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Showing papers on "Brucine published in 2008"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new screening method for the simultaneous determination of thirteen plant alkaloids in a human specimen was developed based on solid-phase extraction and reversed-phase liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection, which enables selective identification as well as accurate and sensitive quantification.
Abstract: A new screening method for the simultaneous determination of thirteen plant alkaloids (aconitine, anabasine, atropine, brucine, colchicine, cotinine, cytisine, harmine, ibogaine, nicotine, scopolamine, strychnine, yohimbine) in a human specimen was developed based on solid-phase extraction and reversed-phase liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The validated method enables selective identification as well as accurate and sensitive quantification. The analysis of forensic and clinical samples emphasizes the applicability for intoxications and drug abuse, as well as for compliance control.

44 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A novel analytical method was developed and validated for the rapid and simultaneous analysis of five toxic alkaloids: Brucine, Strychnine, Ephedrine, Aconitine and Colchicine, in blood and urine using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring (HPLC-ESI-MRM) mode.

27 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a thin layer chromatographic (TLC) method has been developed for the quantitative estimation of the two major alkaloids strychnine and brucine in the plant fruit and in ayurvedic and homeopathic drugs.
Abstract: Strychnos nux vomica is an important plant source for drugs of ayurvedic and homeopathic system of medicine. In this paper a thin layer chromatographic (TLC) method has been developed for the quantitative estimation of the two major alkaloids strychnine and brucine in the plant fruit and in ayurvedic and homeopathic drugs. Chloroform–ethyl acetate–diethyl amine (0.5:8.5:1) as mobile phase gave clear separation with no interference between the bioactive markers. The R f values for strychnine and brucine were 0.55 and 0.42. The TLC method was found to be precise, rugged, robust and accurate with recovery of strychnine in the range 93.11–99.82% and brucine 96.95–99.48%. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for strychnine were 1.9 and 8.25 ng and for brucine 2.2 and 9.2 ng respectively.

20 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The relative peak area (RPA) of strychnine-to-loganic acid was revealed to be a reliable key quality control parameter in order to effectively identify the processed seeds and a new method has been successfully applied to detect the insufficiently processed Strychnos material in marketed herbal medicinal products.
Abstract: The seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica are popularly used in the treatment of arthritis Being extremely toxic, the raw seeds are forbidden and must be processed before clinical use The quality of crude and processed Strychnos seeds can be controlled by examining the toxic alkaloids using established HPLC methods But this procedure does not work in the case where the seeds are powdered and mixed with other medicinal materials in proprietary production In this quality control study on Strychnos seeds, the contents of two major toxic alkaloids (strychnine and brucine) and a major non-alkaloid constituent (loganic acid) in twenty-four samples of Strychnos seeds (nine processed and fifteen unprocessed) were compared using published HPLC-UV methods The results showed that the better the seeds were processed, the less loganic acid was found The alkaloids and non-alkaloid components simultaneously decreased in processed seeds The content ratio between alkaloids and loganic acid was clearly different in well-processed and crude Strychnos seeds Based on this interesting discovery, a simple chromatographic method was established which allows a simultaneous determination of loganic acid and the alkaloids strychnine and brucine The relative peak area (RPA) of strychnine-to-loganic acid was revealed to be a reliable key quality control parameter in order to effectively identify the processed seeds This new method has been successfully applied to detect the insufficiently processed Strychnos material in marketed herbal medicinal products

17 citations



Journal Article
TL;DR: Strychno alkaloids can significantly inhibit the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells, and this effect is probably selective, suggesting the potential of Strychnos alkaloid as a new drug for treatment of neurocytoma.
Abstract: Objective To study the effects of strychnos alkaloids on the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells. Methods Strychnos alkaloids free of strychnine and brucine were extracted from Strychnos nux vomica, and the effects of Strychnos alkaloids on the survival of HEK293 and PC12 cells were evaluated using MTT assay. In vitro cultured adult rat neuroprogenitor cells isolated from the hippocampus were treated with different concentrations of Strychnos alkaloids for 2 days, and the cell proliferation was assessed using BrdU incorporation assay. Results At the concentration above 0.5 mg/ml, Strychnos alkaloids produced toxic effect against HEK293 cells (P0.0001), while for PC12 cells, Strychnos alkaloids inhibited the cell survival at the concentration as low as 5 μg/ml (P0.0001). After 2 days of exposure to 50 μg/ml Strychnos alkaloids, the neuroprogenitor cells showed significantly decreased number of BrdU-positive cells (P0.01), but the total cell number remained stable when compared with that of the control cells (P0.05), whereas at the concentration of 100 μg/ml, Strychnos alkaloids produced obvious cytotoxicity against the neuroprogenitor cells. Conclusion Strychnos alkaloids can significantly inhibit the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells, and this effect is probably selective, suggesting the potential of Strychnos alkaloids as a new drug for treatment of neurocytoma.

2 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: As the antitumor durg delivery system, the in vitro characteristics of brucine stealth liposome are more satisfactory than the corresponding conventional liposomes.
Abstract: Objective To prepare brucine stealth liposomes and compare the in vitro characteristics with brucine conventional liposomes. Method Brucine stealth liposomes and conventional liposomes were both prepared by ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradients. The encapsulation efficiency, particle size, in vitro release profiles and stability were compared respectively. Result The encapsulation efficiency of brucine stealth liposomes and conventional liposomes were (80.7 +/- 0.5)%, and (80.5 +/- 0.3)%, respectively. The mean paricle sizes were 103.5 nm and 169. 4 nm, respectively. Whether rat plasma was added or not, the release rate and degree of brucine stealth liposomes were significantly lower than those of conventional liposomes. Brucine stealth liposomes were more stable than conventional liposomes. Conclusion As the antitumor durg delivery system, the in vitro characteristics of brucine stealth liposomes are more satisfactory than the corresponding conventional liposomes.

2 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: In this paper, an objective HPLC method was used to determine strychnine and brucine in the decoction of Semen Strychni and its processed products of Jiangxi methods and innovated methods.
Abstract: Objective HPLC method was used to determine strychnine and brucine in the decoction of Semen Strychni and its processed products of Jiangxi methods and innovated methods.Methods SiO2 was used as the stationary phase,n-hexane∶dichloromethane∶methanol∶ammonia(47.5∶47.5∶5∶0.35) as the mobile phase,with detection wavelength at 254 nm.Result The contents of strychnine and brucine in the processed products of Jiangxi methods and innovated methods were low.The content of that in acetic acid-soaked product scalded with hot sand was the lowest.Conclusion Semen Strychni and its processed products of Jiangxi methods and innovated methods can lower the toxicity and improve the safety of clinical use.

1 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: Compared with conventional liposomes, stealth liposome, as the carrier of brucine, can enhance the antitumor effect and obvious immunosup- pressive effect was not found in the brucce stealth lipOSome group.
Abstract: Objective To compare the antitumor effects between brucine stealth liposome and brucine conventional lipo- some.Methods KM mice received inoculation of murine hep2 carcinoma cells (H22).The H22 mice were randomly ad- ministered with brucine solution,brucine conventional liposome or brucine stealth liposome(3.23 mg·kg~(-1),ip) for 8 days.The effectiveness was assessed based on tumor inhibition rate.Meanwhile,the mice body weight and immune organ weight were also compared.Results The brucine solution,brucine conventional liposome and brucine stealth liposome in the same dose showed an inhibition rate of 28.64 %,57.96 % and 71.36 %,respectively.Obvious immunosup- pressive effect was not found in the brucine stealth liposome group.Conclusion Compared with conventional liposome, stealth liposome,as the carrier of brucine,can enhance the antitumor effect.

1 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: The research provides experimental datas for the design of transdermal delivery system of brucine in vitro and provides experimental data on drug permeation tests performed through excised rat skin in improved Franz diffusion cell.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE To study the transdermal absorption characteristics of brucine in vitro. METHODS The oil-water partition coefficient of brucine was measured. Drug permeation tests were performed through excised rat skin in improved Franz diffusion cell. Brucine concentration in samples was determined by HPLC. RESULTS The oil-water partition coefficient of brucine was between 4.05 and 5.02 at different temperatures. The permeation rate of 0.5 and 1 mg/ml brucine solution were (1.83 +/- 0.85) and (3.74 +/- 1.54) microg/cm2 x h, respectively. The cumulative permeation ratio in 24 hours were (51.30 +/- 18.51)% and (50.01 +/- 12. 80)%, respectively. CONCLUSION The research provides experimental datas for the design of transdermal delivery system of brucine.

1 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: Burcine liposomes prepared by ammonium sulfate transmembrance gradients can get a high entrapment efficiency, the main influencing factors were ammonium sulphate concentration, ethanol volume and PC concentration.
Abstract: Objective To study the influencing factors in preparation of brucine liposomes by ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradients. Methods The brucine liposomes were separated by Sephadex G-50, and the influence of various factors on the entrapment efficiencies were investigated. Results The entrapment efficiency was enhanced by increased ammonium sulfate concentration, ethanol volume and PC concentration. Conclusion Burcine liposomes prepared by ammonium sulfate transmembrance gradients can get a high entrapment efficiency, the main influencing factors were ammonium sulfate concentration, ethanol volume and PC concentration.

Journal Article
TL;DR: After transdermal delivery, brucine can be absorbed immediately and completely to produce evident analgesic effect.
Abstract: Objective: To investigate the analgesic effect of brucine by transdermal administrationMethods: Percutaneous adsorption of brucine solution were tested by improved Franz diffusing cells in vitroThe analgesic effect of brucine was studied by Usage of ache model caused by acetic acid in miceResults:25mg/mL and 5mg/ml brucine solution can be absorbed at a velocity of 4714μg/(cm2·h) and 11013μg/(cm2·h),respectivelyThe curative dose of transdermal administration is 40mg/kgConclusion: After transdermal delivery,Brucine can be absorbed immediately and completely to produce evident analgesic effect