Characteristics of neonicotinoid imidacloprid in urine following exposure of humans to orchards in China

Imidacloprid (IMI) is a typical neonicotinoid with the largest usage in agricultural orchards in China. The long-term repeated use and the lack of proper protective measures may result in rural farmers and people living near orchards to be inevitably exposed to IMI. Excessive exposure may cause potential adverse effects on human health. To explore the characteristics of human exposure to IMI in urine, different groups of people, including pesticide applicators and their family members, and kindergarten children near IMI-applied orchards were investigated. The IMI and metabolite, 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-CNA), concentrations in urine were creatinine-adjusted to compensate for a possible dilution effect. Target analytes were detected in 100% of 1926 urine samples. The results showed that the IMI concentration in the 1-d urine from the rural residents significantly increased after a spraying event (p < 0.05) and reached the highest concentration (Geomean: 16.42 μg/g creatinine for IMI; 7.33 μg/g creatinine for 6-CNA) in the 2-d urine samples. The pesticide applicators of different genders had almost the same exposure environment (IMI Geomean of 13.25 μg/g creatinine for males and 14.71 μg/g creatinine for females) (p > 0.05). Females had higher exposure concentrations than that of males. People from different villages demonstrated diverse exposure levels with Geomean differences of 1.13-3.28 fold. For 3-6 years-old children, urinary concentrations from the rural group (Geomean: 3.73 μg/g creatinine for IMI; 3.95 μg/g creatinine for 6-CNA) were significantly higher than that of the urban group (Geomean: 1.13 μg/g creatinine for IMI; 0.88 μg/g creatinine for 6-CNA) (p = 0.00001), and the younger children tended to have higher exposure risk. Our findings showed that people in the Henan orchard areas were likely exposed to IMI to varying degrees. Further research on the health risk evaluation of IMI and controlling the exposure risks is needed.

Urinary Excretion of Niacin Metabolites in Humans After Coffee Consumption

SCOPE

Coffee is a major natural source of niacin in the human diet, as it is formed during coffee roasting from the alkaloid trigonelline. The intention of our study was to monitor the urinary excretion of niacin metabolites after coffee consumption under controlled diet.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed a 4-day human intervention study on the excretion of major niacin metabolites in the urine of volunteers after ingestion of 500 mL regular coffee containing 34.8 μmol nicotinic acid (NA) and 0.58 μmol nicotinamide (NAM). In addition to NA and NAM, the metabolites N1 -methylnicotinamide (NMNAM), N1 -methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2-Py), and nicotinuric acid (NUA) were identified and quantified in the collected urine samples by stable isotope dilution analysis (SIVA) using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Rapid urinary excretion was observed for the main metabolites (NA, NAM, NMNAM, and 2-Py), with tmax values within the first hour after ingestion. NUA appeared in traces even more rapidly. In sum, 972 nmol h-1 of NA, NAM, NMNAM, and 2-Py were excreted within 12 h after coffee consumption, corresponding to 6% of the ingested NA and NAM.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate regular coffee consumption to be a source of niacin in human diet.

Efficiency control of dietary pesticide intake reduction by human biomonitoring

In spite of food safety controls for pesticide residues, a conventional diet still leads to a noticeable exposure of the general population to several pesticides. In a pilot study the response of exposure reduction by organic diet intervention on the urinary levels of pesticide metabolites was investigated. In the study two adult individuals were kept on a conventional diet for 11days and morning urine voids were collected at the last four days of the period. Afterwards, the participants switched to exclusively organic food intake for 18days and likewise morning urine samples were collected at the last four days of this period. In the urine samples six pyrethroid metabolites, six dialkylphosphates, four phenolic parameter for organophosphate pesticides and carbamates, 6-chloronicotinic acid (ClNA) as parameter for neonicotinoid insecticides, seven phenoxy herbicides, glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA were quantified using gas chromatographic mass spectrometric methods. Generally, the comparative analyses revealed greater shares as well as higher levels of the parameters in the samples taken during the common diet period compared to the organic diet period. Considerable decrease of the levels was found for almost all pyrethroid metabolites, dialkyphosphates and phenoxy herbicids, as well as for the phenolic metabolites 4-nitrophenol and 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol. In contrast, higher values were found for the organic diet period for ClNA and the metabolite of coumaphos in one of the volunteers. The present study confirms the results of former studies which indicated that an organic diet intervention results in considerable lower exposure to organophosphate pesticides and pyrethroids. It also verifies the former experience that monitoring of urinary parameters for non-persistent pesticides permits a reliable efficiency control of short-time effects by dietary interventions. Additionally to former studies, the results of the present study highlight the need of an extension of the parameter spectrum to all prominent pesticide groups.

Occurrence and Profile Characteristics of the Pesticide Imidacloprid, Preservative Parabens, and Their Metabolites in Human Urine from Rural and Urban China

Knowledge of human exposure to imidacloprid, the most extensively used insecticide, and para-hydroxybenzoic acid esters (parabens), the most extensively used preservative, is insufficient. In this study, 295 urine samples collected from subjects in rural and urban areas in China were analyzed for imidacloprid and four parabens (namely, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, and butyl paraben) as well as their major metabolites (namely, 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-ClNA) and para-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HB)). Imidacloprid was detected in 100% of the urine samples from rural Chinese subjects and 95% of the urine samples from urban Chinese subjects. Concentrations of urinary imidacloprid detected in rural Chinese subjects (geometric mean (GM) = 0.18 ng/mL) were slightly higher than those detected in urban Chinese subjects (GM = 0.15 ng/mL) when the effect of pesticide spraying was excluded. However, concentrations of urinary imidacloprid detected in rural adults increased significantly in the subsequent days of pesticide spraying (GM = 0.62 ng/mL), which could return to the normal levels within 3 days. In contrast, concentrations of urinary parabens detected in rural Chinese subjects (GM = 6.90 ng/mL) were lower than that in urban Chinese subjects (GM = 30.5 ng/mL). In addition, the metabolism characteristics of imidacloprid to 6-ClNA and parabens to p-HB were discussed preliminarily.

[Detection of chloropyridinyl neonicotinoid insecticide metabolite 6-chloronicotinic acid in the urine: six cases with subacute nicotinic symptoms]

Neonicotinoid is a recently developed insecticide with worldwide use that has been increasing. It acts as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist. Chloropyridinyl neonicotinoid is a subgroup of neonicotinoid, and are commercially available as imidacloprid, nitenpyram, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid. The maximum residue limits of acetamiprid for fruits and tea leaves are high in Japan, e.g. 5 ppm for grapes and 30 ppm for tea leaves. 6-chloronicotinic acid (6 CNA) is a common metabolite in animals after exposure to chloropyridinyl neonicotinoids, but has not yet been detected in human urine. 'Spot' urine samples on the first visit and after were collected from eleven patients 6-52 years-old, who visited X-clinic from August to December in 2008, within 24 hours after symptom onset with unknown origin. Urinary 6 CNA was detected in six out of the eleven patients (IC positive group), by ion chromatography and identified in twenty specimens of these six patients by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS), maximum 84.8 microg/L from the first visit to the 20th visit. The sensitivity of ion chromatography for LC/MS was 45%, and the specificity was 100%. The IC positive group showed headache, general fatigue, finger tremor, and short time memory disturbance in 100%, fever (> 37.0 degrees C), cough, palpitation, chest pain, stomachache, myalgia/muscle spasm/muscle weakness in 83%, heart rate abnormality (sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, or intermittent WPW syndrome) in 83%, high domestic fruits intake (> 500 g/day) in 83%, high tea beverage intake (> 500 mL/day) in 66%. Five patients who were not among the IC positive group showed < 80%, < 40%, 60%, 60%, 20%, respectively. The patients gradually recovered through supportive therapy and the restriction of fruits and tea intake within several days to two months. In conclusion, urinary 6-chloronicotinic acid, a common metabolite of chloropyridinyl neonicotinoid insecticide, was detected for the first time, from six patients with subacute nicotinic symptoms.

Development of fluorescence polarization immunoassay for the rapid detection of 6-chloronicotinic acid: main metabolite of neonicotinoid insecticides

A fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) for the quantitative determination of 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-CNA) using polyclonal antibody was developed. The 6-CNA-protein (bovine serum albumin and soybean trypsin inhibitor) conjugates and fluorescein-labeled 6-CNA derivative (tracer) were prepared and used as the immunogens and tracer, respectively. The synthesized tracer was purified by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and showed a good binding to antiserum (73/5) which was obtained from the immunized rabbit (No. 73) with 6-CNA-BSA conjugate. The detection limit (10% inhibition) of FPIA was 4 microg/mL, and IC(50) value was 32 microg/mL. The FPIA showed a cross-reaction for 5-amino-2-chloropyridine (60%), but no cross-reaction for other pesticides was observed. Recoveries for spiked apple, urine, soil, and water samples (5, 50, and 500 ppm) averaging between 78.6 +/- 8.8 and 114 +/- 18% were reasonable and in good agreement with the amounts spiked. Although the developed FPIA possesses low sensitivity, this assay is more simple and quick than other analytical methods, such as high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Thus, the developed FPIA method could be a useful tool for express screening 6-CNA in agricultural, environmental, and biological samples.

Quantitative investigation of trigonelline, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide in foods, urine, and plasma by means of LC-MS/MS and stable isotope dilution analysis

A straightforward stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA) for the quantitative determination of trigonelline, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide in foods such as coffee, as well as in biological samples by means of LC-MS/MS (MRM) has been developed. The coefficients of variation for their quantitative analysis in a coffee sample were 2.1% for trigonelline, 1.1% for nicotinic acid, and 3.1% for nicotinamide, and recovery experiments showed good results between 98.5 and 104.5%. Application of this SIDA for the quantification of trigonelline, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide in coffee samples of different roasting degrees revealed a drastic degradation of trigonelline as well as the generation of nicotinic acid accounting for 4-6% of the initial trigonelline content, whereas nicotinamide remained rather constant at a low level. Besides the analysis of coffee samples, the feasibility of the developed SIDA was verified by analysis of other foods including breakfast cereals, rice, liver, and herring, as well as human urine and plasma samples.

Identification of urinary modified nucleosides and ribosylated metabolites in humans via combined ESI-FTICR MS and ESI-IT MS analysis

The physiological response of the human body to several diseases can be reflected by the metabolite pattern in biological fluids. Cancer, like other diseases accompanied by metabolic disorders, causes characteristic effects on cell turnover rate, activity of modifying enzymes, and RNA/DNA modifications. This results in an altered excretion of modified nucleosides and biochemically related compounds. In the course of our metabolic profiling project, we screened 24-h urine of patients suffering from lung, rectal, or head and neck cancer for previously unknown ribosylated metabolites. Therefore, we developed a sample preparation procedure based on boronate affinity chromatography followed by additional prepurification with preparative TLC. The isolated metabolites were analyzed by ion trap mass spectrometry (IT MS) and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS). IT MS was applied for LC-auto MS(3) screening runs and MS(n(n=4-6)) syringe pump infusion experiments, yielding characteristic fragmentation patterns. FTICR MS measurements enabled the calculation of corresponding molecular formulae based on accurate mass determination (mass accuracy: 1-5 ppm for external and sub-ppm values for internal calibration). We were able to identify 22 metabolites deriving from cellular RNA metabolism and related metabolic pathways like histidine metabolism, purine biosynthesis, methionine/polyamine cycle, and nicotinate/nicotinamide metabolism. The compounds 1-ribosyl-3-hydroxypyridinium, 1-ribosyl-pyridinium, and 3-ribosyl-1-methyl-l-histidinium as well as a series of ribosylated histamines, conjugated to carboxylic acids at the N(omega)-position were found as novel urinary constituents. The occurrence of the modified nucleosides 2-methylthio-N(6)-(cis-hydroxyisopentenyl)-adenosine, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine, N(6)-methyl-N(6)-threonylcarbamoyladenosine, and 2-methylthio-N(6)-threonylcarbamoyladenosine in human urine is verified for the first time.

Plasma and urine pharmacokinetics of niacin and its metabolites from an extended-release niacin formulation

OBJECTIVE

To characterize plasma and urine pharmacokinetics of niacin and its metabolites after oral administration of 2,000 mg of extended-release (ER) niacin in healthy male volunteers.

METHODS

Niacin ER was administered to 12 healthy male subjects following a low-fat snack. Plasma was collected for 12 h post dose and was analyzed for niacin, nicotinuric acid (NUA), nicotinamide (NAM) and nicotinamide-N-oxide (NNO). Urine was collected for 96 h post dose and analyzed for niacin and its metabolites, NUA, NAM, NNO, N-methylnicotinamide (MNA) and N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2PY).

RESULTS

Mean niacin Cmax and AUC(0-t) values were 9.3 microg/ml and 26.2 microg x h/ml and were the highest of all analytes measured. Peak niacin and NUA levels occurred at 4.6 h (median) while tmax for NAM and NNO were 8.6 and 11.1 h, respectively. The mean plasma terminal half-life for niacin (0.9 h) and NUA (1.3 h) was shorter as compared to NAM (4.3 h). Urine recovery of niacin and metabolites accounted for 69.5% of the administered dose; only 3.2% was excreted as niacin. The highest recovery was for 2PY (37.9%), followed by MNA (16.0%) and NUA (11.6%). Mean half-lives for 2PY and MNA calculated in urine were 12.6 and 12.8 h, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Niacin was extensively metabolized following oral administration, and about 70% of the administered dose is recovered in urine in 96 h as niacin, NUA, MNA, NNO, NAM and 2PY. The plasma levels of the parent niacin were higher than its metabolites though only about 3% of the unchanged drug is recovered in urine.

Effect of the rate of niacin administration on the plasma and urine pharmacokinetics of niacin and its metabolites

The metabolic profile of niacin is influenced by the rate of niacin administration. This study characterizes the effect of administration rate on the pharmacokinetics of niacin and its metabolites. Twelve healthy males were enrolled in an open-label, dose-rate escalation study and received 2000 mg niacin at 3 different dosing rates. Plasma was analyzed for niacin, nicotinuric acid, nicotinamide, and nicotinamide-N-oxide. Urine was analyzed for niacin and the metabolites nicotinuric acid, nicotinamide, nicotinamide-N-oxide, N-methylnicotinamide, and N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide. C(max) and AUC(0-t) for niacin and nicotinuric acid increased with an increase in dosing rate. The changes observed in plasma nicotinamide and nicotinamide-N-oxide parameters, however, did not correlate to dosing rate. The total amount of niacin and metabolites excreted in urine was comparable for all 3 treatments. However, with the increase in dosing rate, urine recovery of niacin and nicotinuric acid showed a significant increase, whereas N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide and N-methylnicotinamide showed a significant decrease.

Disposition and Biotransformation of the Acetylenic Retinoid Tazarotene in Humans

Oral tazarotene, an acetylenic retinoid, is in clinical development for the treatment of psoriasis. The disposition and biotransformation of tazarotene were investigated in six healthy male volunteers, following a single oral administration of a 6 mg (100 microCi) dose of [14C]tazarotene, in a gelatin capsule. Blood levels of radioactivity peaked 2 h postdose and then rapidly declined. Total recovery of radioactivity was 89.2+/-8.0% of the administered dose, with 26.1+/-4.2% in urine and 63.0+/-7.0% in feces, within 7 days of dosing. Only tazarotenic acid, the principle active metabolite formed via esterase hydrolysis of tazarotene, was detected in blood. One major urinary oxidative metabolite, tazarotenic acid sulfoxide, accounted for 19.2+/-3.0% of the dose. The majority of radioactivity recovered in the feces was attributed to tazarotenic acid representing 46.9+/-9.9% of the dose and only 5.82+/-3.84% of dose was excreted as unchanged tazarotene. Thus following oral administration, tazarotene was rapidly absorbed and underwent extensive hydrolysis to tazarotenic acid, the major circulating species in the blood that was then excreted unchanged in feces. A smaller fraction of tazarotenic acid was further metabolized to an inactive sulfoxide that was excreted in the urine.

Pattern Recognition Analysis for Classification of Hypertensive Model Rats and Diurnal Variation Using 1H-NMR Spectroscopy of Urine

Urine samples were collected during the daytime and nighttime from spontaneously hypertensive model rats and normal rats without dosing. The 1H NMR spectra were measured for their urine samples, and analyzed by a pattern recognition method, known as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (SIMCA). The separation of urinary data due to the diurnal variation (daytime and nighttime) and also to the difference between the two strains of rat was achieved in the PCA score plot. Differences of the urinary profiles in the respective separation were effectively extracted as marker variables by the SIMCA method. NMR measurements coupled with pattern recognition methods provide a straightforward approach to inspect the disease metabolic status and the preliminary screening tool of marker candidates for further development.

Effects of excess nicotinamide administration on the urinary excretion of nicotinamide N-oxide and nicotinuric acid by rats

We investigated a useful chemical index for an excessive nicotinamide intake and how this excessive nicotinamide intake affects the tryptophan-nicotinamide metabolism in rats. Weaning rats were fed on a tryptophan-limited and nicotinic acid-free diet containing no, 0.003%, 0.1%, 0.2%, or 0.3% nicotinamide for 21 days. Urine samples were collected on the last day and analyzed the intermediates and metabolites on the tryptophan-nicotinamide pathway. Nicotinamide N-oxide, nicotinic acid and nicotinuric acid, metabolites of nicotinamide, were detected when nicotinamide at more than 0.1% had been taken. An intake of nicotinamide of more than 0.1% increased the urinary excretion of quinolinic acid, an intermediate on the pathway. Nicotinamide N-oxide and nicotinuric acid increased with increasing dietary concentration of nicotinamide. These results show that the measurements of nicotinamide N-oxide and nicotinuric acid in urine would be useful indices for an excessive nicotinamide intake.

Identification of N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide and N1-methyl-4-pyridone-5-carboxamide as components in urine extracts of individuals consuming coffee

Caffeine metabolites were extracted from urine samples collected 4 h after consumption of a cup of coffee and were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a C18 (5 microm) reverse-phase column using an acetonitrile (5%), acetic acid (0.05%) solution as the mobile phase. The elution profiles indicated the constant presence of a major and a minor components eluting between the caffeine metabolites 5-acetamido-6-formyl-3-methyluracil (AFMU) and 7-methylxanthine (7X) in an approximate nine. A procedure was developed for the isolation of the major component in an apparent pure form, and the yield was 10-20 mg from 400 ml of urine. The minor component was isolated in an apparent pure form by this procedure as well, and the yield was 0.5 mg from 200 ml of urine. The average ratio of the two components in urine, UV absorption and 1H-NMR spectra of the two components, and 13C-NMR spectrum, mass spectrum and elemental analysis of the major component identified the major and minor components as N(1)-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide and N(1)-methyl-4-pyridone-5-carboxamide, respectively, two major metabolites of the vitamin niacin present in a significant amount in coffee beans. The two metabolites were present in the same average amount in urine extracts of individuals irregardless of coffee consumption. The findings are briefly discussed in relation to the nutritional sources of niacin and to current procedures for measuring amounts of the two metabolites in urine samples.

Monitoring of 6-chloronicotinic acid in human urine by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry as indicator of exposure to the pesticide imidacloprid

A new analytical method for determining 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-ClNA) in human urine is proposed. 6-ClNA is the main metabolite in warm-blooded animals after exposure to the insecticide imidachloprid. 6-ClNA was extracted from human urine using solid phase extraction (SPE) with laboratory-made cartridges of Amberlite XAD-4. A clean-up step and a derivatization process were carried out prior to gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (GC-MS-MS) determination. A study on the influence of pH in the extraction process revealed that it affects the analyte extraction efficiency. A working pH zone was defined between 0.8 and 2.8. Calibration curves were studied in the concentration range of 0.5-100 ng mL(-1) and showed good linearity. Limits of detection and determination of the method were 16 and 56 pg mL(-1) respectively. The mean recovery at 10 and 100 ng mL(-1) was between 97.2 and 102.1% and the repeatability was lower than 5.4% in all cases. The analysis of urine samples of five agricultural workers from Almería (Spain) did not detect the metabolite.

Acute dose-dependent disposition studies of nicotinic acid in rats

The pharmacokinetics of nicotinic acid (NiAc) and nicotinuric acid (NiUAc), the major metabolite of NiAc, and the dose dependency of these pharmacokinetics were determined in rats. Intravenous injections of 2, 5, 15, and 45 mg/kg of NiAc and 5 and 15 mg/kg of NiUAc were administered, and plasma and urine samples were assayed for NiAc and NiUAc by HPLC. The plasma concentration-time profiles of NiAc showed a typical characteristic of capacity-limited elimination after higher doses. When the NiAc dose was elevated, the total plasma clearance of NiAc decreased dramatically, and the normalized area under the plasma concentration-curve increased markedly. There was no change in the volume of distribution at steady state. After the administration of NiUAc, however, the pharmacokinetics of NiUAc were linear, at least up to a dose of 15 mg/kg. With increasing doses of NiAc, the ratio for NiUAc to unchanged drug excreted in urine decreased markedly from 4.54 +/- 0.93 at 2 mg/kg to 0.37 +/- 0.12 at 45 mg/kg while the renal clearance of NiAc remained constant. An in vitro study of the plasma protein binding of NiAc showed no saturability, with a 40 to 50% bound fraction, when total NiAc concentrations were 1 to 130 micrograms/ml. Plasma NiAc profiles after the iv administration of NiAc were adequately described by the two-compartment model including the "pooled" Michaelis-Menten elimination process. The present results suggest that the nonlinear disposition of NiAc can be attributed in part to the saturation of glycine conjugation, and also, probably to amidation.

The bioavailability of intramuscularly administered nicomorphine (Vilan) with its metabolites and their glucuronide conjugates in surgical patients

The kinetics of 20 mg nicomorphine intramuscularly were described in 8 patients under combined general and epidural anesthesia. The half-life of nicomorphine was 0.32 +/- 0.20 h (mean +/- SD) and is governed by the absorption-rather than the elimination rate. The half-life of 6-mononicotinoylmorphine (0.39 +/- 0.09 h) was identical to that of the parent compound (p = 0.29), suggesting it is directly related to the absorption rate of nicomorphine. Morphine had a half-life of 1.38 +/- 0.31 h. Morphine is subsequently metabolized into morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide. The half-life of these 2 glucuronide conjugates was about 2.6 h (p = 0.07). A glucuronide conjugate of 6-mononicotinoylmorphine was not detected. In urine only morphine and its glucuronides are found, with renal clearance values of 214 ml.min-1 for morphine and 132 ml.min-1 for the glucuronides. The bioavailability of this pharmaceutical formulation after intramuscular administration equals that of intravenous administration in surgical patients (at the same dose).

Microbial biotransformation of the angiotensin II antagonist GR117289 by Streptomyces rimosus to identify a mammalian metabolite

Screening a range of microorganisms incubated with the angiotensin II antagonist GR117289 resulted in the use of Streptomyces rimosus to generate five related biotransformation products. These comprised three compounds hydroxylated on the aliphatic side chain, one further oxidized to a ketone, and one hydroxylated on the phenyl ring. These microbial metabolites were used as standards to identify a human metabolite detected in plasma and urine, but present in insufficient quantities for full structural characterisation. This further demonstrates how the use of microbial biotransformation systems at an early stage of drug metabolism studies can act as a valuable tool in facilitating identification of minor human metabolites.

Simultaneous measurement of nicotinic acid and its major metabolite, nicotinuric acid in urine using high-performance liquid chromatography: application of solid-liquid extraction

The concentrations of nicotinic acid (NiAc) and nicotinuric acid (NiUAc), a major metabolite of NiAc, were simultaneously determined in urine using solid-phase extraction (cation-exchange extraction) and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The intra- and inter-day precision studies showed good reproducibilities: the coefficients of variations were less than 8.1% for NiAc and 8.8% for NiUAc. The calibration curves were linear (r2 > 0.9934) in the concentration range 10-1000 micrograms/ml. The removal of endogenous interferences in urine by solid-phase extraction presented here is superior to the pretreatment protocols reported previously by other workers. The method was used in a preliminary pharmacokinetic study in rats after intravenous administration of NiAc (5 and 15 mg/kg).

Differences in metabolism of time-release and unmodified nicotinic acid: explanation of the differences in hypolipidemic action?

The possibility that differences in metabolism might underly the differences in efficacy and toxicity between time-release and unmodified formulations of nicotinic acid was investigated by measuring 24-hour urinary excretion of metabolites in 10 subjects who received both forms. Nicotinic acid has two metabolic fates: formation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and formation of nicotinuric acid, the glycine conjugate of nicotinic acid. Catabolism of NAD releases nicotinamide, which is subsequently methylated and/or oxidized to form a number of metabolites, with 2-pyridone predominating. Excretion of nicotinuric acid was more than four times greater when subjects took unmodified nicotinic acid than when they took time-release nicotinic acid (78.2 and 18.8 mg, respectively). In contrast, excretion of 2-pyridone with unmodified nicotinic acid was only 30% more than with time-release nicotinic acid (171.0 and 129.9 mg, respectively). These results demonstrate a marked difference in the metabolism of unmodified and time-release nicotinic acid. It is proposed that nicotinyl coenzyme A (CoA), the metabolic intermediate in the formation of nicotinuric acid, mediates some of the hypolipidemic actions of nicotinic acid, as the acyl-CoA esters of xenobiotics, including clofibrate, have been shown to interfere with lipid metabolism.

Pharmacokinetics of the new antiplatelet agent 2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydronicotinoyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine in laboratory animals

KC-764 (2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydronicotinoyl)pyrazolo [1,5-a]pyridine CAS 94457-09-7) and its metabolites in serum and urine were determined after intravenous and oral administration in mice, rats, rabbits and dogs at a dose of 5 mg/kg. KC-764 was rapidly eliminated from serum in all species. The biological half-lives of unchanged KC-764 after intravenous administration in mice, rats, rabbits and dogs were 1.31, 0.29, 1.94 and 1.20 h, respectively. 2-Methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-6-oxonicotinoyl)pyrazolo-[1,5-a]pyr idine was a common major metabolite in serum of all species, although 6,7-dihydro-6,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6- tetrahydro-6-oxonicotinoyl) pyrazolo-[1,5-a]pyridine (M-8) was more abundant in rabbits. Urinary recovery of unchanged KC-764 was as low as 0.4-2.2% in all species. The major urinary metabolite was 2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-6-ureidonicotinoyl)pyrazolo-[1,5-a] pyridine in mice, rats and dogs, but M-8 was in rabbits. KC-764 was rapidly and well absorbed by oral administration, and extensively metabolized in all species tested.

Identification of urinary metabolites of 2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydronicotinoyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine in rat, rabbit and dog

The metabolism of KC-764 (2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydronicotinoyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine, CAS 94457-09-7) in rat, rabbit and dog was studied. The urine of animals dosed with 14C-KC-764 was extracted with ethyl acetate after treatment with beta-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase. The metabolites were purified by TLC and HPLC from the extract. Unchanged KC-764 and 16 metabolites were isolated and their structures were identified or proposed by NMR and MS spectrometry. The metabolism of KC-764 took place by the oxidation of the tetrahydropyridine ring, 6,7-position and 2-methyl group of the pyrazolopyridine ring, and their combinations. The oxidation of the tetrahydropyridine ring was predominant in dog, whereas the oxidation of the pyrazolopyridine ring was more important in rabbit. Rat produced the various metabolites by their combination. 6-Oxo and 6-ureido derivatives of the tetrahydropyridine ring were common major metabolites in all animal species studied.

Influence of furosemide on the detection of flunixin meglumine in horse urine samples

The possibility of false negative results from TLC when a diuretic is administered concomitantly with flunixin was studied. Samples were subjected to solvent extraction from acidic aqueous solutions; duplicate samples were also subjected to alkaline hydrolysis at pH 12.5. The internal standard was flufenamic acid. The quantification of flunixin was performed by HPLC and the results confirmed by GC/MS. The data show that furosemide influences the urinary concentration of flunixin.

Niacin catabolism in rodents

Urinary excretion of nicotinamide and its metabolites in mouse, guinea pig, and hamster with a pharmacological amount of nicotinamide or N1-methylnicotinamide (MNA) was investigated to compare them with those of rat. In mouse, nicotinamide N-oxide was the most abundant metabolite, accounting for 35% of urinary excretion of nicotinamide and its metabolites, and followed by N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2-Pyr), 20%; nicotinamide, 18; MNA, 16%; and N1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide (4-Pyr), 11%. In guinea pig, 2-Pyr was the most abundant metabolite, accounting for 80% of urinary excretion, and was followed by MNA, 11%; nicotinamide, 3%; 4-Pyr, 3%; and nicotinamide N-oxide, 3%. In hamster, nicotinamide was the most abundant metabolite, accounting for 44%, and followed by 2-Pyr, 21%; nicotinamide N-oxide, 15%; MNA, 10%; and 4-Pyr, 10%. Urinary excretion of nicotinic acid and nicotinuric acid was not detected in mouse, guinea pig, and hamster. When a pharmacological amount of nicotinamide was intraperitoneally injected into mouse, the excretion of nicotinamide N-oxide increased to 79.7% of the nicotinamide metabolites, while those of MNA (4.9%), 2-Pyr (11.2%), and 4-Pyr (6.3%) decreased. Nicotinic acid and nicotinuric acid were again not detected. When a pharmacological amount of nicotinamide was intraperitoneally injected into guinea pig and hamster, the deamidated metabolites nicotinic acid and nicotinuric acid occupied significant percentages of the nicotinamide metabolites: 50.4% and 26.3%, respectively, in guinea pig; and 7.7% and 79.5%, respectively, in hamster. The ratio of 2-Pyr to 4-Pyr excretion did not change when nicotinamide or MNA was located into mouse, guinea pig, and hamster. From these results, the catabolism of nicotinamide in rodent is discussed.

Fate of excess nicotinamide and nicotinic acid differs in rats

Rats administered excess nicotinamide and nicotinic acid were studied to determine the metabolic fate of pharmacological levels of these compounds. When a large amount of nicotinamide (500 mg/kg body wt) was intraperitoneally injected into rats, 32% of the dose was excreted as nicotinamide, 11% as N1-methylnicotinamide (MNA), 10% as nicotinuric acid, 5% as nicotinic acid, 3% as N1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide (4-pyr) and 2% as N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2-pyr) during d 1 after the injection. Urinary excretion of these compounds gradually decreased with time and returned to normal by d 3. Urinary excretion of nicotinic acid and nicotinuric acid was observed only on d 1. When a large amount of nicotinic acid (500 mg/kg body wt) was intraperitoneally injected into rats, 55% of the dose was excreted as nicotinic acid and 15% as nicotinuric acid during d 1, and no excretion of these compounds was observed thereafter. The increase in excretion of nicotinamide, MNA, 2-pyr and 4-pyr was slight even on d 1. Excretion of nicotinic acid, nicotinuric acid, nicotinamide, MNA, 2-pyr and 4-pyr returned to normal levels on d 2. From these results, the different fates of excess nicotinamide and nicotinic acid are discussed.

Comparison of excretion of nicotinuric acid after ingestion of two controlled release nicotinic acid preparations in man

We tested an inexpensive controlled-release nicotinic acid product (Bronson Pharmaceuticals, LaCanada, CA) and compared it with the standard, more expensive, controlled release product, Nicobid (Rorer Pharmaceuticals), by measuring the 24 hour urinary recovery of nicotinic and nicotinuric acids from ten subjects following 500 mg oral ingestion of each product. Nicotinuric acid is the major detoxification product of nicotinic acid and may serve as a simple quantitative index of hepatic biotransformation of nicotinic acid. Although both products demonstrated controlled release profiles, the rate of appearance of nicotinic and nicotinuric acid in the urine as well as the rate of in vitro drug dissolution of the Bronson product were more rapid compared with Nicobid. Moreover, the total amounts of nicotinic acid and nicotinuric acid recovered in the urine after 24 hours were greater for the Bronson product (P less than .05). Since sustained presentation of nicotinic acid to the liver may correlate with clinical antihyperlipidemic effects, our results suggest that the Bronson product may prove to be a clinically useful preparation.

Gas chromatographic analysis of flunixin in equine urine after extractive methylation

A quantitative method for the analysis of flunixin, 2-(2-methyl-3-trifluoromethylanilino) nicotinic acid, in equine urine by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection has been developed. Flunixin and the internal standard, mefenamic acid, N-(2,3-xylyl) anthranilic acid, were analysed after extractive methylation of the carboxylic acid group using methyl iodide. The extraction and alkylation conditions of flunixin and mefenamic acid have been studied. The detection limit of the method was 0.25 mumol/l flunixin in urine (74 ng/ml). Flunixin was found to be conjugated to 96.5% in equine urine, and the conjugate was spontaneously hydrolysed to free flunixin. This approach can also be used to confirm the presence of flunixin or mefenamic acid in horse urine in the doping control of racehorses.

The role of column switching in analysing complex samples

Our objective in using column switching is primarily to achieve the desired separation in the minimum analysis time. Complimentary to this aim is the need for sample and column cleanup followed by column re-equilibration. Finally, all operations should be capable of automation. Fundamental to column switching methodology is the concept of Zone cutting, where part of the chromatogram is transferred to another column. This forms the basis of sample cleanup and is a very versatile and powerful methods. Multiple zone cutting is also possible to further increase to scope of cleanup or to minimise analysis time. Zone cutting is also complimentary to the techniques of trace enrichment and recycling. Examples will be given involving the use of these techniques in the analysis of complex matrices such as urine, plant extracts, wine and serum. The latter will be used to propose a novel approach to the quantitative analysis of anti-convulsants in serum using hexobarbital as internal standard.

Determination of a new antibacterial agent (AT-2266) and its metabolites in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed which enables accurate determination of a new synthetic antibacterial agent, AT-2266, and its metabolite, M-2, in plasma, and AT-2266 and its five metabolites, M-1, M-2, M-3, M-4 and M-5, in urine. AT-2266 is extracted as ethyl carbamate with chloroform containing 1% ethyl chloroformate and assayed on a liquid chromatograph equipped with an ultraviolet detector at 340 nm. Accurate determinations are possible over a concentration range of 0.1-10 micrograms/ml AT-2266 in plasma, and 1-500 micrograms/ml AT-2266 in urine. The coefficient of variation at the 2 micrograms/ml level of AT-2266 is 1.9% (n = 6). The minimum detectable concentrations of AT-2266 in plasma and urine are 0.01 micrograms/ml and 0.1 micrograms/ml, respectively, and those of other metabolites are similar to those of AT-2266. Plasma levels and urinary excretion of AT-2266 in a man following single oral administration (400 mg) have also been determined.

Nimodipine: synthesis and metabolic pathway

Key step of the synthesis of the calcium antagonistic cerebral vasodilator (+/-) isopropyl-2-methoxyethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (Bay e 9736, nimodipine) (5) is the cyclizing Michael addition of 3 onto 4. A pharmacokinetic study with 14C-nimodipine in the rat revealed as major metabolites the dihydropyridines 6 and 8 as well as the pyridines 7, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14. A potential metabolic pathway is discussed involving ether cleavage and oxidation to the pyridine form as primary biotransformation steps. Reference metabolites were synthesized using 1,4-dihydropyridines with appropriate functionalities as precursors.

The metabolic origin of trigonelline in the rat

A hypothesis of Mason & Kodicek [(1970) Biochem. J. 120, 515-521] that esterified nicotinic acid in niacytin from cereals is a precursor for trigonelline was investigated in rats. Single oral doses of niacytin resulted in the excretion of trigonelline in urine but only in rats that were niacin-deficient and were fed a cereal diet. These animals were found to have an abnormally permeable intestine, which allowed the uptake of molecules not usually absorbed. Orally administered synthetic [14C]nicotinoyl[3H]methylcellulose was shown to be absorbed by niacin-deficient rats on a cereal diet and [14C]trigonelline was excreted in urine. These data indicate that dietary cereal induces a permeability defect in the intestinal mucosa of niacin-deficient rats, which allows the uptake of macromolecular niacytin. The nicotinoyl pyridine nitrogen atom is then methylated and slow hydrolysis releases trigonelline from the macromolecule.

Metabolites of pipemidic acid in human urine

1. The urine of men dosed orally with pipemidic acid, contained the metabolites acetylpipemidic, formylpipemidic and oxopipemidic acids together with unchanged pipemidic acid. 2. Each metabolite was equivalent to less than 2% of the unchanged pipemidic acid present in human urine. 3. All metabolites showed a similar antibacterial spectrum to pipemidic acid, but their potency was about 10 times lower than that of pipemidic acid. The acute toxicity of the metabolites in mice was as low as the parent compound. 4. These results indicate that the role of the metabolites in the clinical efficacy and toxicity of the drug is likely to be small.

High-performance liquid-chromatographic determination of free nicotinic acid and its metabolite, nicotinuric acid, in plasma and urine

We report a liquid-chromatographic procedure for determining free nicotinic acid and a metabolite, nicotinuric acid, in plasma and urine. Five-tenths milliliter of urine or deproteinized plasma is evaporated and the residue analyzed isocratically by reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography, with measurement of the eluted nicotinic acid and nicotinuric acid at 254 nm. Nicotinic acid, nicotinuric acid, and the internal standard (isonicotinic acid) have retention times of 7.8, 8.4, and 6.8 min, respectively, in plasma, and 12.3, 13.1, and 10.8 min in urine, because of double column length. Day-to-day reproducibilities (CV) for nicotinic acid and nicotinuric acid within 7.5% are attainable for the concentration ranges 0.1--20 mg/liter, equivalent to 0.81--162 micromol of nicotinic acid and 0.55--11 micromol of nicotinuric acid per liter for plasma; in urine for the range 0.5--100 mg/liter, equivalent to 4--810 micromol of nicotinic acid and 2.8--555 micromol of nicotinuric acid per liter. Metabolites of nicotinic acid such as nicotinamide, N-methylnicotinamide, 2-hydroxypyridine-5-carboxylic acid, and other structurally related substances do not interfere.

Metabolism of 14C-labelled L-tryptophan, L-kynurenine and hydroxy-L-kynurenine in miners with scleroderma

Six South African White miners were studied with the 2-g L-tryptophan load test and tracer doses of L-tryptophan-7a-14C, L-kynurenine-keto-14C and hydroxy-L-kynurenine-keto-14C. The breath 14CO2 and 14 urinary metabolities were measured. When they were compared with a previous study of American women with scleroderma, similar 14CO2 and tryptophan metabolite excretion patterns were observed in the data from the miners. The labelled quinolinic acid excretion was more significantly elevated in the South African miners' urine than in the urine of the American women. The data from both studies suggest that some patients with scleroderma have an altered step in the tryptophan metabolic pathway after hydroxy-anthranilic acid. What relationship exists between the induction of pulmonary silicosis and the subsequent development of scleroderma, requires additional human studies.

Niacin and pantothenic acid excretions of humans fed a low-methionine, plant-based diet

The addition of a vitamin to a diet of humans has been shown to increase the excretion of that vitamin. The effects of an increase of one vitamin on another have not been investigated. The objective of the current project was to compare the effects of two supplementation patterns on the niacin and pantothenic acid excretion values of humans consuming a peanut butter-based diet. Two groups each received one of two supplementation regimens. One group received niacin, a multi-vitamin, or no supplement. One group received methionine alone, pantothenic acid alone or methionine plus pantothenic acid. The addition of either vitamin resulted in increased excretion of that vitamin. Urinary niacin excretion of the group that received pantothenic acid and/or methionine was greater than that observed with a multi-vitamin or no supplement. Urinary pantothenic acid excretion was suppressed when niacin was a supplement. Urinary pantothenic acid excretion of the methionine supplement group was greater than the excretion of the groups which received either niacin or multi-vitamin supplements. These data suggest some possible dangers in indiscriminate supplementation of food products.

[Removal of nicotinic acid 7-14C from the body of rats on a varying supply of vitamin PP]

Dynamic was studied for nicotinic acid (NA-7-14C) and its total metabolites excretion with area of animals under different physiological states (standard PP-avitaminosis). Various "efficiency" is shown for systems regulating homeostasis of this vitamin. When it is administered both in the amount close to the physiological dose (50 mg per 1 kg of weight) and exceeding the dose (500 mg per 1 kg of weight). The data obtained make it possible to draw a conclusion that the biological halflife period of Na-7-14C administered in excess of a physiological dose depends mainly on the rate of the unchanged vitamin PP excretion with urea and when it is administered in the physiological amount the period depends on the rate of the acid-metabolic transformations in the organism.

Renal mechanisms for the excretion of nicotinic acid

Nicotinic acid, an essential endogenous organic acid, was studied in free-flow clearance experiments in the dog at plasma concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 600 mug/ml. At all concentrations, net reabsorption was observed. At concentrations of 1.2 mug/ml, the clearance of nicotinic acid as compared to the clearance of insulin was approximately 0.50. As nicotinic acid plasma concentrations were increased to 90 mug/ml, the clearance ratio declined to 0.22. The clearance ratio then steadily increased to 0.75 as plasma concentrations reached 600 mug/ml. Plasma levels of nicotinic acid in excess of 600 mug/ml resulted in renal toxicity as indicated by a marked decrease in the glomerular filtration rate. The decline in the clearance ratio in the presence of 90 mug/ml of nicotinic acid suggested saturation of a secretory system and hence cyanine 863 and probenecid were used to observe their effects on the clearance ratio. The base transport inhibitor was without effect; probenecid decreased the clearance. Alkalinization of the urine had no noticeable effect on nicotinic acid clearance. Protein binding did not occur. The data indicate two important points. First, nicotinic acid is secreted to a limited degree by the organic anion secretory system and is simultaneously reabsorbed. Second, a homeostatic mechanism for conservation of nicotinic acid at low plasma levels does not seem to exist.

Role of vitamin B6 on leucine-induced metabolic changes

Administration of leucine at 3% level in the diet has been shown to increase tryptophan oxygenase activity and to decrease kynureninase activity in the liver and to increase quinolinic acid excretion in the urine of rats fed low amounts of vitamin B6 (0.5 mug/g diet). Vitamin B6 at 3 mug/g of diet was able to reverse the effects of leucine on enzyme activities, but not on quinolinic acid excretion. Isoleucine at 0.2% level could counteract the leucine effect on kynureninase but not on tryptophan oxygenase. Administration of leucine also decreased the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the brain. Simultaneous administration of isoleucine could counteract the effects of leucine on brain 5-HT and 5-HIAA partially at low amount of vitamin B6 but completely at higher levels of vitamin B6 in the diet.

[Studies on tryptophan metabolism in untreated phenylketonuric patients]

The products of the oxidative degradation of tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway were quantitatively determined in the urine of ten untreated patients with phenylketonuria, aged 4--35 years. All the patients were sevrely mentally retarded. The results of the analysis suggest a division of the patients into two groups, A and B. The patients of group A showed a basal urinary excretion of kynurenine, kynurenic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine and xanthurenic acid which lies in the lower part of the normal range. The increase in excretion of tryptophan metabolites under tryptophan loading was, however, significantly less than in controls. On the average, only 0.63 % of the load was excreted in the form of these assayed metabolites; in contrast, the control value is 1,13 %. In group B, the rate of excretion was higher than normal under basal and loading conditions. The post-tryptophan excretion was four times greater than that of controls (4.64 %). 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid could only be detected in group B after loading. The metabolite 8-hydroxyquinaldic acid, which is supposed to be an abnormal metabolic product of tryptophan, was excreted in milligram amounts. The analysis of the metabolites of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid showed that the excretion of N1-methylnicotinamide and N1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide was within the normal range. The excretion of nicotinic acid and its amide was sporadic in both the patients and controls. Other theoretically possible metabolites in the pathway could not be found. A number of unidentified metabolites could be detected by thin-layer chromatography in the basal state. The excretion of these metabolites was greatly augmented after tryptophan loading. Other substances which were not detectable in the basal state became evident on loading. A number of these metabolites are characteristic either of group A or B. The structural identification of one of the new products has been hindered by its instability. A stable cleavage product was identified as omicron-aminoacetophenon by mass-spectroscopy. This metabolite its typical for group B. The possible influence of the blood phenylalanine on the metabolism of tryptophan in phenylketonuria is discussed.