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A method for fast analysis of ginsenosides in Panax ginseng roots was developed using ultra performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS). The column used was HSS T3 (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.8 microm). The mobile phase consisted of 15 mmol/L ammonium formate and acetonitrile, eluted with the gradient program. The separations of 9 ginsenoside standards and ginseng root extracts were achieved. Based on the MS/ MS fragments and accurate masses of the target compounds and with combination of the MS/ MS fragments of the 9 ginsenoside standards, 27 ginsenosides were identified from the extracts of the ginseng roots. The validation of the analytical method was thoroughly investigated with 9 ginsenoside standards. It was found that 9 ginsenosides had a better linearity in 0.04 - 9.00 mg/L. The recoveries at the three spiked levels (low, medium and high) were 90% - 100%, 98% - 104% and 96% - 103%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the peak area ratio of 9 ginsenoside standards to internal standard at the medium spiked level were not more than 11.3%, which were satisfactory for profiling analysis of herb extracts. This method is characterized by its high resolution, rapidness, simplicity and reliability, and has been successfully applied to the evaluation of the differentiation between 2- and 6-year-old ginseng roots. It can be expected that this method is also useful for the fast determination of the ginsenosides in other ginseng related samples.

Combination of data sets from different objects (for example, from two groups of healthy volunteers from the same population) that were measured on a common set of variables (for example, metabolites or peptides) is desirable for statistical analysis in "omics" studies because it increases power. However, this type of combination is not directly possible if nonbiological systematic differences exist among the individual data sets, or "blocks". Such differences can, for example, be due to small analytical changes that are likely to accumulate over large time intervals between blocks of measurements. In this article we present a data transformation method, that we will refer to as "quantile equating", which per variable corrects for linear and nonlinear differences in distribution among blocks of semiquantitative data obtained with the same analytical method. We demonstrate the successful application of the quantile equating method to data obtained on two typical metabolomics platforms, i.e., liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We suggest uni- and multivariate methods to evaluate similarities and differences among data blocks before and after quantile equating. In conclusion, we have developed a method to correct for nonbiological systematic differences among semiquantitative data blocks and have demonstrated its successful application to metabolomics data sets.

A high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (HPLC-FTICR-MS) method was developed to investigate the metabolism of ginsenosides in in vitro models of the gastro-intestinal tract. The metabolites were identified by high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Degradation and bioconversion routes of the different ginsenosides at acidic (gastric) conditions and in the presence of intestinal microbiota were elaborated. Besides hydrolysis (deglycosylation) also hydration reactions occurred at acidic conditions. The results illustrate the value of metabolite profiling by HPLC-FTICR-MS for understanding of the mechanisms in bioavailability of herbal drugs and their metabolites.

An analytical method based on on-line liquid chromatography-biochemical detection (LC-BCD) coupled to electrospray mass spectrometry was developed for the detection and identification of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in complex mixtures, such as hydrolyzed whey proteins. ACE inhibitory activity was detected by coupling a homogeneous, substrate conversion based bioassay on-line to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Chemical information was obtained by directing part of the HPLC effluent towards a mass spectrometer. After correlating the biochemical and chemical data, the accurate molecular masses of the bioactive peptides were used as search queries in protein databases. Combined with the recorded mass spectrometry (MS)-MS fingerprints, bioactive peptides were selected from the database search results. The results of LC-BCD-MS analyses were verified by establishing a bioactivity balance. Reference samples, containing several peptides at concentration levels similar to those observed in the hydrolyzed milk samples, were analyzed by LC-BCD-MS. High recoveries of biological activity were obtained, indicating that the correct ACE inhibitors were identified and that no co-elution of significantly bioactive molecules had occurred. Approximately, 30 ACE inhibitors were detected and identified. IC50 values of ACE inhibitors, reported in literature, ranged between 43 and 580 microM.

The determination of proteins with enzyme-amplified biochemical detection (EA-BCD) coupled on-line with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is demonstrated. The EA-BCD system was developed to detect biotin-containing compounds. Hemoglobin, which was used as a model compound, was biotinylated prior to sample introduction. Several biotinylation parameters, such as pH and removal of excess biotinylation reagent, were investigated. After biotinylation samples were introduced to HPLC followed by EA-BCD. To the HPLC effluent, alkaline phosphatase label streptavidin (S-AP) was added, which possesses high affinity to biotin and biotin-containing compounds. Excess S-AP was removed by means of an immobilized biotin column followed by substrate addition. The non-fluorescent substrate is converted to a highly fluorescent product by the enzyme label. A detection limit of 2 femtomol biotinylated Hb was achieved with good reproducibility and linearity. However, biotinylation at low analyte concentration suffers from low yield due to slow reaction kinetics. Finally, Hb was successfully extracted from urine with a recovery of 94%.

An HPLC with on-line coupled UV/MS-biochemical detection method for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors in natural sources has been developed. The potential of this method is shown by the isolation of a new AChE inhibitor from the alcoholic extract of Narcissus 'Sir Winston Churchill'. Combining a prefractionation technique using centrifugal partition chromatography with the on-line HPLC-UV/MS-biochemical detection resulted in the isolation of the active compound that was identified as ungiminorine. This alkaloid shows a mild inhibitory effect on AChE.

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with on-line coupled ultraviolet (UV), mass spectrometry (MS) and biochemical detection for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity has been developed. By combining the separation power of HPLC, the high selectivity of biochemical detection, and the ability to provide molecular mass and structural information of MS, AChE inhibitors can be rapidly identified. The biochemical detection was based on a colorimetric method using Ellman's reagent. The detection limit of galanthamine, an AChE inhibitor, in the HPLC-biochemical detection is 0.3 nmol. The three detector lines used, i.e., UV, MS and Vis for the biochemical detection were recorded simultaneously and the delay times of the peaks obtained were found to be consistent. This on-line post-column detection technique can be used for the identification of AChE inhibitors in plant extracts and other complex mixtures such as combinatorial libraries.

Enzyme-amplified biochemical detection (EA-BCD) was used as a post-column detection technique, coupled on-line with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The enzyme detection system was developed to detect biotin or biotin containing compounds. Biotinylation is widely used to label analytes of interest ranging from small molecules to proteins and DNA. Naphthalene aldehyde and anthracene aldehyde were used as model compounds. Both compounds were biotinylated off-line with biotin aminocaproic hydrazide (BACH). On-column biotinylation was performed by preconcentration of anthracene aldehyde on copper phthalocyanine. After biotinylation, samples were introduced to the HPLC system. Enzyme-labeled streptavidin, which possesses high affinity to biotin, was added post-column to the HPLC effluent. Excess of enzyme-labeled affinity protein was removed by means of an immobilized biotin column. After separation of free and bound fraction, substrate was added, which was converted to a fluorescent product by the enzyme label. Using alkaline phosphatase as an enzyme label, a mass detection limit after on-column preconcentration and biotinylation of 250 fmol was achieved.

A postcolumn receptor-affinity detection (RAD) was developed for the detection of urokinase and cross-reactive compounds. The analytical method consisted of gradient reversed-phase HPLC coupled on-line to a RAD system based on fluorescein-labelled urokinase receptor (fluorescein-uPAR) as reagent. Fluorescein-uPAR was added continuously to the HPLC effluent to react with analytes eluting from the LC column. Unreacted fluorescein-uPAR was removed by a short affinity column packed with an immobilised urokinase support. The analyte-bound fluorescein-uPAR fraction passes the affinity column unretained and was detected downstream by means of a fluorescence detector. An absolute detection limit of 40 fmol urokinase was obtained in the flow injection mode. In the gradient HPLC-RAD system a detection limit of 40 nM (20-microl injection, absolute amount, 800 fmol) was obtained. The present method allowed the identification of active breakdown products of urokinase both in standard samples and biological matrices.

An analytical method is described for the selective determination of A1 or A2 adenosine receptor agonists in blood. By implementing solid-phase extraction using immobilized-phenylboronic acid (PBA) in sample pretreatment, all adenosine derivatives are retained via their intact cis-diol group. On-line desorption of the analytes from the PBA support to the C18 analytical column is performed by injection of a small plug of perchloric acid. Fluorescence and UV detection are employed for the different adenosine derivatives. The method is applied to the determination of 2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenylethylamino]-5'-N- ethylcarboxyamidoadenosine (CGS 21680, I) in blood using fluorescence detection. The only off-line sample handling step is the extraction of blood with ethyl acetate and subsequent evaporation of the extraction solvent. The detection limit of the method was 0.25 ng (signal-to-noise ratio 3:1) and the determination limit for I in blood (pretreatment of 100 microliters) was 5 ng/ml. The method was validated and used to study the pharmacokinetics of I in rats.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method using fluorescence detection for the simultaneous determination of furosemide and amiloride is described. The chromatographic system is based on reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography with sodium dodecylsulphate as ion-pairing agent. The same counter-ion is used for the ion-pair liquid-liquid extraction to ethyl acetate. The minimum detectable concentration amounts to 0.3 ng of furosemide and 0.03 ng of amiloride per ml of plasma. The applicability of the method is demonstrated by the analysis of plasma samples taken from volunteers receiving both drugs.

A bioanalytical method is described that allows the determination of a number of beta-endorphin-related peptides. The method is based on the application of fluorescence detection after high-performance liquid chromatography followed by post-column derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde. Concentrations exceeding 10-25 ng/ml could be determined by using conventional fluorescence detection, whereas lower concentrations demand the use of laser-induced fluorescence detection. The sample pretreatment includes the use of on-line gel permeation, on-line solid-phase isolation and heart cutting of a peak from reversed-phase gradient elution. The sample pretreatment procedure does not discriminate between the dodecapeptide des-enkaphalin-gamma-endorphin (DE gamma E) and its metabolites in order to obtain similar recoveries for all components. The final chromatographic phase system is based on ion-pair formation, which permits the separation of DE gamma E from its metabolites and degradation products. The optimized procedure allows the determination of these peptides in plasma at concentration levels down to about 1 ng/ml, demanding a sample volume of 1 ml.

A liquid chromatographic method is described that can be used for the determination of suramin in plasma samples from cancer patients treated with this drug. The chromatographic system is based on the use of tetrabutylammonium bromide as an ion-pairing agent, while ultraviolet detection is applied. The sample pretreatment is a simple deproteination step by an organic solvent. The same counter-ion as used in the phase system is added in order to increase the recovery of the almost complete protein-bound suramin. The minimum detectable concentration in plasma is ca. 0.1 microgram/ml, thus allowing the monitoring of patients treated with this drug. One example of a plasma concentration-time course after administration of suramin is given.

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) has become a valuable tool in analytical chemistry. In the past few years considerable progress has been made in bioanalytical applications of both capillary and packed column SFC. Progress in this respect has especially been made with combined SFC-mass spectrometry, an important alternative to combined liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The various applications of capillary and packed column SFC are reviewed, while special attention is given to detection technique applicable in (bioanalytical) SFC. Considerable progress in SFC is expected in the near future.

A fully automated liquid chromatographic system for the bioanalysis of mitomycin C has been described. The isolation of the analyte from the biological matrix (plasma, ascites and urine) is performed using a continuous-flow system equipped with a dialysis membrane in order to remove proteins. The samples are concentrated on a reversed-phase pre-column and subsequently introduced on to a reversed-phase analytical column by applying column-switching techniques. The drug is detected by absorbance measurements at 360 nm. Using the described system up to 100 samples a day can be analysed with determination limits of the order of 1 ng/ml, with a linear dynamic range of at least three decades for plasma and urine samples. The procedure was applied to pharmacokinetic studies of ovarian cancer patients treated intraperitoneally with mitomycin C.