Natural aphrodisiacs: studies of commercially-available herbal recipes, and phytochemical investigation of "Erythroxylum vacciniifolium" Mart. (Erythroxylaceae) from Brazil

De tout temps, hommes et femmes ont cherché par tous les moyens à développer, préserver ou recouvrer leurs propres capacités sexuelles mais également à stimuler le désir du partenaire. L?utilisation d?aphrodisiaques naturels a été l?un des recours les plus répandus. De nos jours, la commercialisation de nouvelles "love drugs" de synthèse, e.g. Viagra®, Cialis®, Levitra®, a remis au goût du jour les aphrodisiaques classiques et à relancer la recherche sur des molécules nouvelles. La pratique croissante de l?automédication, le matraquage publicitaire sur les aphrodisiaques naturels, la prolifération sur le marché de compléments alimentaires non contrôlés et l?absence de véritable législation accroissent les risques qui pèsent sur la santé publique. Dans le but d?évaluer les risques potentiels sur le consommateur de produits aphrodisiaques commercialisés, le développement et la validation d?une méthode rapide d?analyse qualitative et quantitative de la yohimbine dans ces préparations du marché sont exposés dans la première partie de ce travail. La yohimbine est un antagoniste ?2-adrénocepteur du système nerveux central et périphérique, elle est employée depuis plus d?un siècle dans le traitement des dysfonctionnements érectiles. Cette méthode analytique utilise la chromatographie liquide couplée à l?ultraviolet et à la spectrométrie de masse (LC-UV-MS) et au total, vingt préparations aphrodisiaques ont été étudiées. La dose journalière de yohimbine mesurée s?est révélée très variable selon les produits puisqu?elle varie de 1.32 à 23.16 mg. La seconde partie de ce travail concerne l?étude phytochimique et pharmacologique d?Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Mart. (Erythroxylaceae), une plante, appelée localement catuaba, utilisée dans la médecine traditionnelle brésilienne comme tonique et aphrodisiaque. Dans un premier temps, l?extrait alcaloïdique a été analysé par chromatographie liquide haute performance (HPLC) couplée soit à un détecteur UV à barrette d?iode (LC-UV-DAD), soit à un spectromètre de masse (LC-MS), ou soit à un spectromètre de résonance magnétique nucléaire (LC-RMN). L?interprétation de ces données spectrales enregistrées en ligne a permis d?obtenir des informations structurales et d?identifier partiellement près de 24 alcaloïdes appartenant à la classe des tropanes et potentiellement originaux. Par des méthodes classiques de chromatographie liquide sur l?extrait alcaloïdique de la plante, dix sept tropanes nouveaux ont ensuite été isolés dont les catuabines et leurs dérivés, et les vaccinines. Tous ces composés sont des tropane-diols ou triols estérifiés par au moins un groupe acide 1-méthyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylique. Un de ces composés a été identifié comme un tropane N-oxyde. Toutes les structures ont été déterminées par spectrométrie de masse haute résolution et spectroscopie RMN multi-dimensionnelle. Parmi les nombreux tests biologiques réalisés sur ces tropanes, seuls les tests de cytotoxicité se sont révélés faiblement positifs pour certains de ces composés.<br/><br/>Throughout the ages, men and women have incessantly pursued every means to increase, preserve or recapture their sexual capacity, or to stimulate the sexual desire of selected individuals. One of the most recurrent methods has been the use of natural aphrodisiacs. Nowadays, the commercialization of new synthetic "love drugs", e.g. Viagra®, Cialis® and Levitra®, has fascinated the public interest and has led to a reassessment of classical aphrodisiacs and to the search for new ones. The practice of self-medication by an increasing number of patients, the incessant aggressive advertising of these herbal aphrodisiacs, the invasion of the medicinal market with uncontrolled dietary supplements and the absence of real directives amplifies the potential health hazards to the community. In order to evaluate the possible risks of commercialized aphrodisiac products on consumer health, the development and validation of a rapid qualitative and quantitative method for the analysis of yohimbine in these products, is reported in the first part of the present work. Yohimbine, a pharmacologically well-characterized ?2-adrenoceptor antagonist with activity in the central and peripheral nervous system, has been used for over a century in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The analytical method is based on liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet and mass spectrometry (LC-UV-MS) and in total, 20 commercially-available aphrodisiac preparations were analyzed. The amount of yohimbine measured and expressed as the maximal dose per day suggested on product labels ranged from 1.32 to 23.16 mg. The second part of this work involved the phytochemical and pharmacological investigation of Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Mart. (Erythroxylaceae), a plant used in Brazilian traditional medicine as an aphrodisiac and tonic, and locally known as catuaba. With the aim of obtaining preliminary structure information on-line, the alkaloid extract was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to diode array UV detection (LC-UVDAD), to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (LCNMR). Interpretation of on-line spectroscopic data led to structure elucidation and partial identification of 24 potentially original alkaloids bearing the same tropane skeleton. Seventeen new tropane alkaloids were then isolated from the alkaloid extract of the plant, including catuabines D to I, their derivatives and vaccinines A and B. All compounds were elucidated as tropane-diol or -triol alkaloids esterified by at least one 1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid. One of the isolated compounds was identified as a tropane alkaloid N-oxide. Their structures were determined by high resolution mass spectrometry and multi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Among the numerous bioassays undertaken, only the cytotoxicity tests exhibited a weak positive activity of certain compounds.

Vitaminas lipossolúveis em alimentos: uma abordagem analítica

This study concerns certain problems inherent to the determination of fat-soluble vitamins in food, from extraction methods to identification and quantification. The discussion involves the main official and unofficial extraction methods coupled with spectrophotometric and HPLC techniques in which vitamins samples are obtained through liquid-liquid-solid and liquid-liquid-solid-solid extraction, indispensable to the analytical separation of different chemical compounds with vitamin functions. A saponification stage, possibly coupled with supercritical fluid extraction appears to be mandatory in the determination of vitamins A and E in their alcoholic forms. Alternative identification and quantification procedures are outlined: biological and chemical assays, analytical separations by HPLC (normal and reversed-phase), UV detection (all fat-soluble vitamins) and fluorescence detection (retinoids and tocopherols). Automation from sample preparation to quantification stages increases the data acquisition rate.

Adsorção/dessorção do explosivo tetril em turfa e em argissolo vermelho amarelo

This paper presents the study of adsorption/desorption of the explosive tetryl (2,4,6-trinitrophenylmethyl-nitramine) in different matrices, such as in natura soil, roasted soil, humic acid of soil, in natura peat, roasted peat and humic acid of peat. The aim of the study is to evaluate the interaction capacity of those matrices with the explosive. The analytic technique used was HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), with UV-detection at 230 nm. The Freundlich isotherms were utilized for the mathematical treatment of the data. The results indicated that in natura soil and in natura peat (with organic substances) are excellent matrices for the retention of tetryl, adsorbing it and keeping it immovable, preventing it from contaminating the groundwater. The largest adsorption of the explosive ocurred in in natura soil, while the smallest desorption was observed in in natura peat. After the calcination of the matrices, the smallest adsorption was observed, indicating that the retention occurs in the organic substance.

Alendronato de sódio: metodologias para análise quantitativa

This paper presents a review of some published proposals for the analysis of sodium alendronate. The drug is an aminobisphosphonate compound used to inhibit the osteoclastic resorption of bone, and different methods were developed for its quantitative determination. These methodologies employed reversed-phase or ion-exchange HPLC analysis, both associated with different detectors: UV and fluorescence detection after derivatization of the drug, conductivity and refractive index detectors, as well as the indirect UV detection. Titrimetry and spectrophotometry (with previous complexation of the drug), which are simpler procedures, were also described, but they showed poor specificity when compared to liquid chromatography.

Avaliação de contaminantes inorgânicos e orgânicos em álcool combustível utilizando eletroforese capilar

This work reports the analysis of inorganic and organic contaminants in alcohol fuel samples using capillary electrophoresis. Chloride and sulfate were analyzed in nitrate/ monochloroacetic acid at 10 mmol L-1 concentration each under indirect UV detection (210 nm). The analysis of aldehydes is based on the 216 nm detection of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazoline hydrazone adducts. The running buffer consisted of 20 mmol L-1 tetraborate , 40 mmol L-1 sodium dodecyl sufate and 12 mmol L-1 beta-ciclodextrin. Both methodologies were applied to real samples indicating inorganic ion concentrations from 0.15 to 6.64 mg kg-1 and aldehydes from 32.0 to 91.3 mg L-1.

Determinação simultânea de resíduos de cloranfenicol, tianfenicol e florfenicol em leite bovino por cromatografia eletrocinética micelar

A micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method (MEKC) is described for determining residues of amphenicols(chloramphenicol,thiamphenicol and florfenicol) in bovine milk. MEKC is conducted by using a separation buffer consisting of 20 mM Na2HPO4, 10 mM Na2B4O7, 50 mM SDS at pH 8.0; UV detection at 210 nm and 10 kV of voltage. The limit of detection ranged from 4.3-5.3 µg L-1. The MEKC method was applied for the simultaneous determination of amphenicols in milk samples spiked with amphenicols at three concentration levels: 10, 30 and 50 µg L-1. Recoveries ranging from 91-105% were obtained by following a simple extraction/preconcentration procedure.

Determinação de lamivudina, estavudina e nevirapina, em comprimidos, por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência

A high performance liquid chromatography method was developed to quantify lamivudine, stavudine and nevirapine combined in tablets. The separation was carried out in less than 10 min using a phosphate buffer of pH 3.0 and acetonitrile (75:25, v/v) as mobile phase, a LiChrospher ODS column and UV detection at 266 nm. The method was linear over the range of 15-135 µg/mL (lamivudine), 4-36 µg/mL (stavudine) and 20-180 µg/mL (nevirapine). The accuracy ranged from 98.56 to 102.04% and intra-day and inter-day precision was less than 1% for the three drugs. The method showed robustness, remaining unaffected by deliberate variations in relevant parameters.

Validação de método por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência para determinação da lamivudina e zidovudina em comprimidos

An HPLC method was validated to assay lamivudine and zidovudine combined in tablets. The chromatographic separation was carried out using methanol and acetate buffer pH 6.5 (50:50 v/v) and a RP-18 column, as mobile and stationary phase, respectively. The UV detection was at 270 nm. The method was linear in the range of 24 - 36 µg/mL (lamivudine) and 48 - 72 µg/mL (zidovudine). The recovery (accuracy) ranged from 101.35% to 103.04% and the precision (repeatability and intermediate precision) was less than 2%. The method can be also applied to the quantification of these drugs in the dissolution test of tablets containing both drugs.

Validação de metodologia analítica para o doseamento simultâneo de mebendazol e tiabendazol por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência

The aim of this work was to develop and validate an analytical methodology for simultaneous determination of mebendazole and thiabendazole, two benzimidazoles used as anthelmintics. The method was based on high performance liquid chromatography, using a C18 column, a mobile phase composed of KH2PO4 0.05 mol L-1 and methanol 40:60 (v/v) and UV detection at 312 nm. The results showed that the method presented linearity from 60.0 to 140.0 µg mL-1 for mebendazole and from 99.6 to 232.4 g µL-1 for thiabendazole and it was considered selective, accurate, precise and robust according to the specific resolution from ANVISA, the Brazilian regulatory agency.

Reversed phase HPLC determination of tamoxifen in dog plasma and its pharmaco-kinetics after a single oral dose administration

The analytical method developed to evaluate tamoxifen in dog plasma samples was precise, accurate, robust and linear in the range of 5-200 ng/mL. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.981 ng/mL and 2.97 ng/mL, respectively. Besides, the intra-day precision and accuracy variations were 8.78 and 10.16%, respectively. Tamoxifen concentrations were analyzed by combined reversed phase liquid chromatography and UV detection (lambda=280 nm). The study was conducted using an open randomized 2-period crossover balanced design with a 1-week washout period between the doses. This simple, rapid and selective method is suitable for pharmacokinetic, bioavailability and bioequivalence studies.

Simultaneous determination of B-Group vitamins in enriched cookies

The objective of this research was to determine the levels of enrichment of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B3 in different types and brands of enriched cookies. The chromatographic separation was performed in a C18 column with gradient elution and UV detection at 254 and 287 nm. The results show that only 5 of the 24 brands evaluated are in accordance with the Brazilian legislation with respect to the vitamin content declared on the labels. However, consumption of approximately 100-150 g of most of the brands supplies the recommended dietary intake for children and adults of the vitamins evaluated.

Determinação simultânea dos ácidos orgânicos tartárico, málico, ascórbico e cítrico em polpas de acerola, açaí e caju e avaliação da estabilidade em sucos de caju

The aim of the present study was determining the main organic acids in pulp and juices, as well as evaluating their stability, after opening the package, by liquid chromatography in a C18 column with isocratic elution and UV detection. In açaí pulp tartaric, malic and citric acids were found. Cashew samples presented all of the organic acids evaluated, besides high concentrations of ascorbic and malic acids. Acerola pulp had the highest ascorbic acid concentration. A small decrease in organic acid content during storage was observed. Malic and citric acids seem to be more stable than tartaric and ascorbic acids.

Desenvolvimento e validação de método por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência para determinação simultânea das impurezas timina e timidina na matéria-prima estavudina

A HPLC method was developed to quantify thymine and thymidine impurities in stavudine bulk drug. The separation was carried out in isocratic mode using methanol/water (20:80) as mobile phase, a C18 column and UV detection at 266 nm. The method provided selectivity based on peak purities and resolution among peaks. It was linear over the range of 0.5-5.0 µg/mL. The quantitation limits were 0.021 µg/mL for thymine and 0.134 µg/mL for thymidine. The average accuracies of three concentrations ranged from 97.06 to 102.61% and precision was close to 1%. The method showed robustness, remaining unaffected by deliberate variations in relevant parameters.

Estratégias de pré-concentração em eletroforese capilar (CE): parte 1. Manipulação da velocidade eletroforética do analito

Capillary electrophoresis has become a well-established and routine-based separation technique. It is based on the differences between charged analyte mobility in aqueous or organic electrolytes. Its major limitation is the sensitivity due to small sample injection volumes and the narrow diameter of the capillaries, especially when UV detection is used. There are a number of ways to increase the concentration sensitivity. This report shows some on-line preconcentration strategies to perform it in free solution capillary electrophoresis that are based on manipulation of the analyte electrophoretic velocity during the sample introduction (stacking, field amplification and transient isotachophoresis).

Quantitative determination of acetaminophen, phenylephrine and carbinoxamine in tablets by high-performance liquid chromatography

An alternative methodology for analysis of acetaminophen (Ace), phenylephrine (Phe) and carbinoxamine (Car) in tablets by ion-pair reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography was validated. The pharmaceutical preparations were analyzed by using a C18 column (5 μm, 300 mm, 3.9 mm) and mobile phase consisting of 60% methanol and 40% potassium monobasic phosphate aqueous solution (62.46 mmol L-1) added with 1 mL phosphoric acid, 0.50 mL triethylamine and 0.25 g sodium lauryl sulfate. Isocratic analysis was performed under direct UV detection at 220 nm for Phe and Car and at 300 nm for Ace within 5 min.