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5-Methoxy-N,N-Diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DIPT) is a designer hallucinogen derived from tryptamine and its use has been banned by many countries. In this study, a qualitative and quantitative method was developed for determining 5-MeO-DIPT in urine by gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. 5-hydroxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-OH-DIPT) and 5-methoxy-N-isopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-IPT) were identified as 5-MeO-DIPT metabolites in abusers' urine. 5-MeO-DIPT was extracted from urine by liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate under alkaline conditions. The extract was analyzed by GC-Orbitrap-MS in full scan mode with a resolution of 60,000 full width at half maxima (FWHM). The linear range of this method was 2–300 ng/mL with r  > 0.99, and the limit of detection was 1 ng/mL. The accuracy and precision were 93–108.7% and 3.1–10.3%, respectively. This method is simple and sensitive. It has been successfully used to detect 5-MeO-DIPT in drug abusers' urine, which showed that the concentrations of 5-MeO-DIPT were between 1 and 2.8 ng/mL. 5-OH-DIPT and 5-MeO-IPT, two urinary major metabolites of 5-MeO-DIPT, were identified in urine samples from 5-MeO-DIPT users. Furthermore, the stability of 5-MeO-DIPT in human urine was investigated. It was discovered that the concentration of 5-MeO-DIPT in urine decreased by 22.8, 33.2 and 38.2% after samples were stored for 24 h at 25°C, 5 days at 4°C and 7 days at 4°C, respectively. And 5-MeO-DIPT in urine were stable after they were stored for 30 days at −20°C. Therefore, it is recommended that urine should be stored under freezing conditions before performing 5-MeO-DIPT analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dictamnine, a furoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the root bark of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. (Rutaceae), is reported to have a wide range of pharmacological activities. In this study, the in vitro metabolic profiles of dictamnine in mouse, rat, dog, monkey, and human liver microsomes were investigated and compared. Dictamnine was incubated with liver microsomes in the presence of an NADPH-regenerating system, resulting in the formation of eight metabolites (M1–M8). M1 is an O -desmethyl metabolite. M5 and M6 are formed by a mono-hydroxylation of the benzene ring of dictamnine. M8 was tentatively identified as an N -oxide metabolite. The predominant metabolic pathway of dictamnine occurs through the epoxidation of the 2,3-olefinic to yield a 2,3-epoxide metabolite (M7), followed by the ring of the epoxide opening to give M4. Likewise, cleavage of the furan ring forms M2 and M3. Slight differences were observed in the in vitro metabolic profiles of dictamnine among the five species tested. A chemical inhibition study with a broad and five specific CYP450 inhibitors revealed that most of the dictamnine metabolites in liver microsomes are mediated by CYP450, with CYP3A4 as the predominant enzyme involved in the formation of M7, the major metabolite. These findings provide vital information to better understand the metabolic processes of dictamnine among various species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RATIONALE TM-2 (13-( N-Boc-3-i-butylisoserinoyl-4,10-β-diacetoxy-2-α-benzoyloxy-5-β,20-epoxy-1,13-α-dihydroxy-9-oxo-19-norcyclopropa[g]tax-11-ene) is a novel semi-synthetic taxane derivative. Our previous study demonstrated that it is a promising taxane derivative. The in vitro comparative metabolic profile of a drug between animals and humans is a key issue that should be investigated at early stages of drug development to better select drug candidates. In this study, the in vitro metabolic pathways of TM-2 in rat, dog and human liver microsomes were established and compared. METHODS TM-2 was incubated with liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH. Two different types of mass spectrometers - a hybrid linear trap quadrupole orbitrap (LC/LTQ-Orbitrap) mass spectrometer and a triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer (LC/QqQ) were employed to acquire structural information of TM-2 metabolites. Accurate mass measurement using LC/LTQ-Orbitrap was used to determine the accurate mass data and elemental compositions of metabolites thereby confirming the proposed structures of the metabolites. For the chemical inhibition study, selective P450 inhibitors were added to incubations to initially characterize the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes involved in the metabolism of TM-2. RESULTS A total of 12 components (M1-M12) were detected and identified as the metabolites of TM-2 in vitro. M1-M5 were formed by hydroxylation of the taxane ring or the lateral chain. Hydroxylated products can be further oxidized to the dihydroxylated metabolites M6-M10. M11 was a trihydroxylated metabolite. M12 was tentatively identified as a carboxylic acid derivative. The metabolism of TM-2 is much the same in all three species with some differences. The chemical inhibition study initially demonstrated that the formation of M2, the major metabolite of TM-2, is mainly mediated by CYP3A4. CONCLUSIONS Hydroxylation is the major biotransformation of the TM-2 pathway in vitro. CYP3A4 may play a dominant role in the formation of M2 in liver microsomes. The knowledge of the metabolic pathways of TM-2 is important to support further research of TM-2. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A liquid chromatographic–mass spectrometric (LC–MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of homoeriodictyol-7-O-β-d-glycoside (HEDT-Glc) and its active metabolite homoeriodictyol (HEDT) in rat tissues and urine. The analytes and internal standard (dihydromyricetin, IS) were detected by using negative atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode at m/z 464, 301 and 319 for HEDT-Glc, HEDT and IS, respectively. These compounds were eluted on a Luna reverse phase column. The mobile phase was a methanol–water mixture (70:30, v/v) containing 0.1% of formic acid at a flow rate of 0.8ml/min. The limit of quantification (LOQ) for both HEDT-Glc and HEDT was 10ng/ml and their limit of detection (LOD) was 1ng/ml. Calibration curves were linear (r >0.995) over a wide range of the analytes in tissues and urine. The mean extraction recoveries were ≥75.6% for HEDT-Glc and ≥82.4% for HEDT from biological matrixes. Accuracy, expressed as the relative error, ranged from −4.0% to 3.8% for HEDT-Glc and from −2.8% to 4.7% for HEDT. The method was successfully applied to the estimation of HEDT-Glc and its metabolite HEDT in rat tissues and urine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata (PMRP), as the processed product of tuberous roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., is one of the most famous traditional Chinese medicines, with a long history. However, in recent years, liver adverse reactions linked to PMRP have been frequently reported. Our work attempted to investigate the chemical constituents of PMRP for clinical research and safe medication. In this study, an effective and rapid method was established to separate and characterize the constituents in PMRP by combining ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS). Based on the accurate mass measurements for molecular and characteristic fragment ions, a total of 103 compounds, including 24 anthraquinones, 21 stilbenes, 15 phenolic acids, 14 flavones, and 29 other compounds were identified or tentatively characterized. Forty-eight compounds were tentatively characterized from PMRP for the first time, and their fragmentation behaviors were summarized. There were 101 components in PMRP ethanol extract (PMRPE) and 91 components in PMRP water extract (PMRPW). Simultaneously, the peak areas of several potential xenobiotic components were compared in the detection, which showed that PMRPE has a higher content of anthraquinones and stilbenes. The obtained results can be used in pharmacological and toxicological research and provided useful information for further in vitro and in vivo studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shuanghuanglian is a common traditional Chinese medicine prescription. It is an herbal formula composed of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos, Scutellariae Radix, and Forsythiae Fructus. A comprehensive understanding of Shuanghuanglian oral dosage forms components was obtained using a method based on ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for the separation and characterization of Shuanghuanglian oral liquids, granules, soft capsules, and effervescent tablets. A total of 358 components were chemically defined or tentatively identified, including flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives, lignans, coumarins, iridoids, triterpenes, and anthraquinones. The results will provide a basis for the general study of Shuanghuanglian and be meaningful for the composition identification of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TM-2 (13-( N-Boc-3- i-butylisoserinoyl-4,10-β-diacetoxy-2-α-benzoyloxy-5-β-20-epoxy-1,13-α-dihydroxy-9-oxo-19-norcyclopropa[g]tax-11-ene) is a novel semisynthetic taxane derivative. Our previous study suggested that TM-2 is a promising antitumor analogue. In this paper, the metabolism of TM-2 was investigated in rats following intravenous administration. Two different types of mass spectrometry-hybrid linear trap quadrupole orbitrap (LTQ-Orbitrap) mass spectrometry and triple-quadrupole tandem (QQQ) mass spectrometry-were employed to acquire structural information of TM-2 metabolites. A total of 17 components were identified as the metabolites of TM-2 in bile, feces, and urine samples. Accurate mass measurement using LC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS was used to determine the accurate mass data and elemental composition of metabolites thereby confirming the proposed structures of the metabolites. The metabolites proposed were mainly oxidates of TM-2, including methoxy, hydroxyl, dihydroxy, and trihydroxyl analogues. The major metabolic pathway of TM-2 was the hydroxylation of the taxane ring or the lateral chain. These important metabolic data serve as a useful resource to support further research of TM-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The Orbitrap-GC-HRMS method was developed for screening 288 drugs and poisons. • Our in-house mass database proved to be feasible for toxicological practice. • The method is very high selectivity, allowing the sensitive screening in full scan. • The method has been applied in routine for the analysis of 136 real samples. Abstract The screening analysis for drugs and poisons always symbolizes the capabilities of a forensic laboratory. Due to the rapid emergence of new compounds in clinical and forensic intoxication cases, sensitive and specific methods are necessary for the screening of wide range of target compounds. A novel high-throughput screening method has been developed for the toxicological analysis of 288 drugs and poisons in human blood using Orbitrap technology with gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). This method allows for the fast detection and identification of high-throughput forensically important drugs and poisons, e.g., drugs of abuse (cocaine, amphetamines, synthetic cannabinoids, opiates, hallucinogen), sedative-hypnotics, antidepressants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pesticides (acaricides, fungicides, insecticides, nematicides), and cardiovascular agents in one single GC-Q Exactive run. After a simple extraction with ethyl ether and buffer, following centrifugation, the supernatant was injected into the system. For detection, spiked blood samples were analyzed by Orbitrap-GC-HRMS using an electrospray ionization in full scan mode with a scan range from 40 to 650 (m/z). The identification of drugs and poisons in the samples was carried out by searching the accurate molecular mass of characteristic fragment ions, ion rations and retention time (RT) against the in-house library that we developed with 70 ev electron energy. The limit of detection (LOD) for most compounds (249 in a total of 288 compounds) was below 100 ng/mL. For selectivity, no substances have been identified in drug-free blood samples from six different sources, and the method was suitable for the recovery and the carryover. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the RTs was below 0.99% in all reproducibility experiments. Mass accuracy was always better than 3 ppm, corresponding to a maximum mass error of 1.04 millimass units (mmu). The developed method was applied to 136 real samples from forensic cases, demonstrating its suitability for the sensitive and fast screening of high-throughput drugs in human blood samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-throughput method for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of 21 mycotoxins in Radix Paeoniae Alba (RPA) was developed by coupling the modified QuEChERS method with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqLIT-MS). The 21 mycotoxins were extracted and cleaned up using QuEChERS-based procedure, then further separated on a C18 column and detected by a hybrid triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with electrospray ionization source in the multiple reaction monitoring-information dependent acquisition-enhanced product ion (MRM-IDA-EPI) mode. Under this technique, 13 mycotoxins were detected using acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase in positive mode while the other 8 mycotoxins were detected using acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% ammonia as the mobile phase in negative mode. The calibration curves of all analytes showed good linearity ( r 2 > 0.995) within test ranges. The limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.031 to 5.4 μg/kg and 0.20 to 22 μg/kg, respectively. Additionally, recoveries were all above 75.3% with relative standard deviations within 15%. The method proposed herein with significant advantages including simple pretreatment, rapid determination as well as high sensitivity, accuracy and throughput would be a preferred candidate for the determination and quantification of multi-class mycotoxin contaminants in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]