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  • Xiao-yan HE, Jian-li CHEN, Huan XIANG, Yao GAO, Jun-sheng TIAN, Xue-mei QIN, Guan-hua DU
    Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2017, 52(2): 245-252.

    This study was designed to analyze the change of metabolites in the PC12 cells and its medium induced by corticosterone (CORT) and glutamate (Glu) by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) metabolomics. The multivariate statistical analysis was employed to identify the difference between control groups and induced groups, respectively. In addition, metabolite pathway analysis was performed to explore the characteristic of CORT-induced and or Glu-induced PC12 cells depression model, and to provide the references for the selection of in vitro depression models as well as the further understanding of the mechanism on depressive disorders. We found 36 differential metabolites in CORT-induced PC12 cells and medium and 42 in Glu-induced PC12 cells. Furthermore, correlation analysis results show that serine and 2-oxoisoleucine were associated with most differential metabolites in CORT-induced PC12 cells. Lactate and glutathione were significantly correlated to the vast majority of differential metabolites in Glu-induced PC12 cells. We speculated that CORT-induced PC12 cell models may affect the fatty acid metabolism and cell membrane structure, and Glu-induced PC12 cell models may have a difference in the glycolysis and antioxidants.

  • Yan-rong MA, Yan-fang WU, Ying-qin DUAN, Guo-qiang ZHANG, Xin-an WU
    Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2017, 52(2): 253-257.

    This study investigates the effects of metoprolol (METO) or/and pravastatin (PRAV) on the pharmacokinetics of metformin (METF) in rats. Twenty-eight male SD rats were divided into METF group, METF+METO group, METF+PRAV group and METF+METO+PRAV group. Blood samples were collected at 10, 20, 40, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 360, 480 and 600 min after oral administration of metformin, and concentration of metformin in plasma was determined by HPLC. Compared to the METF group, Cmax of metformin was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) and MRT0-t, t1/2 and V were significantly increased in the METF+METO group; t1/2 was significantly decreased in the METF+PRAV group; Cmax was significantly decreased and MRT0-t was significantly increased in the METF+METO+PRAV group. Compared to the METF+METO group, MRT0-t of metformin was significantly decreased in the METF+METO+PRAV group. Compared to the METF+PRAV group, Cmax of metformin was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and MRT0-t, t1/2 and V were significantly increased in the METF+METO+PRAV group. There exist multiple drug interactions of metformin, metoprolol and pravastatin in rats.

  • Shu-fen HE, Wen-zheng JU, Hao-bin HU, Li-jing ZHU, Qian ZHANG, Guo-liang DAI
    Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2017, 52(2): 258-263.

    This study was designed to explore the impact of depression on kidney-yang deficiency in rats. Rats were repeatedly injected with hydrocortisone for 21 days to establish the depression model with kidneyyang deficiency. Tolbutamide, chlorzoxazone, theophylline, midazolam, omeprazole and dextromethorphan were used as substrates of CYP2C6, CYP2E1, CYP1A2, CYP3A2, CYP2D1, and CYP2D2 to test the depression impact on drug metabolism. Plasma concentrations of six CYP450 were determined by LC-MS/MS and used as pharmacokinetic parameters. Consequently, metabolism of theophylline, chlorzoxazone and tolbutamide were accelerated significantly in the model relative to the control (P < 0.01), but dextromethorphan, omeprazole and midazolam did not exhibit a significant difference. The present study suggests that depression with kidneyyang deficiency had a strong induction of CYP2E1 and moderate induction of CYP1A2, CYP2C6 in the rat model.

  • Ying-hui GONG, Li LIU, Tian-tian QI, Hong-lin LI, Li-li ZHU, Zhen-jiang ZHAO
    Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2017, 52(2): 264-270.

    In this study, 1-(3-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methylthio-1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-1-yl)-butan-1-one discovered previously in our lab was selected as a inhibitor of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (HsDHODH) for structural optimization. The co-crystal of HsDHODH with the hit was obtained and analyzed for guiding the subsequent structural optimization. As a result, a series of novel triazole derivatives were designed and synthesized as potent HsDHODH inhibitors. Among them, compound (3-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-ethylthio-1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-1-yl)-furan-2-yl-methanone displayed high potency in the inhibition of HsDHODH with an IC50 value of 1.50 μmol·L-1. Meanwhile, the structure-activity relationships were analyzed based on the biological data and the co-crystal structure. These results provide a valuable reference for optimization of 1H-1, 2, 4-triazole derivatives as HsDHODH inhibitors in the future.

  • Ming GUO, Yan WANG, Xing-tao XU
    Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2017, 52(2): 271-278.

    The binding of rhaponticin to bovine serum albumin (BSA)-bovine lactoferrin (BLF) and the factors that affect BSA-BLF interaction have been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In the fluorescence experiment, RT quenched the fluorescence intensity of mixed proteome and the maximum emission wavelength of BSA, BLF and BSA-BLF proteins system. RT caused obvious red-shift fluorescence for an interaction between RT and proteome. The interaction between RT and proteome was impacted by single-component protein molecular interactions and the interaction between RT-BSA and RT-BLF, the microenvironment of solutions were the factors impacting the interactions between RT and proteome, which impacted quantitative expression of the general environment micro environmental factors. In the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the secondary conformation of protein molecules of single component in the protein group were changed, and the difference of the molecules' structure was responsible for the differences in the molecular conformation changes. The molecules' interaction in the single-component protein affected secondary conformation of the proteins' molecule. The proteins' concentration ratio and the interaction were different in degree of molecular conformational change. These data demonstrates an example of combination of fluorescence spectrum experiment with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the study of protein structura.

  • Wen-chao TU, Lin-fen DING, Hui YANG, Liu-dong SONG, Xing-de WU
    Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2017, 52(2): 279-282.

    Five cassane diterpenes were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the seeds of Caesalpinia bonduc (Leguminosea) by a combination of various chromatographic methods, including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative HPLC. On the basis of spectroscopic techniques, their structures were identified as 3β-acetoxy-cassa-12, 14(17), 15-trien-7β-ol (1), caesalmin C (2), caesall E (3), caesalpinin MJ (4), and 1-deacetylcaesalmin C (5). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound and 2, 4, 5 were isolated from the plant for the first time.

  • Yan YAN, Qiang LI, Chen-hui DU, Jin-ping JIA, Hong-xia FENG, Xue-mei QIN
    Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2017, 52(2): 283-290.

    The study aims to investigate the effective components of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (SZR) in nourishing the heart and tranquilizing the mind. A method of ultra high liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with Q Exactive high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) was developed. Based on the UV spectra, retention time and MS spectra, 25 compounds of SZR extract were identified or tentatively characterized, including 12 flavonoids, 8 triterpenoids saponins, 2 fatty acid and 3 alakoids. The study illuminated the major chemical components. Twenty bioactive components were determined in rat urine after oral administration of SZR extract by "in vitro to in vivo" translation approach, including 16 prototype compounds and 4 metabolites. Spinosin, swertisin, jujuboside A and B were considered as the effective and active constituents in SZR of the sedative and hypnotic effects, which emodies characteristics of multiple components. It was beneficial exploration for searching the effective and active constituents of SZR in nourishing the heart and tranquilizing the mind.

  • Si-cheng LIANG, Guang-bo GE, Yang-liu XIA, Xiao-yi QI, Ao-xue WANG, Cai-xia TU, Ling YANG
    Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2017, 52(2): 291-295.

    Daphnetin is quickly eliminated in rats after dosing, but the mechanism remains unclear. This study was aimed to investigate the in vitro metabolism of daphnetin using rat liver S9 fractions (RLS9). The metabolites formed in RLS9 were identified and the kinetic parameters for different metabolic pathways were determined. HPLC-DAD-MS analysis showed that daphnetin was biotransformed to six metabolites, which were identified as 7 or 8 mono-glucuronide and mono-sulfate, 8-methylate, and 7-suflo-8-methylate. Methylation and glucuronidation of daphnetin exhibited the Michaelis-Menten kinetic characteristics, whereas the substrate inhibition kinetic and the two-site kinetic were observed for 8-sulfate and 7-sulfate formations. Of the 3 conjugation pathways, the intrinsic clearance rate for sulfation was highest, followed by methylation and glucuronidation. By in vitro-in vivo extrapolation of the kinetic data measured in RLS9, the hepatic clearance were estimated to be 54.9 mL·min-1·kg-1 which is comparable to the system clearance (58.5 mL·min-1·kg-1) observed in rats. In conclusions, the liver might be the main site for daphnetin metabolism in rats. Sulfation, methylation and glucuronidation are important pathways of the hepatic metabolism of daphnetin in rats.

  • Shuai CHEN, Yuan-yuan XIA, Guang-li WEI, Quan-sheng LI, Meng-jie LIU, Yong CHEN, Duan-yun SI
    Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2017, 52(2): 296-301.

    A pre-column derivatization method combined with UHPLC-MS/MS was developed for the simultaneous determination of salidroside and tyrosol in Beagle dog plasma. After protein precipitation by acetonitrile, the liquid supernatant was treated with dansyl chloride under dark conditions at 60℃ for 30 min, and then, the sample solution was extracted using methyl tertiary butyl ether. The multiple reaction monitoring in positive ion mode was used for MS detection of the tested analytes with the specific ion transitions of m/z 534.2→372.0 for salidroside derivative, m/z 372.0→171.0 for tyrosol derivative and m/z 506.0→171.0 for arbutin derivative. The chromatograph separation was achieved on an ACQUITY UPLC® BEH C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) with a gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile (0.1% formic acid)-water (10% acetonitrile, 0.1% formic acid) for 9 min. The assay showed a good linearity over the range of 0.02/0.1-20/10 μmol·L-1 with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.02 and 0.1 μmol·L-1 for salidroside and tyrosol in dog plasma, respectively. The intra-and inter-day precisions were all less than 8.68%, and the accuracy was within ±11.4%. The established method with a high sensitivity, good specificity and reliability was appropriate for simultaneous determination of salidroside and tyrosol in dog plasma and successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after intragastric administration of salidroside to Beagle dogs.

  • Zhao-yi ZHONG, Min WU, Shuai QIAN, Jian-jun ZHANG, Yuan GAO
    Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. 2017, 52(2): 302-308.

    Puerarin (PUE), an isoflavone with anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and neuroprotection effects, has been widely applied to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in clinics in China. In the current study, we reported that the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of marketed products was the PUE monohydrate (PUEMH). During its supersaturated dissolution, the PUE concentration quickly reached a plateau, followed by a gradually concentration decrease to another lower plateau. In order to explore the internal mechanism of above phenomenon, the solid residues after saturated dissolution test were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermal gravity analysis (TGA) and Karl Fisher titration (KFT). PXRD suggested that a novel PUE crystal different from PUEMH formed during its dissolution, the following TGA and KFT confirmed the generation of PUE dihydrate (PUEDH) with much lower solubility. Moreover, polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVPK12, PVPK30 and PVPK90) were added in the dissolution medium to investigate their potential inhibition effects on such crystal transformation during dissolution process. We observed that polymers could inhibit the transformation from PUEMH to PUEDH and result in much higher PUE concentration level than that in pure water.