formation, namely defense and stress response, sugar and lipid metabolism, synthesis of secondary metabolites and hormone signaling. Metabolic profiling using 1H NMR spectroscopy associated to two-dimensional techniques showed the importance of metabolites related to oxidative stress response, lipid and sugar metabolism and secondary metabolism in organogenic nodule formation. CONCLUSION: The expression profile of genes pivotal for energy metabolism, together with metabolites profile, suggested that these morphogenic structures gain energy through a heterotrophic, transport-dependent and sugar-degrading anaerobic metabolism. Polyamines and auxins are likely to be involved in the regulation of expression of many genes related to organogenic nodule formation. These results represent substantial progress toward a better understanding of this complex developmental program and reveal novel information regarding morphogenesis in plants.

Effects of diabetes mellitus induced by alloxan on the pharmacokinetics of metformin in rats: restoration of pharmacokinetic parameters to the control state by insulin treatment.

PURPOSE: To test the effect of insulin treatment on the pharmacokinetics of metformin in rats with diabetes mellitus induced by alloxan (DMIA rats). The following results were reported from other studies. Metformin was metabolized via hepatic CYP2C11, 2D1, and 3A1/2 in rats. In DMIA rats, the protein expression and mRNA levels of hepatic CYP2C11 and 3A1/2 decreased and increased, respectively. In rat model of diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin, the protein expression of hepatic CYP2D1 was not changed. The increase in hepatic CYP1A2, 2B1, and 2E1, and decrease in hepatic CYP2C11 in DMIA rats was returned to the controls by insulin treatment. METHODS: Metformin (100 mg/kg) was administered intravenously and orally to the control rats, DMIA rats, and DMIA rats with insulin treatment for 3 weeks (DMIA rats with insulin). RESULTS: After intravenous administration of metformin to the DMIA rats, the CLR and CLNR of the drug were significantly slower than the controls. After oral administration of metformin to the DMIA rats, the AUC of the drug was also significantly greater than the controls. After intravenous administration of metformin to the DMIA rats with insulin, the significantly slower CLNR of the drug in the DMIA rats was returned to the controls. The altered pharmacokinetic indices observed following intravenous and oral administration of metformin to DMIA rats returned to the control values in the DMIA rats with insulin. CONCLUSIONS: The significantly slower CLNR of metformin in the DMIA rats could be due to the decrease in hepatic CYP2C11 than the controls. The comparable CLNR of metformin between the DMIA rats with insulin and the control rats could be due to restoration of hepatic CYP enzyme changes in DMIA rats to the controls.

Effects of cysteine on metformin pharmacokinetics in rats with protein-calorie malnutrition: partial restoration of some parameters to control levels.

Metformin is metabolized primarily via hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP)2C11, CYP2D1 and CYP3A1/2 in rats. The expression and mRNA levels of hepatic CYP2C11 and CYP3A1/2 are decreased in rats with protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM), but these levels are fully or partially restored to control levels in PMC rats by oral cysteine supplementation (PCMC rats). Thus, it would be expected that the pharmacokinetic parameters of metformin in PCM rats would be returned to control levels in PCMC rats. Metformin was administered i.v. (100 mg kg(-1)) and orally (100 mg kg(-1)) to control, CC (control rats with oral cysteine supplementation), PCM and PCMC rats. The following pharmacokinetic parameters of metformin following i.v. administration were restored from levels in PCM rats to levels in control rats in PCMC rats: intrinsic clearance (0.0350, 0.0309, 0.0253 and 0.0316 mL min(-1) mg(-1) protein for control, CC, PCM, and PCMC rats, respectively), total area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUC; 4110, 4290, 5540 and 4430 microg min mL(-1), respectively), and time-averaged non-renal clearance (8.12, 7.95, 5.94 and 8.17 mL min(-1) kg(-1), respectively). AUC values following oral administration were comparable between control and PCMC rats (1520, 1480, 2290 and 1680 microg min mL(-1), respectively).