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2024 Volume 44 Issue 4  Published: 2024-04-30
    Review & Monography
  • Ke-xin NIU , Jie LIAN , Xia ZHAO , Shu-qiang SONG , Xue SU , Nan XIAO
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.01

    Illicit drugs are widely distributed in complex substrates such as biology, food, environment and drugs at minor, trace and even ultra-trace levels, which may cause acute poisoning, chronic poisoning, drug abuse and other problems. The analysis of illicit drugs has always been the focus of public safety. Solid phase extraction is a commonly used pretreatment technology for the analysis of illicit drugs in complex substrates. However, when extracting trace level illicit drugs, problems such as low sample utilization rate and poor extraction sensitivity may occur, which are difficult to meet the needs of sensitive and rapid analysis in the field of public safety. To this end, nanofibers, nanoparticles and other materials with strong size advantages are used for optimization and innovation of solid phase extraction technology. Electrospinning technology is the most commonly used method for continuous and mass production of nanofibers. It has the advantages of simple process, diverse materials and controllable fiber size, and has been widely used in the field of analysis and extraction. The electrospinning technology has experienced the development from spinning with a single polymer to blending with a variety of polymers and modifying nanoparticles with functional materials. The mechanical properties, selectivity and stability of the electrospinning nanofibers prepared have also been gradually improved, broadening the application scope of this technology in the analysis of illicit drugs. At present, the application of electrospinning technology in solid phase extraction of illicit drugs is still in its infancy. This paper systematically reviews the research status of electrospinning in traditional solid phase extraction, micro-solid phase extraction and dispersed solid phase extraction, and provides suggestions for its possible future development, in order to provide reference for further research on related issues.

  • Review & Monography
  • Rong-die ZHU , Ying GENG , Ying DU , De-jiang TAN , Hua CHEN , Zhi-jun QIU
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.02

    The change of analytical procedure, a part of the entire lifecycle of a method, is increasingly valued with the emergence of new technologies, the increasing demand for product quality, 3R, environmental protection, and cost reduction requirements. This paper refers to the latest progress in the study of counterpart law at home and abroad, systematically classifies changes of analytical procedures from the perspective of methodology, and discusses the differences between different types of changes and the evaluation criteria and implementation approaches of analytical procedures after procedure changes.

  • Ingredient Analysis
  • Shuai SUN , Xiang WANG , Le GAO , Wen-chao XIE , Chen-nan LIU , Li-ying NIU , Xin-guo WANG
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.03
    Objective:

    To establish an UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of 11 components(caffeic acid, afzelin, gallic acid, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, salidroside, eleutheroside B, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rd) in Hongwushen capsules.

    Methods:

    A Shim-pack GIST C18 chromatographic column(100 mm×2.1 mm, 2 μm) was used. The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile -0.1% acetic acid -1 mmol·L-1 ammonium acetate aqueous solution and the gradient elution was applied. The flow rate was 0.3 mL·min-1, the column temperature was 30 ℃, and the injection volume was 1 μL. Electrospray ionization (ESI) source and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode in both positive and negative were used for ion detections.

    Results:

    The linear relationship of 11 components was good in the concentration range, and the linear correlation coefficients were all above 0.999 0. The RSD values of precision were less than 3%. The repeatability and stability were good, and the RSD values were less than 5%. The average recoveries were in the range of 97.1%-101.5% with RSDs≤3.7%. The contents of caffeic acid, afzelin, gallic acid, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, salidroside, eleutheroside B, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rg1 and ginsenoside Rd in 10 batches of Hongwushen capsules were 0.010-0.013 mg·g-1, 0.000 7-0.001 4 mg·g-1, 0.035-0.038 mg·g-1, 0.312-0.315 mg·g-1, 0.413-0.417 mg·g-1, 0.411-0.416 mg·g-1, 4.355-4.358 mg·g-1, 0.030-0.032 mg·g-1, 0.993-0.999 mg·g-1, 1.120-1.124 mg·g-1 and 2.536-2.538 mg·g-1, respectively.

    Conclusions:

    The method is accurate, sensitive, stable and reproducible, and can be used for the quality control of Hongwushen capsules.

  • Ingredient Analysis
  • Zhen CHEN , Jing XIE , Feng SHI , Rui-qing XIAN , Li-ping GONG , Bao-jian HANG , Peng-fei YOU , Xiao CHEN , Dong-mei ZHANG
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.04
    Objective:

    To establish a method for simultaneous determination of aluminum trioxide, silicon dioxide and magnesium oxide in montmorillonite and its preparations.

    Methods:

    The method was optimized and established for simultaneous determination of aluminum (27Al), silicon (28Si), and magnesium (24Mg) in montmorillonite using rhadium (103Rh) as the internal standard, a dilute nitric acid hydrofluoric acid saturated boric acid solution with secondary microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). The method was compared and analyzed with the EDTA volumetric method for the determination of aluminum trioxide, the muffle ignition combustion method for the determination of silicon dioxide and the AAS method for the determination of magnesium oxide after melting samples of lithium metaborate in the USP.

    Results:

    The linear of aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si) were in the range of 25-300 ng·mL-1. The linear of magnesium (Mg) was in the range of 20-240 ng·mL-1, r≥0.999. The detection limits of Al, Si, and Mg were 0.49, 1.30, 0.71 ng·mL-1. The average recoveries were 99.7%-100.6%, 99.9%-101.2%, 99.8%-101.2%, and the average repeatability RSDs (n=6) were 0.3%-1.3%, 0.4%-1.2%, and 0.4%-1.0%. The contents of aluminum trioxide, silicon dioxide and magnesium oxide in montmorillonite, montmorillonite powder, and montmorillonite dispersion tablets were determined using the newly established method and the original standard method, and the measurement results were basically consistent. Eight common peaks were identified from fingerprints of 10 batches of samples. The RSD values of relative retention time of 8 common peaks of chromotograms of samples were all below 0.5% and the similarities were above 0.9. The contents of aluminum trioxide in montmorillonite were determined using the newly established method and the original standard method, which were 2.3% to 2.4%, 2.0% to 2.2%, 58.7% to 61.5%, 55.3% to 59.4%, and 15.9% to 20.6%, 14.6% to 19.4%, respectively. The results of the measurements were basically consistent for the determination of aluminum trioxide, silicon dioxide, and magnesium oxide content in montmorillonite raw materials and formulations.

    Conclusion:

    The newly established content determination method uses a combination of secondary microwave digestion and ICP-MS technology to determine the content of aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, and magnesium oxide in montmorillonite samples. It is simple, fast, sensitive, and accurate, and can be used.

  • Ingredient Analysis
  • Sha-sha LI , Ya-juan LI , Xiao-ting WANG , A-juan MAO , Fan LI , Fang LI , Hong ZHANG , Wei-feng WANG
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.05
    Objective:

    To establish a quality assessment method for lichens of Thamnolia subuliformis (Ehrh.) W. Culb. based on HPLC fingerprint, and qualitative analysis of the chemical constituents by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/electrostatic field orbital trap high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q Exactive Focus MS/MS).

    Methods:

    Agilent TC-C18(250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) chromatographic column was used, the mobile phase was methol -0.1% phosphoric acid with gradient elution at the flow rate of 1.0 mL·min-1, the column temperature was 30 ℃, the detection wavelength was 254 nm, and the injection volume was 10 μL. HPLC fingerprints of lichens of Thamnolia subuliformis was established. The software of similarity calculation for traditional Chinese medicines fingerprints (version 2012) was used to establish the fingerprinting of lichens of Thamnolia subuliformis. The chemical constituents were analyzed by UHPLC-Q Exactive Focus MS/MS, The chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C18 (50 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) column with acetonitrile(A) -0.1% formic acid aqueous solution(B) as mobile phase for gradient elution, the flow rate was 0.3 mL·min-1 and the column temperature was 30 ℃.Mass spectrometry was performed using an electrospray ionization and data was collected in negative ion modes in the range of m/z 80-1 200.

    Results:

    Eight common peaks were identified from fingerprints of 10 batches of samples. The RSD values of relative retention time of 8 common peaks of chromotograms of samples were all below 0.5% and the similarities were above 0.9. 4 of the identified peaks were further confirmed by UHPLC-Q Exactive Focus MS/MS as squamatic acid, baeomycesic acid, thamnoliadepsides B, barbatinic acid.

    Conclusion:

    The established method of fingerprint is stable, reliable, and specific, which can be used for quality evaluation of lichens of Thamnolia subuliformis.

  • Metabolism Analysis
  • Xiong-li ZHANG , Tao XIA , Lin ZHENG , Ming-yan CHI , Yue-ting LI , Zi-peng GONG , Yang JIN , Ting LIU , Yong HUANG
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.06
    Objective:

    To investigate the metabolites of Periploca forrestii in plasma, urine, and feces of normal and adjuvant arthritis(AA) rats, and explore the effect of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) on the metabolism of active components of P. forrestii.

    Methods:

    AA rat model was made by means of Freund’s complete adjuvant. Plasma, urine and feces of normal and AA rats were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MSE method using ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) column with 0.01% formic acid water -0.01% formic acid acetonitrile as mobile phase gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.25 mL·min-1, and electrospray ion source under negative ion mode.

    Results:

    Two and three prototype components, 32 and 35 metabolites were detected in normal rats and AA model rats. The metabolic pathways mainly include monocaffeoylquinic acid reduction, methylation, ring-opening cleavage, glucuronidation, dicaffeoylquinic acid reduction, methylation, acetylation, isomerization, sulfation glucuronidation, etc.

    Conclusion:

    The metabolites in plasma and urine of AA model rats are more diverse than those in normal rats, and the disease state of RA may affect the metabolic pathway of effective components of P. forrestii in the body.

  • Metabolism Analysis
  • Nan ZHAO , Guo-liang ZHOU , Shu-he LI , Xu-dong ZHANG , Yuan TIAN , Li-chang GUAN
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.07
    Objective:

    To establish a rapid and accurate ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the detection of dextromethorphan and one metabolite dextrorphan in hair.

    Methods:

    The hair sample containing dextromethorphan and dextrorphan were extracted with methanol containing internal standard proadifen hydrochloride(SKF525A). The extract was filtered with 0.22 μm organic filter membrane and detected by UPLC-MS/MS. All components were separated by an ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8 μm), using a gradient elution procedure consisting of 0.2% formic acid (10 mmol·L-1 ammonium formate) and acetonitrile, at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min-1, and the column temperature was room temperature. Positive electrospray ionization was performed using multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM).

    Results:

    The linear relationships of dextromethorphan and dextrorphan were good in the range of 1-100 ng·mL-1. The linear equations were Y=1.349 49X-0.020 80 (r=0.998 8) and Y=0.775 10X-0.013 87 (r=0.999 1), respectively. The detection limit and quantitation limit were 0.010 ng·mL-1 and 0.025 ng·mL-1 respectively. Their recoveries ranged from 97.0%-104.8%. The intra-day RSD and inter-day RSD were 1.5%-3.9% and 2.1%-5.5%, respectively. The method was applied to cases, and the results showed that dextromethorphan and dextrorphan were detected in the hair of 6 abusers.

    Conclusion:

    This method is simple and sensitive enough to be applied to detect dextromethorphan and one metabolite dextrorphan in hair.

  • Safety Monitoring
  • Shuang CHE , Jun ZHOU , Wen-zhi YANG , Xiao-hang LI , Chen ZHAO , Xin-yuan ZHENG
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.08
    Objective:

    To evaluate the chemical composition difference of Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves and Cassia auriculata L. leaves by high-resolution mass spectrometry and omics analysis, so as to establish the detection method of Cassia auriculata L. leaves adulterated in Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves.

    Methods:

    The positive and negative MSE data of 13 batches of Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves and 9 batches of Cassia auriculata L. leaves were collected by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q TOF MS). The mobile phase was acetonitrile(A)-1% acetic acid(B). The column temperature was 30 ℃. The flow rate was 0.3 mL·min-1. Injection volume was 1 μL. The mass range was m/z 50-1 200. The chemical composition difference of Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves and Cassia auriculata L. leaves were processed by the omics analysis QI software based on the orthogonal partial least-squares discrimination analysis(OPLS-DA) after the negative MSE data were obtained. One out of seven specific components from Cassia auriculata L. leaves was separated and identified. A method with the specific component as the reference substance for the detection of adulterated Cassia auriculata L. leaves in Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves was established by UPLC, and it was used in 27 batches of Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves samples and 3 batches of laboratory-made positive samples.

    Results:

    Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves and Cassia auriculata L. leaves were significantly different from each other. The specific component separated from Cassia auriculata L. leaves was identified as kaempferol 3-O-(2”-O-apiofuranosyl) rutinoside. In the method for the detection of adulterated Cassia auriculata L. leaves in Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves by UPLC, the precision(RSD=1.3%), repeatability(RSD=1.3%) and stability(RSD=0.58%) met the requirements. No kaempferol 3-O-(2”-O-apiofuranosyl) rutinoside was detected in 23 out of 27 batches of Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves samples, but it was detected in 4 batches of Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves samples and 3 batches of positive samples made in the laboratory.

    Conclusion:

    In this study, the difference of Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves and Cassia auriculata L. leaves is distinguished clearly based on the technology of UPLC-Q TOF MS and OPLS-DA. The specific component of Cassia auriculata L. leaves is separated and identified. A method for the detection of adulterated Cassia auriculata L. leaves in Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves is established by UPLC, and it provides the basis for quality control and quality standard improvement of Cassia angustifolia Vahl leaves. The technology is helpful to solve the problem of adulteration identification of traditional Chinese medicine.

  • Safety Monitoring
  • Yan-ting LIU , Zai-min CHEN , Yong WANG
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.09
    Objective:

    To establish a screening method for the detection of adulteration of Draconis Sanguis in Zhenghonghua oil.

    Methods:

    To establish a thin layer chromatography (TLC) method with 7, 4’-dihydroxyflavone as an index for fast screen of the adulteration in Zhenghonghua oil. The suspected samples were screened by TLC and the quantification was performed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The chromatographic column was SuperLu C18 (2)(100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8 μm), the mobile phase was acetonitrile-water (25∶75) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min-1 and the column temperature was 25 ℃. The detection ion pairs for 7, 4’-dihydroxyflavone were m/z 253.1→117.1 (quantitative) and m/z 253.1→91.0 (qualitative).

    Results:

    TLC method was specific and durable. The linear range of 7, 4’-dihydroxyflavone was 0.470-37.58 ng·mL-1 (r=0.999 7) by UPLC-MS/MS. The average recovery rate(n=6) was 96.1% and RSD was 3.2%. Thirty batches of Zhenghonghua oil were screened by TLC, and 24 batches were suspected to have 7, 4’-dihydroxyflavone. The suspected samples were verified by UPLC-MS/MS, 24 batches of Zhenghonghua oil exceeded the proposed limit, and the verification results were consistent with TLC method.

    Conclusion:

    This method is rapid, accurate and can be used for the screening and analysis of adulterated Zhenghonghua oil.

  • Safety Monitoring
  • Juan CHEN , Yang JIAO , Bing WANG , Lin WANG , Fei XUE , Ying-ying XIE , Qing-kang YAN , Xiang LI , Yong-qiang LIN
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.10
    Objective:

    To investigate and use the different constituents in Bofonis Corium distinguishing from Bufonis Venenum based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS) coupled with chemometrics.

    Methods:

    UPLC analysis was performed on a Waters Atlantis T3 (150 mm×2.1 mm, 3 μm) column with gradient elution of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min-1. The column temperature was set at 30 ℃. UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS was chosen for data collection in both positive and negative ion modes. The potential differential ions were obtained by principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The Xcalibur 3.0 data processing system was utilized to extract the secondary fragmentation details of the differential ions. Subsequently, the specificity of differential ions was confirmed through the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode of AB SCIEX 6500+ triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Identification of adulterated Bofonis Corium in Bufonis Venenum was performed by applying the ion pairs with good specificity.

    Results:

    After the research and verification, a total of five distinction pairs (m/z: 377.5→243.2, 172.1;330.4→170.9, 127.0;313.4→201.2, 171.0;452.4→280.2, 298.2 and 614.7→332.4, 281.3) were discovered, and a method for the examination of Bofonis Corium in Bufonis Venenum was established and methodologically investigated by applying the information of the different ions. The constructed method had reasonable specificity and durability. Each ion pair showed an excellent linear relationship within a specific range, with correlation coefficients above 0.996 7. The RSDs of the precision test were in the range of 1.3%-4.1%. The RSDs of the repeatability test were in the range of 1.3%-3.2%. Five batches of market samples of Bufonis Venenum were determined according to the above process, and two batches of samples showed the presence of Bofonis Corium components but did not exceed the proposed 5% adulteration limit.

    Conclusion:

    In this study, a rapid method for detecting discrepancy information based on UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS combined with chemometrics is presented, and the discrepant information is applied to establish an identification method for adulterated Bofonis Corium in Bufonis Venenum.

  • Safety Monitoring
  • Hao-wen SHEN , Meng-qing XIAO , Hai-tao MENG , Xiang-yang LENG , Fang YAN
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.11
    Objective:

    To perform a comprehensive analysis of extractables in rubber by pseudotargeted metabolomics.

    Methods:

    The quality control(QC) solutions and test solutions were prepared by extracting the six kinds of rubbers with water, pH 2.6 phosphate buffer, pH 9.18 phosphate buffer, and 15% ethanol solution, respectively. The QC solutions were detected by LC-30A ultra performance liquid chromatography-Q TOF-9030 mass spectrometer in ESI+/ESI- mode. The mobile phases were 0.1% formic acid-water and 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile/0.05% ammonium-water and 0.05% ammonium -5% water-methanol. The separation chromatographic column was Waters Acquity BEH C8/HSS T3. TOF MS and MS/MS DDA scanning modes were used to detect the QC solutions. The scan results of QC solution were processed with MSConvert and MRM-Ion_Pair_Finder software to obtain MRM parameters. The extracts were detected by ExionLC UPLC-Qtrap6500+ mass spectrometer in ESI+/ESI- mode with the same mobile phase and column as before, and Scheduled-MRM scan mode was applied to detect the extracts.

    Results:

    The 1 399 unknown compounds and 116 known compounds were analyzed. By extraction solution, it was found that pH 9.18 phosphate buffer and 15% ethanol solution could extract more compounds, and 27 compounds with large differences in different extraction solutions were identified. By rubbers, the affinities of different rubbers were determined by 25 differences.

    Conclusion:

    In this study, the results of the extraction of six rubbers under four extracts are analyzed. There are differences between extracts under different extraction conditions. Analytical methods can be specifically developed for these key variables for quality control follow-up studies to ensure the stability and consistency of drug quality. The variables in different rubbers are also analyzed, which can be used to make a general class determination of unknown rubber samples.

  • Safety Monitoring
  • Wen-jing ZHANG , Hai-yan LI , Xiao-wei WANG , Hai-bo WANG , Xiang-yang LI , Gui-ben LI , Hong-wei ZHANG , Yi-wei GENG , Yuan YANG , Yan SHI
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.12
    Objective:

    To study and establish a method based on gas chromatography and chemometrics techniques for distinguishing Artemisiae Argyi Folium and its adulterants Artemisiae Mongolica Folium.

    Methods:

    Gas chromatography method was established with Agilent HP-5 19091J (30 m×0.32 mm, 0.25 μm) as chromatographic column, and hydrogen flame ion detector (FID) as detector. After the chemical composition of 21 chromatographic peaks in the chromatogram were identified, and the peak area data of the 21 chromatographic peaks in 29 batches of samples were determined. Similarity analysis, correlation analysis, cluster analysis, principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis were applied to analyze the chromatographic data.

    Results:

    The results of chemometric analysis indicated that tpeak 20 (chamazulene), peak 3 (1, 8-cineole) and peak 19((1S, 8aα)-decahydro-1, 4aβ-dimethyl-7β-isopropenyl-1-naphthol) were the differential characteristic chromatographic peaks between Artemisiae Argyi Folium and its adulterants Artemisiae Mongolica Folium. The ratios of the peak areas of peak 3 to peak 20 were in the ranges of 54.50-348.39 and 0.16-0.87 respectively, and the ratios of the peak areas of peak 19 to peak 20 were in the ranges of 18.55-128.46 and 0.01-0.14 respectively. These significant differences could be used for the identification of Artemisiae Argyi Folium and its adulterant Artemisiae Mongolica Folium.

    Conclusion:

    The research findings can be used for the identification of Artemisiae Argyi Folium and its adulterant Artemisiae Mongolica Folium, and these have certain reference significance for the research and analysis of Artemisiae Argyi Folium and related drugs.

  • Safety Monitoring
  • Xi QIN , Jin-pan HU , Yong-hong LI , Xin-chang SHI , You-xue DING , Hua BI , Chun-mei HAN , Hong-mei ZHENG , Chun-ming RAO , Cheng-gang LIANG
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.13
    Objective:

    To establish the first national standard for oncolytic activity assay of herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1).

    Methods:

    According to the requirements in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(Volume Ⅲ, 2020 edition), the liquid and freeze-dried standard for oncolytic activity of HSV-1 were prepared and tested, of which the stability were evaluated by thermal acceleration test. The oncolytic activity of the standard was calibrated collaboratively by U-2 OS cells/CCK-8 method in 3 laboratories. The liquid standard was compared with the freeze-dried standard, and the more suitable one was selected as the national standard.

    Results:

    The prepared standard substance was all qualified, among which the moisture content of the freeze-dried standard was 1.09% and the dispensing accuracy was 0.15%. The results of stability test were calculated by Arrhenius formula. It was preliminarily predicted that it would take 7.7 years for the oncolytic activity of liquid standard to decrease by 10% at -70 ℃, and it would take 6.1×105 years for the oncolytic activity of lyophilized standard to decrease by 10% at -70 ℃. Compared with liquid standard, the stability of lyophilized standard was greatly improved. Twenty-one times of collaborative calibration tests by 3 laboratories showed that the oncolytic activity liquid standard was 7.08×104 U·mL-1 and the oncolytic activity liquid standard was 1.82×104 U·vial-1. After lyophilized, the oncolytic activity of the bulk of HSV-1 standard decreased from 7.08×104 U·mL-1 to 3.03×104 U·mL-1. However, the good S-shaped dose-response curve still appeared after 100 times of pre-dilution, which did not affect the requirements of its use as a standard. When the liquid standard was used as the sample and the freeze-dried standard was used as the standard for calibration, the geometric coefficient of variation (GCV) of the results of the 3 laboratories decreased from 64.4% to 29.2%, and the precision of the experiment was greatly improved.

    Conclusion:

    The batch of freeze-dried HSV-1 standards for oncolytic activity assay meets the relavant requirements, and is more suitable for use as a national standard than liquid standards. Its oncolytic activity is assigned a value of 1.82×104 U·vial-1.

  • Safety Monitoring
  • Ping LIU , Jun-pei FAN , Jian-qin GU , Jie SUN , Xiu-xiu DOU , Li-ming TANG
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.14
    Objective:

    To determine seven impurities in oxytocin for injection and investigate the limit values.

    Methods:

    HPLC and principal component self-control with correction factor were adopted. The determination was performed on a Waters Xbridge C18 column(150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase consisted of 0.1 mol·L-1 dihydrogen phosphate solution (adjusted to pH 5.4)-acetonitrile (90∶10, phase A), and acetonitrile (phase B) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.5 mL·min-1. The column temperature was maintained at 32 ℃, and the detection wavelength was set at 220 nm. The injection volume was 100 μL. The linear equations of oxytocin, impurities Ac-Oxy, Oxy[Glu4], Oxy[+Gly10], Oxy[-NH2], Oxy[trisulfide], Oxy[cis-dimer] and Oxy[trans-dimer] were drawn. The correction factors of each impurity related to oxytocin were calculated by slope. The contents of impurities in 3 batches of oxytocin for injection were determined and compared with the results of impurity reference method.

    Results:

    The limits of quantification for seven impurities were 2.75-5.66 ng, while the detection limits were 1.38-2.83 ng. The linear ranges of seven impurities were 0.03-3.40 μg·mL-1 with good linearity(r>0.999). The correction factors of Ac-Oxy, Oxy[Glu4] and Oxy[-NH2] were 1.1, while the correction factors of Oxy[+Gly10] and Oxy[trisulfide] were 1.2 and 0.9, respectively. The correction factors of Oxy[cis-dimer] and Oxy[trans-dimer] were both 1.3. The seven impurities were determined in 3 batches of samples by principal component self-control with correction factor. The contents of impurity Ac-Oxy were 0.96%, 0.93% and 1.01%, respectively. The contents of impurity Oxy[Glu4] were 0.07%, 0.06% and 0.08%, respectively. The contents of impurity Oxy[+Gly10] were 0.07%, 0.04% and 0.04%, respectively. The contents of impurity Oxy[-NH2] were 0.09%, 0.05% and 0.07%, respectively. The contents of impurity Oxy[trans-dimer] were 0.27%, 0.18% and 0.22%, respectively. The maximum single impurity contents were 0.18%-0.19%, while the total impurity contents were 1.88%-2.06%. Compared the results measured by principal component self-control with correct factor method and the impurity reference method, there was no significant difference between two methods (p>0.05).

    Conclusion:

    The method is proved to be simple, repeatable and accurate for the content determination of related substances in oxytocin for injection.

  • Safety Monitoring
  • Wen-chao ZHOU , Xue-lian ZHANG , Shu-hua GUO , Lin MA
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.15
    Objective:

    To explore the correlations between opalescence and molecular size, purity or aggregation tendency in the antibody formulation.

    Methods:

    Studied on the opalescence phenomena of various antibodies, including the influence of different concentrations, pH/buffer, excipients, as well as the influence of environmental factors such as temperature, light, freeze-thaw and agitation, and the correlations had been analyzed between opalescence and molecular size, purity (aggregation), KD or Tagg.

    Results:

    The degree of antibody opalescence was positively correlated with the molecular size, the deepening of the opalescence indicated that the molecular size was increased and the more tendency of molecular aggregation. For example, the opalescence of C molecule obviously enhanced under high temperature, and the result of turbidity changed from 3.3 NTU to 13.6 NTU, the molecular size changed from 13.1 nm to 40.6 nm, and the KD changed from positive to negative. The Tagg changed from 59.6 ℃ to below 50 ℃.

    Conclusion:

    The opalescence can be affected by buffer system, pH, excipients and ambient temperature, the degree of opalescence increased, indicating the stability become worse and the molecules prone to aggregate. This study provides important reference for the analysis and evaluation of opalescence in the antibody formulation development.

  • Quality Control
  • Gui-yun CAO , Xue-song ZHUANG , Bo NING , Yu-kang LIU , Quan-jun WANG , Xing-cun LIU , Yong-qiang LIN , Wei-liang CUI , Feng-chao ZHANG , Zi-ye LIU , Zhao-qing MENG
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.16
    Objective:

    To establish a method for quality evaluation of Artemisiae Scopariae Herba [Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (Mianyinchen)] dispensing granules by combining characteristic chromatogram, quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS) and chemical pattern recognition analysis.

    Methods:

    The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) characteristic chromatogram was established by 15 batches of Artemisiae Scopariae Herba [Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (Mianyinchen)] standard decoctions and 3 batches of dispensing granules. The contents of 6 components were determined by QAMS. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a AcclaimTM RSLC 120 C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 2.2 μm), with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile -0.05% phosphoric acid flowing at 0.4 mL·min-1 in a gradient elution manner. And the detection wavelength was set at 327 nm. The similarity evaluation system of fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine was used to determine the common peak for similarity evaluation. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied for chemical pattern recognition. The transfer rates of the 6 components from decoction pieces to standard decoctions and dispensing granules were calculated.

    Results:

    The similarities of characteristic chromatograms of 15 batches of Artemisiae Scopariae Herba [Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (Mianyinchen)] standard decoctions and 3 batches of dispensing granules were all above 0.85. And 8 common characteristic peaks were identified. The results of HCA and PCA indicated the similarity of ingredients in formula granules to those in standard decoctions. The contents of neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C in standard decoctions were 1.87-5.23, 7.44-15.26, 2.85-8.18, 3.05-6.14, 0.99-3.93 and 3.23-10.38 mg·g-1 and the transfer rates of these components from decoction pieces to standard decoction were 23.85%-37.28%, 19.57%-31.93%, 28.15%-45.88%, 22.34%-36.59%, 16.64%-28.36% and 21.81%-39.19%, respectively. The contents and transfer rates of these 6 compounds in dispensing granules were close to that of standard decoctions.

    Conclusion:

    The characteristic chromatogram and QAMS method established can be used for quality control and process research of Artemisiae Scopariae Herba [Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (Mianyinchen)] dispensing granules.

  • Standard Deliberation
  • Shi BAO , Ya-ping ZHAO , Quan-sheng CAO
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.17
    Objective:

    To develop an HPLC method for the determination of related substances and assay of levamisole hydrochloride tablets.

    Methods:

    The chromatographic separation of related substances was performed on a Thermo Hypsil C18 column(100 mm×4.6 mm, 3 μm). A gradient elution was applied with a mobile phase composed of 0.75% monobasic ammonium phosphate solution(adjusted at pH 6.5 with diiopropylamine) and acetonitrile. The assay analytical column was packed with IntertSustain C18 column(150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was 70 volumes of 0.75% monobasic ammonium phosphate solution(adjusted at pH 7.0 with diiopropylamine) with 30 volumes of acetonitrile. The wavelength detection was set at 215 nm, the injection volumn was 10 μL, and the flow rate was 1.0 mL·min-1.

    Results:

    Levamisole and its impurities were separated well by related substances HPLC method above. Impurities A, B, C, D, E showed the good linearities in the concentration ranges of 10.87-25.37 μg·mL-1, 11.62-27.10 μg·mL-1, 12.38-28.90 μg·mL-1, 30.89-72.07 μg·mL-1, 12.41-28.95 μg·mL-1 (r>0.999). The average correction factors of impurities A, B, C, D, E determined by three columns and liquid chromatographies were 1.6, 1.4, 2.6, 1.2, 2.4, respectively, the recovery rates(n=9) were 98.1%, 99.0%, 98.6%, 100.1%, 99.9% and the RSDs were 0.63%, 0.79%, 0.92%, 0.96%, 0.33%. The separation of levamisole and impurity C was good by assay HPLC method. Levamisole showed the good linearity in the concentration range of 0.10 14-0.304 3 mg·mL-1 (r=0.999 9). The average recovery rate(n=9) of levamisole was 100.2%, RSD=0.52%. Ten batches levamisole hydrochloride tablets from five domestic pharmaceutical enterprises were determined by the above related substances and assay HPLC method, the total impurities mass were 0.05%-0.62%, and the assays were 99.5%-104.3%.

    Conclusion:

    The established method is high selection and accurate. It is suitable applied for determination of related substances and assay of levamiole hydrochloride tablets.

  • Standard Deliberation
  • Tian-tian ZUO , Yong-li LIU , Hong-yu JIN , Hai-liang LI , Yuan-xi LIU , Jian-dong YU , Shuang-cheng MA
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.18
    Objective:

    To determine the contents of Cd and As in Isatidis Radix and to explore the application of target-organ toxicity dose(TTD) modification of hazard index (HI) method in assessing the risk of combined exposure to heavy metals and harmful elements in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs).

    Methods:

    According to the monitoring data of Cd and As in Isatidis Radix, the exposure doses were calculated. The health risk caused by combined exposure to Cd and As was preliminary screened by HI method. Moreover, a more accurate TTD method was used.

    Results:

    The qualified rates of Cd in 29 batches of Isatidis Radix were 100%. However, 5 batches of As contents exceeded the limit standard. The HQ values of As in 5 batches of Isatidis Radix were more than 1. The results of TTD method showed that for the end points of cardiovascular system, blood, nervous system, the HI values of 5 batches of Isatidis Radix were more than 1, and the health risk was not acceptable.

    Conclusion:

    The cumulative risk assessment of heavy metals in TCMs is proposed in this study, which offers novel ideas for the development of risk assessment methods of exogenous harmful residues in TCMs, and provides technical support for formulating scientific limit standards.

  • Standard Deliberation
  • Yi ZHOU , Wei JIN , Yong-jian YANG
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.19
    Objective:

    To develop an HPLC method for the separation of perindopril tert-butylamine and its epimer [(±)-1”-epi-perindopril tert-butylamine] and the determination of the epimer.

    Methods:

    Perindopril and (±)-1”-epi-perindopril were separated on an Agilent Poroshell CS-C18 column (100 mm×3.0 mm, 2.7 μm) maintained at 50 ℃ with the mobile phase containing a mixture of 0.15% sodium heptanesulfonate solution (adjusted to pH 2.0 with phosphoric acid) and acetonitrile-pentanol(217∶3)(82∶18, V/V) at 0.8 mL·min-1, and the detection wavelength was set at 215 nm. The injection volume was 2 μL.

    Results:

    (±)-1”-epi-perindopril and perindopril were separated successfully in 25 min with peak to valley ratio more than 3.0 or a resolution factor of 1.7. Good linear relationships were established between the peak response and the concentration in the range of 2-2 000 μg·mL-1 for the epimer and perindopril tert-butylamine(r>0.999). The quantitative limits(S/N= 10) were both about 1.0 μg·mL-1, and the detection limits(S/N=3) were both 0.3 μg·mL-1. The spiked recovery of the epimerer was 97.2% (RSD=1.8%, n=9). The content of (±)-1”-epi-perindopril tert-butylamine in 10 batches of samples ranged from 0.025% to 0.078%.

    Conclusion:

    The proposed method enhances the resolution efficiency, shows high accuracy, repeatability and stability. It can be effectively employed for the quality control of perindopril tert-butylamine.

  • Rapid Analysis
  • Qiu-he MA , Yu-he MA , Tao LI , Yue LIU , Jin-jun CHAI , Zi-qiang XU , Ang LIU , Li-jun GAO , Wei XIA , Ming-cheng LI , Yong-mei QU
    doi: 10.16155/j.0254-1793.2024.04.20
    Objective:

    To establish a method for the rapid identification of the authenticity of Gastrodiae Rhizoma herbs based on enzymatic recombinase amplification (ERA) technique.

    Methods:

    Following the principle of ERA primer design, Oligo 7.0 software was applied to screen and optimize the ERA-specific primers of Tianma based on the ITS2 genome sequences of Gastrodia elata and its common artifacts. Primer Premier 5.0 software was applied to design the specific PCR primers for the identification of Gastrodia elata, and through the optimization of ERA and PCR reaction system, the optimal reaction time for ERA was finally determined to be 17 min, the optimal reaction temperature was 40 ℃, the optimal annealing temperature for PCR was 57 ℃, and the cycle was 32 times, and the established method was verified for sensitivity and specificity, and the samples of asparagus available in the traditional Chinese medicine The sensitivity and specificity of the established method were verified, and the commercially available asparagus samples in the market were selected for testing.

    Results:

    The designed primers for the specific identification of ERA in Gastrodia elata did not cross-react with its common forgeries, and the specificity was good, a repeatability results showed that the three repeatability tests were consistent, with no false positives or false negatives;the sensitivity of this method for Gastrodia elata genomic DNA was 1 pg·μL-1, which was higher than that of conventional PCR;the ERA technique can be used for the rapid identification of commercially available samples of Gastrodia elata and the results of the assay are the same as those of the PCR method.

    Conclusion:

    The established detection method is simple, rapid, with high specificity and sensitivity, and provides a new means for the authentication of the Gastrodiae Rhizoma.