Enantiomeric determination of praziquantel and its main metabolite trans-4-hydroxypraziquantel in human plasma by cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A capillary electrophoresis method for the simultaneous quantitation of praziquantel and its main metabolite trans-4-hydroxypraziquantel enantiomers in human plasma was developed and validated using cyclodextrin-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Sample clean-up involved a single-step liquid-liquid extraction of plasma with toluene after the addition of NaCl. The complete enantioselective analysis was obtained in less than 7 min using 2% w/v sulfated beta-cyclodextrin as chiral selector and 20 mmol/L sodium deoxycholate as surfactant, in 20 mmol/L sodium borate buffer, pH 10. A 50 microm x 42 cm uncoated fused-silica capillary was used for the analysis, performed at a voltage of 18 kV and at 20 degrees C. The calibration curves were linear over the 125-625 ng/mL concentration range. The mean recoveries for praziquantel and trans-4-hydroxypraziquantel were up to 96 and 71%, respectively, with good precision. All four enantiomers were quantified at two concentration levels (200 and 600 ng/mL) with precision and accuracy below 15%. The quantitation limit was 50 ng/mL for (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-praziquantel and 62.5 ng/mL for (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-trans-4-hydroxypraziquantel, using 1 mL of human plasma.

Simultaneous determination of disopyramide and mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide enantiomers in human plasma by capillary electrophoresis

In this paper, a rapid method for the enantioselective analysis of the antiarrhythmic drug disopyramide and its main metabolite mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide in human plasma by capillary electrophoresis employing the cyclodextrin-modified electrokinetic chromatography mode is described. Sample clean-up was carried out by alkalinization with sodium hydroxide followed by liquid-liquid extraction with toluene. The complete enantioselective analysis was performed within less than 5 min using 20 mmol/L sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.0, containing 0.2% w/v sulfated beta-cyclodextrin as chiral selector. A 40 cm uncoated fused-silica capillary was used for the analysis, performed at a voltage of 15 kV and at 20 degrees C. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 62.5-1850 ng/mL and 125-1850 ng/mL for each enantiomer of disopyramide and mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide. The mean recoveries for disopyramide and mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide enantiomers were up to 87 and 69%, respectively. All four enantiomers studied could be quantified at three different concentrations (200, 400 and 600 ng/mL) with coefficient of variation and % relative error not higher than 15%. The quantitation limit was 62.5 ng/mL for (+)-(S)-and (-)-(R)-disopyramide and (-)-(R)-mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide and 125 ng/mL for (+)-(S)-mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide, using 1 mL of human plasma.

Studies of pectic enzymes produced by Talaromyces flavus in submerged and solid substrate cultures

Tons of peel and rag are generated each year by industries of citrus fruit juices. These by-products are used either for the elaboration of pectin or as substrate for enzyme production. Talaromyces flavus produces extracellular pectinesterase and polygalacturonase after 24 h in submerged culture supplemented with 0.5-0.8% citrus pectin preceded by preculture for 24 h in 2% (w/v) sucrose or in solid substrate culture on passion fruit peel, lemon or orange pulp pellets after 3-6 days of incubation. Chromatographic profiles in a CM-Sepharose column of liquid and solid cultures were very similar, consisting of one endopoligalacturonase (endo-PG I) and one pectinolytic complex constituted by an endopoligalacturonase (endo-PG II) and pectinesterase. Pectin and pectate lyases were undetectable in both media. In Talaromyces flavus the synthesis of pectinases was repressed by glucose and finally controlled by the concentration of products from pectic enzymes degradation.

Enantioselective analysis of praziquantel in plasma samples

A direct enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography method is described for the quantitative determination of praziquantel enantiomers in plasma samples. The method involves two-step extraction of plasma with toluene, evaporation of the solvent and chromatography on a Chiralcel OD-H column using hexane-ethanol (85:15, v/v) as the mobile phase and detection at 220 nm. The assay satisfies all of the criteria required for use in clinical pharmacokinetic studies.