Development and early identification of Cannabis chemotypes during the plant growth: current analytical and chemometric approaches

The identification of cannabis chemotypes at an early stage of a plant's growth, which is long before anthesis, has been intensively pursued in order to control the on-target selection of the cultivar type at the beginning of cultivation, so as to avoid economic and legal drawbacks. However, this issue has been systematically addressed by only few and relatively recent studies of analytical chemistry, possibly because result validations require long-term monitoring of the content and ratio of cannabinoids and terpenes in a great number of plant specimens suitably selected and grown. Here, we review the procedures, the chromatographic techniques and the statistics used in topical investigations during the past thirteen years. Through heterogeneous and not easily comparable approaches, they prove the feasibility of chemotypes safe determination within the first month of a plant's life.

Characterization of chemotype-dependent terpenoids profile in cannabis by headspace gas-chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A headspace method called full evaporation technique (FET) coupled to capillary gas chromatography with a mass detector operating in time-of-flight mode (HS-GC/MS-TOF) was developed to characterize the volatile components, especially the terpene fraction, in Cannabis sativa L. inflorescences. This analytical approach allows to reach a high equilibration temperature, that was able to obtain a complete quantification of the volatile components, providing simple sample preparation, specific qualitative detection, high sensitivity, a precise and accurate quantitative determination. The method was applied to 20 cannabis THC-dominant (I) and 13 CBD-dominant (III) chemotypes. The obtained results were then compared with a series of standard solutions consisting of 35 terpenoids and the mass spectra present in a computer library (NIST). The method has an accuracy of more than 90 % and a limit of detection of 5 ppm for all analytes. The main terpenoids in cannabis are namely (% Chemotypes III vs. I of the total terpene content): β-Caryophyllene (25 vs. 19.3), β-Mircene (18.2 vs. 20.0), Terpinolene (12.1 vs. 7.0), α-Humulene (6.5 vs. 8.5), D-Limonene (6.2 vs. 7.2), α-Pinene (5.8 vs. 4.9), β-Pinene (5.0 vs. 5.8) and cis-β-Ocimene (4.3 vs. 5.2), whose presence is confirmed in both plant chemotypes and account for more than 80 % of the total terpenoids amount. The terpenoids which can clearly distinguish the chemotype are α-Terpineol, Linalool, DL-Menthol, α-Cedrene, and Borneol. This application provides important data on the secondary volatile components of the plant, which may be useful for a better understanding of the therapeutic properties of the cannabis phyto-complex. It gives the possibility of establishing the aroma profile of different Cannabis batches, allowing possible similarities between samples and identifying any artificial adulteration such as hexyl butyrate ester and it provides the opportunity to highlight some target compounds characteristic of the different chemotypes.

Phytocannabinoids Profile in Medicinal Cannabis Oils: The Impact of Plant Varieties and Preparation Methods

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) is a highly promising medicinal plant with well-documented effectiveness and growing use in the treatment of various medical conditions. Cannabis oils are mostly used in galenic preparations, due to their easy adjustment of the administration dose, together with the enhanced bioavailability of its active compounds. As stated by the Italian Law (9/11/2015, 279 Official Gazette), “to ensure the quality of the oil-based cannabis preparation, the titration of the active substance(s) should be carried out.” This study aims to represent the Italian panorama of cannabis oils, which were analyzed (8,201) to determine their cannabinoids content from 2017 to 2019. After application of the exclusion criteria, 4,774 standardized cannabis oils were included, which belong to different medicinal cannabis varieties and prepared according to different extraction methods. The concentration of the principal cannabinoids was taken into account dividing samples on the basis of the main extraction procedures and cannabis varieties. According to this analysis, the most substantial variations should be attributed to different cannabis varieties rather than to their extraction protocols. This study may be the starting point of preparatory pharmacists to assess the correct implementation of the preparation procedures and the quality of the extracts.

A straightforward LC-MS/MS analysis to study serum profile of short and medium chain fatty acids

Short and medium fatty acids derived from either dietary sources, gut microbiota, and liver production might play a role in the modulation of metabolism and inflammation. The outcome of different autoimmune or inflammatory diseases could be related to microbiota composition and consequently fatty acids production. Their analytical detection, historically completed by GC, was herein investigated using a sensitive approach of LC-MS/MS with straightforward chemical derivatization, using 3-NPH, to the respective acylhydrazines. An isopropanol protein precipitation coupled to LC-MS/MS analysis allowed to separate and quantify butyric, valeric, hexanoic acid and their branched forms. The serum physiological ranges of short and medium chain fatty acids were determined in a heterogeneous healthy population (n = 54) from 18 to 85 years finding a concentration of 935.6 ± 246.5 (butyric), 698.8 ± 204.7 (isobutyric), 62.9 ± 15.3 (valeric), 1155.0 ± 490.4 (isovaleric) and 468.7 ± 377.5 (hexanoic) ng/mL respectively (mean ± SD). As expected, the biological levels in human serum are reasonably wide-ranging depending on several factors such as body-weight, gut microbiome dysbiosis, gut permeability, cardiometabolic dysregulation, and diet.

Comparison of Different Analytical Methods for the Determination of Carbon Monoxide in Postmortem Blood

The determination of carbon monoxide (CO) and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) is of utmost importance in forensic toxicology to determine the cause of death in cases of CO poisoning, fire, and explosions. To this end, reliable and updated analytical methods are required. In this paper, four different methods for the determination of carbon monoxide in postmortem blood samples were compared: (i) the spectrophotometric determination of COHb applying the method proposed by Rodkey and modified by Beutler-West, (ii) the spectrophotometric determination of CO using a micro-diffusion-based method, (iii) the determination of CO by gas chromatography coupled to a TCD detector, and (iv) the determination of COHb by blood gas analysis. Three postmortem blood samples were analyzed with all methods, and the results were comparable. The applied methodologies showed different features depending on the sensitivity, sample preparation, and volume. The HS-GC/TCD method in our hand was the most appropriate, on postmortem samples, and versatile to apply. Unfortunately, only a limited number of postmortem blood samples were available for this study due to the rarity of that kind of intoxication in our jurisdiction.

Screening of new psychoactive substances (NPS) by gas-chromatography/time of flight mass spectrometry (GC/MS-TOF) and application to 63 cases of judicial seizure

A screening method for the separation and identification of more than fifty NPS is proposed. The method is based on fast gas-chromatography/time of flight mass spectrometry (FAST-GC/MS-TOF). Thanks to the shorter and narrower capillary column and to the rapid acquisition of the TOF detector a huge number of compounds are separated in a very short time of analysis (10 min). Only a few peaks were overlapped. The possibility to apply deconvolution by the software of the GC/MS-TOF instrument allowed the unequivocal identification also for the superimposed peaks. Linearity and LOD was studied and the method was applied to 63 cases of powders seized by the judicial authority at the airport of Milano Malpensa in Northern Italy in the period 2014–2017.

Extraction Method and Analysis of Cannabinoids in Cannabis Olive Oil Preparations

Recently, an increasing number of pharmacists had to supply medicinal products based on Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae), prescribed by physicians to individual patients. Cannabis olive oil preparation is the first choice as a concentrated extract of cannabinoids, even though standardized operative conditions for obtaining it are still not available. In this work, the impact of temperature and extraction time on the concentration of active principles was studied to harmonize the different compounding methods, optimize the extraction process, and reduce the variability among preparations. Moreover, starting from the cannabis inflorescence, the effect of temperature on tetrahydrocannabinolic acid decarboxylation was evaluated. For the analysis, a GC/MS method, as suggested by the Italian Ministry of Health, and a GC/flame ionization detection method were developed, validated, and compared.

Cannabinoid-free Cannabis sativa L. grown in the Po valley: evaluation of fatty acid profile, antioxidant capacity and metabolic content

Within a project aimed to reintroduce non-drug hemp cultivars in the Italian Po valley, for fibre but also high added-value nutraceutical production, investigation on locally grown plants has been performed, in order to assess their oil and metabolic content. This study provides useful information regarding three different hemp cultivars, from two sites, in view of their potential industrial application. The oil was characterised by a high unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio and by an almost perfect balance of ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids, as requested for healthy foods. The alcoholic extracts, for which a high content of amino acids and phenolic compounds has been highlighted, could provide dietary supplements to help in preventing oxidative stress. By investigating the Carmagnola cultivar, six known and four new lignanamides have been identified, confirming and assessing the general metabolic pattern in the seeds of these locally grown plants.

Analysis of fluid extracts obtained from Papaver rhoeas petals contaminated with Papaver bracteatum petals

In this paper, we report a case of misidentification of medicinal plants involving dried petals of Papaver rhoeas (red poppy) contaminated with Papaver bracteatum (scarlet poppy) petals. Preliminary TLC analysis indicated the presence of thebaine either in the fluid extracts or in the petals. It was therefore necessary to carry out an accurate botanic examination of the plant material, which revealed contamination of the red poppy petals with scarlet poppy petals. Moreover, to confirm the adulteration, we developed and validated an efficient, reversed-phase ion pair HPLC method for determination of the alkaloids specific for the Papaver species. Six petal batches and five commercial fluid extracts were analyzed. Only one petal batch from Iran contained thebaine and its analogue oripavine while the alkaloids typical for the Papaver bracteatum species were identified in all fluid extracts, meaning that they were all prepared with contaminated petals.

Development and validation of a reliable method for studying the distribution pattern for opiates metabolites in brain

Brain distribution pattern of "street" heroin metabolites (morphine and codeine) was investigated in two fatalities due to "acute narcotism". A suitable sample pretreatment prior to solid-phase-extraction was developed to achieve a good recovery of the analytes and to eliminate the interfering species. After derivatization with MSTFA, samples were analyzed by GC/MS. Specificity, accuracy, precision and linearity of the method were evaluated; LOD and LOQ were, respectively, 10ng/25ng for morphine and 5ng/10ng for codeine. This method was applied to the analysis of six brain areas (hippocampus, frontal lobe, occipital lobe, nuclei, bulb and pons) coming from two cases of heroin-related deaths. No evidence of accumulation of metabolites in a specific brain region was found.

The effects of excipients for topical preparations on the human skin permeability of terpinen-4-ol contained in Tea tree oil: infrared spectroscopic investigations

This work aimed to evaluate the effect induced by excipients conventionally used for topical dosage forms, namely isopropyl myristate (IPM) or oleic acid (OA) or polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) or Transcutol (TR), on the human skin permeability of terpinen-4-ol (T4OL) contained in the pure Tea tree oil. The effect of such excipients was determined by evaluating the absorption of T4OL using human epidermis and the perturbation of the organization of stratum corneum by ATR-FTIR. Among the tested excipients OA enhanced the absorption of T4OL by perturbing the stratum corneum lipid barrier. Other excipients caused a weak enhancement effect and their use should be carefully monitored.

Formulation Study of Tea Tree Oil Patches

The antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil (TTO), the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia are well documented. In order to optimize its therapeutic activity, TTO patches were designed. The aim of this work was the formulation of monolayer patches containing TTO. Moreover, the performance of oleic acid (OA) as a skin penetration enhancer in patches was evaluated. Terpinen-4-ol (T4OL), the main component of TTO, was the marker used to evaluate TTO skin permeability. The permeation study was performed through human epidermis by using Franz diffusion cells. Patches were prepared by using methacrylic copolymers, Eudragit E100 (EuE100) or Eudragit NE (EuNE), and a silicone resin, BioPSA7-4602 (Bio-PSA). TTO and OA contents were fixed at 10% w/w and 3% w/w, respectively. The patches were prepared by a casting method and characterised in terms of T4OL content and skin permeability.

All the selected polymers were suitable as the main component of the patch matrix. Since the main critical issue in the use of TTO is related to its toxicity after absorption, the local administration of TTO can take advantage of the use of patches based on EuE100 because of the high retained amount and the low permeation of T4OL. In this matrix, OA slightly increased the T4OL retained amount, improving the efficacy and safety of TTO patches.

Formulation study of tea tree oil patches

The antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties of tea tree oil (TTO), the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia are well documented. In order to optimize its therapeutic activity, TTO patches were designed. The aim of this work was the formulation of monolayer patches containing TTO. Moreover, the performance of oleic acid (OA) as a skin penetration enhancer in patches was evaluated. Terpinen-4-ol (T4OL), the main component of TTO, was the marker used to evaluate TTO skin permeability. The permeation study was performed through human epidermis by using Franz diffusion cells. Patches were prepared by using methacrylic copolymers, Eudragit E100 (EuE100) or Eudragit NE (EuNE), and a silicone resin, BioPSA7-4602 (Bio-PSA). TTO and OA contents were fixed at 10% w/w and 3% w/w, respectively. The patches were prepared by a casting method and characterised in terms of T4OL content and skin permeability. All the selected polymers were suitable as the main component of the patch matrix. Since the main critical issue in the use of TTO is related to its toxicity after absorption, the local administration of TTO can take advantage of the use of patches based on EuE100 because of the high retained amount and the low permeation of T4OL. In this matrix, OA slightly increased the T4OL retained amount, improving the efficacy and safety of TTO patches.

A Case of Fatal Intoxication from Metformin

A case of fatal intoxication from metformin is presented. The decedent was an obese 58-year-old-woman with type II diabetes, in whom severe lactic acidosis secondary to metformin accumulation was precipitated by acute renal failure. She had been on metformin 500 mg twice a day. Postmortem blood was deproteinated with acetonitrile, washed with dichloromethane, and the resulting supernatant injected into high-performance liquid chromatography system. Separation was performed on a analytical 125 x 4 mm i.d. RP-8 column. The wavelength was set at 235 nm. The mobile phase was acetonitrile (40%), sodium lauryl sulfate, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate adjusted to pH 5.1 (60%) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The concentration of metformin in postmortem blood was 77.3 microg/mL. The qualitative result was also confirmed by LC/APCI/MS/MS analysis.

Opioid Plasma Concentrations during a Switch from Transdermal Fentanyl to Methadone

Opioid switching is often used to improve the opioid response in patients with cancer experiencing poor analgesia or adverse effects. When switching between drugs with delayed effect because of pharmacokinetics or type of delivery, concerns exist about the correct timing of introducing the second drug after stopping the previous one. The aim of this study was to assess plasmatic changes of fentanyl and methadone underlying the clinical events occurring during opioid switching. Eighteen patients with cancer receiving transdermal fentanyl with uncontrolled pain and/or moderate to severe opioid adverse effects, were switched to oral methadone using an initial fixed ratio of 1:20. Fentanyl patches were removed and the first of three daily doses of methadone was started concurrently. Blood samples were obtained at intervals after removing the fentanyl patch, and at 5-hour intervals for the first 25 hours. The intensity of pain and the adverse effects were assessed before switching, the day after, and then daily up to dose stabilization. A successful switch was considered when the intensity of pain and distress score decreased at least of 33% of the basal value recorded before the switch, within a reasonable period of time. Complete blood samples were obtained in 16 patients. Methadone plasma concentration increased from 2 to 245 ng/mL, and fentanyl plasma concentration decreased from 15 to 8 ng/mL, 25 hours after. A successful switch was determined the day after in 7 patients, while 4 patients did not respond favorably (effective switching, 63%). Five patients were considered too terminal for an appropriate evaluation. No differences in plasma concentration pattern of the two opioids were found between patients considered responders and nonresponders. Conversion ratios between opioids at time of stabilization did not significantly change in comparison with the initial conversion ratio chosen. Starting methadone soon after removing fentanyl patches results in a rapid increase of methadone concentration, while the half-life of transdermal fentanyl is reached after 25 hours. As a result, the rapid achievement of a clinical effect is obtained avoiding distressing therapeutic holes in patients with a clinical condition, mainly characterized by poor pain control and severe adverse effects, requiring an immediate intervention.

Capillary gas-chromatographic determination of spermidine in hair lotion

Biogenic polyamines, such as spermidine (SPD, NH2-(CH2)4-NH-(CH2)3-NH2), are ubiquitous polycationic molecules which play a definitive role in many biological processes such as nucleic acid metabolism, protein synthesis, and cell growth. SPD is commonly used as an ingredient in hair lotions, because it seems to promote hair growth. This work describes a capillary GC method for quantitative determination of SPD in hair lotions using 1,6-diaminohexane as internal standard, a methyl silicone capillary column, and a flame ionisation detector. Aliquots of hair lotion were treated with an alkaline aqueous solution and internal standard was added. The emulsion was extracted with diethyl ether containing ethyl chloroformate. Ether extracts, evaporated to dryness and reconstituted in ethyl acetate, were analysed by capillary GC with flame ionisation detection. Validation took into account the specificity, linearity, precision, and accuracy of the analytical method: these parameters were valid for the quantitative determination of SPD in hair lotion.

Rapid test by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry to evaluate equine urine reactivity towards 17beta-OH steroids

Bacteria frequently found in equine urine samples may cause degradation of 17beta-OH steroids. A simple liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method has been developed to evaluate the microbiological contamination of equine urine as a marker of poor storage conditions. Norethandrolone was used as the internal standard, and the linearity, sensitivity, precision and accuracy of the method were evaluated. 17beta-OH oxidation was demonstrated for testosterone, nandrolone, trenbolone and boldenone, but did not occur in alpha-epimers such as alpha-boldenone and epitestosterone, demonstrating the stereoselectivity of the reaction. A rapid test was performed by spiking one of the four 17beta-OH steroids in samples of diluted equine urine. The steroids were transformed into their respective ketones in the presence of bacterial activity. The test allows direct injection of diluted samples into the LC/MS system, without the need for prior extraction. Results show that the best method of storage is freezing at -18 degrees C. Urine specimens should be analyzed as soon as possible after thawing. This allows bacterial degradation of equine urine to be arrested temporarily, so that the urine can be used for qualitative or quantitative analysis of 17beta-OH steroids.

Cigarette smoke negatively and dose-dependently affects the biosynthetic pathway of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid series in human mammary epithelial cells

Maternal smoking during pregnancy has been associated with a reduced content of n-3 long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) in breast milk, thereby reducing the intake of key nutrients by the infants. We postulated that the mammary gland is affected by maternal smoking in the process of n-3 LC-PUFA secretion into milk. This prompted us to investigate the effects of cigarette smoke on the synthesis of n-3 LC-PUFA in vitro by using a line of healthy epithelial cells from the human mammary gland, MCF-10A. Cells were exposed to cigarette smoke under controlled conditions by adding to the medium aliquots of horse serum containing smoke components, as analyzed by GC-MS. The major findings concern the inhibition of both the conversion of the precursor 14C-ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) to n-3 LC-PUFA and of the A5 desaturation step (assessed by HPLC analysis with radiodetection of n-3 FAME) following exposure to minimal doses of smoke-enriched serum, and the dose-dependent relationship of these effects. The data indicate that exposure to cigarette smoke negatively affects the synthesis of n-3 LC-PUFA from the precursor in mammary gland cells.

Capillary gas chromatographic determination of spermidine in diet integrators

Biogenic polyamines, among which is spermidine (SPD, NH2-(CH2)4-NH-(CH2)3-NH2), are ubiquitous polycationic molecules that have a definitive role in many biological processes, such as nucleic acid metabolism, protein synthesis and cell growth. SPD is present in diet integrators because it seems to favour the hair growth. This work describes a capillary gas chromatographic (CGC) method for the quantitative determination of SPD in diet integrators using cadaverine internal standard (IS), a methyl siliconic capillary column and flame-ionization detector (FID). Diet tablets, containing SPD, are pulverized; an aliquot of powder is treated with an alkaline aqueous solution and added with IS. The suspension is extracted with diethyl ether containing ethyl chloroformate (ECF). The ether extracts, evaporated to dryness and reconstituted in ethyl acetate were analyzed in CGC/FID. Derivatives of polyamines with ECF were characterized in CGC/MS too. Validation has considered specificity, linearity, precision and accuracy of analytical method; this parameters are valid for the quantitative determination of SPD in diet integrators.

Detection and Quantitation Analysis of Cocaine and Metabolites in Fixed Liver Tissue and Formalin Solutions

This study reports the results of the detection and quantitation of cocaine and its metabolites in liver tissues fixed in formalin and in the formalin solutions in which the same tissues were fixed. Toxicological analyses were performed on formalin-fixed liver samples from four cases of death of cocaine abusers and on formalin solutions (10% buffered, pH 7) in which the samples were preserved. Analyses carried out at the time of autopsy on body fluids and tissues allowed identification of cocaine and the metabolite benzoylecgonine. Liver tissue samples were preserved in formalin solutions for four weeks before analysis. Results only showed the presence of benzoylecgonine in the studied materials. The mean levels of recovery of benzoylecgonine in fixed tissues were 12.31% in liver and 84.47% in formalin from liver. Results indicated that benzoylecgonine has good stability, even in biological specimens subjected to chemical fixation.

Validation of a GC/MS method for the determination of tramadol in human plasma after intravenous bolus

Tramadol quantitative determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using nefopam hydrochloride as internal standard (IS) and two calibration curves because of the large range of concentration attended in the plasmatic samples is described. Plasma samples drawn from subjects in postoperative period treated with two different initial intravenous (iv) bolus of tramadol (50 and 100 mg) followed by tramadol at the same infusion rate (12 mg h(-1)) are analysed. We operated for the qualitative analysis in Scan mode while for the quantitative analysis in SIM mode, selecting the ion m/z 58 for tramadol and m/z 179 for IS. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.01 microg ml(-1) and the limit of quantification was 0.04 microg ml(-1).

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of pinacidil in normotensive volunteers after repeated doses of a new slow-release tablet formulation

Pinacidil (CAS 85371-64-8) is an antihypertensive drug of the class of agents called "potassium channel openers". The pharmacokinetics of were studied after repeated oral administration of a new slow release tablet formulation (Pindac) as compared with the standard slow release capsule formulation in healthy volunteers. Eighteen healthy volunteers (3 males and 15 females), aged from 22 to 48 years, and 49 to 95 kg in weight, were given a 12.5 mg dose of each formulation every 12 h for 7 days on two occasions, in a randomized, cross-over trial with at least two weeks interval between trials. Blood samples were drawn immediately before drug administration on the morning of days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 36 h after the last drug administration. Blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory function were assessed at admission and on the morning of day 0 (baseline), 2 and 7, before drug administration, and at 4, 24 and 36 h after the final administration. Pinacidil plasma levels were determined by an HPLC method. Both formulations elicited similar reductions of systolic and diastolic pressures from 4 h after administration, but did not change heart rate. The main model-independent pharmacokinetic parameters of pinacidil (Cmax, Tmax, AUC, MRT), as well as the absorption and elimination half-lives were similar with the two formulations. During the study there were no complaints of side-effects with either of the formulations. One advantage of the new formulation as compared to the capsules is that the tablets can be cut easily and the dosage adapted to a patient's needs.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of pinacidil after a single dose of a new slow release tablet in healthy volunteers

Pinacidil (CAS 85371-64-8) is a recently developed antihypertensive drug of the class called "potassium channel openers". It produces vasodilatation and a fall of arterial blood pressure. The pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of pinacidil were studied after single oral administration of a new slow-release tablet formulation (Pindac) in comparison to the standard slow-release capsule formulation in healthy volunteers. Eighteen healthy subjects (3 men and 15 women), with a mean age of 31.1 years were given a single 12.5 mg dose of each formulation in an open, cross-over study, with randomised sequences and a 7-day wash-out period between doses. Blood samples were collected before and several times up to 36 h after drug administration. Blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory functions were assessed before and 1, 4, 24 and 36 h-after drug administration. Pinacidil plasma levels were determined by HPLC. Both formulations produced a similar significant reduction (10 +/- 4 mmHg) of systolic blood pressure 4 h after administration but no changes of diastolic pressure and heart rate. Both the maximal effect (Emax) and the area under the effect-time curve (AUE0-36) were similar for the two formulations. The main model-independent pharmacokinetic parameters of Pinacidil (Cmax, Tmax, AUC, MRT) as well as the absorption and the elimination half-lives were similar after the two formulations. The main advantage of the tablet formulation compared to the capsules is that tablets can be easily cut and therefore the dosage can be adapted to an individual patient's needs.

Absorption of oral lornoxicam in healthy volunteers using a granular formulation in comparison with standard tablets

The bioavailability of lornoxicam (CAS 70374-39-9), a novel highly potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, was studied in healthy volunteers after single doses of a new oral formulation (8 mg granules) in comparison to tablets (8 mg). Eighteen healthy volunteers (6 males and 12 females) with a mean age of 29.4 were given a single 8 mg dose of each formulation in an open, cross-over study, with randomised sequences. Lornoxicam plasma levels were determined by an HPLC method. Cmax, AUC0-infinity and t 1/2 beta values were similar for both the granules and tablets, but tmax and lag time values after lornoxicam granules were significantly shorter than after the tablets. During the study, no side-effects were noted with either of the formulations studied. Therefore this study showed that lornoxicam granular formulation had a faster absorption than tablets even though the two formulations can be considered bioequivalent.

A New Non-Glycosidic Iridoid and a New Bisiridoid from Argylia radiata1

From ARGYLIA RADIATA a non-glycosidic iridoid, the (4a S, 7 S, 7a S)-7-hydroxy-7-methyl-1,4a,5,6,7,7a-heptahydrocyclopenta[ C]pyran-3(4 H)-one, and a bisiridoid, derived from the junction of catalpol and 7-deoxyloganic acid, were isolated.

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of flurbiprofen granules and tablets in healthy volunteers

The bioavailability of granules and tablet flurbiprofen in 100 mg single dose was crossover compared in 6 healthy volunteers (mean aged 26.8 years). The granules showed an earlier peaktime and a lower maximum concentration than the tablet. Area under the curve and half-time in terminal phase were similar, with the granule relative bioavailability of 0.98.

Polar Constituents of Calceolaria ascendens1

A new phenylpropanoid glucoside, 1'- O-beta- D-(3,4-dihydroxy-beta-phenyl)-ethyl-4'- O-caffeoyl-beta- D-apiosyl-(1'''-->3')-glucopyranoside, named calceolarioside E, was isolated from CALCEOLARIA ASCENDENS Lind., together with two other phenylpropanoid glucosides, verbascoside and forsythoside A, and cyclohexanols rengyol, isorengyol, and 4-hydroxy-4-(2'-hydroxyethyl)-cyclohexanone.