Equilibrium Sorption Studies of Hg (II) Ions from Aqueous Solution using Powdered Swamp Arum ( Lasimorpha senegalensis ) Seeds.

The potential of swamp arum ( Lasimorpha senegalensis ) seeds as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of Hg (II) ions from aqueous solution was investigated in this study. The influence of initial metal concentration on the percent adsorption of Hg (II) ions onto powdered swamp arum seeds was studied in a batch system and the filtrate was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The percent adsorbed for 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/L of the aqueous solution were 97.7, 98.9, 99.3, 99.7, and 96.5% respectively. Three isotherms; Langmuir, Freundlich, and BET were used to model the equilibrium sorption of Hg (II) ions onto powdered swamp arum seeds, with a correlation coefficient of 0.998, 0.784 and0.842 respectively. The Langmuir model fitted the equilibrium data best, with a correlation coefficient of 0.998 and a maximum adsorption capacity qm, of 5.917 mg/g. Thus, indicating monolayer coverage on the adsorbent. The results showed that swamp arum seed have the potential to be applied as alternative lowcost biosorbent in the remediation of heavy metal contamination in waste water.

Identification of metabolites of kurarinone from Sophora flavescens Ait in rat urine by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with linear ion trap orbitrap mass spectrometry

Purpose: To study the in vivo metabolism of kurarinone, a lavandulyl flavanone which is a major constituent of Kushen and a marker compound with many biological activities, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap- MS). Methods: Six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. First, kurarinone was suspended in 0.5 % carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC-Na) aqueous solution, and was given to rats (n = 3, 2 mL for each rat) orally at 50 mg/kg. A 2 mL aliquot of 0.5 % CMC-Na aqueous solution was administered to the rats in the control group. Next, urine samples were collected over 0-24 h after the oral administrations and all urine samples were pretreated by a solid phase extraction (SPE) method. Finally, all samples were analyzed by a UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry coupled with an electrospray ionization source (ESI) that was operated in the negative ionization mode. Results: A total of 11 metabolites, including the parent drug and 10 phase II metabolites in rat urine, were first detected and interpreted based on accurate mass measurement, fragment ions, and chromatographic retention times. The results were based on the assumption that kurarinone glucuronidation was the dominant metabolite that was excreted in rat urine. Conclusion: The results from this work indicate that kurarinone in vivo is typically transformed to nontoxic glucuronidation metabolites, and these findings may help to characterize the metabolic profile of kurarinone.

Methotrexate nanoparticle delivery system for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in pediatric patients

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of methotrexate (MTX) nanoparticles in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: In this randomized, open-label clinical study, 28 pediatric patients with moderate to severe IBD were randomly assigned to treatment (MTX nanoparticles,15 mg/week) or control (azathioprine, AZA, 2 mg/kg/day) group. Nanoparticles were synthesized by adding calcium chloride to sodium alginate solution containing MTX, and was further treated with poly-L-lysine aqueous solution. The nanoparticles were evaluated for particle size, zeta potential and drug encapsulation efficacy. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and disease activity scores were used to assess IBD remission. Results: Nanoparticle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficacy were 164.4 ± 6.9 nm, -32.6 ± 3.7 mV, and 97.8 ± 4.2 %, respectively. After 12 weeks of therapy, the mean Pediatric Crohn\'s Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) scores for control and treatment groups were 22.3 ± 2.14 and 16.8 ± 1.87, respectively, while mean Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity (PUCAI) Index scores were 24.3 ± 1.47 and 18.7 ± 1.92, respectively. Eight patients in the treatment and five patients in the control group achieved remission. Biochemical parameters varied significantly between the groups. Conclusion: MTX nanoparticles are safe and more effective than standard first-line IBD therapy. However, further studies are required to determine the suitability of the formulation for therapeutic use.