Methimazole is the most widely prescribed antithyroid medication in humans. However, hepatotoxicity is a deleterious adverse effect associated with methimazole administration. No specific protective agent has been develo...Methimazole is the most widely prescribed antithyroid medication in humans. However, hepatotoxicity is a deleterious adverse effect associated with methimazole administration. No specific protective agent has been developed against this complication yet. This study was designed to investigate the role of taurine as a hepatoprotective agent against methimazole-induced liver injury in mice. Different reactive metabolites were proposed to be responsible for methimazole hepatotoxicity. Hence, methimazole-induced liver injury was investigated in intact and/or enzyme-induced animals in the current investigation. Animals were treated with methimazole (200 mg/kg, by gavage), and hepatic injury induced by this drug was investigated in intact and/or enzyme-induced groups. Markers such as lipid peroxidation, hepatic glutathione content, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in plasma, and histopathological changes in the liver of animals were monitored after drug administration. Methimazole caused liver injury as revealed by increased plasma ALT. Furthermore, a significant amount of lipid peroxidation was detected in the drug-treated animals, and hepatic glutathione reservoirs were depleted. Methimazole-induced hepatotoxicity was more severe in enzyme-induced mice. The above-mentioned alterations in hepatotoxicity markers were endorsed by significant histopathological changes in the liver. Taurine administration (1 g/kg, i.p.) effectively alleviated methimazole-induced liver injury in both intact and/or enzyme-induced animals.
This paper describes the design and implementation of a workshop to enhance pharmacy students' appreciation of the importance of chemistry for pharmacy practice. The workshop was designed to form part of the practical wo...This paper describes the design and implementation of a workshop to enhance pharmacy students' appreciation of the importance of chemistry for pharmacy practice. The workshop was designed to form part of the practical work of two modules taught in the second year of the MPharm degree. In this mandatory workshop, second year pharmacy students were required to spot in the dispensary drugs based on their chemical properties like chirality, their origin and chemical structure. The lecturers involved in the workshop showed examples of the application of chemistry in the day to day work of the dispensary (e.g. calculating the dose for a patient in millimoles or how small modifications from a natural product can change its ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier). Feedback from participating students was collected via two survey instruments to examine the impact of the intervention. The survey results showed a clear shift towards a more positive perception by students of the chemistry taught in the MPharm curriculum.
The monitoring of the plasmatic concentrations of cardiovascular drugs is crucial for understanding their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. A simple, sensitive, specific, and high-throughput liquid chromatography/ta...The monitoring of the plasmatic concentrations of cardiovascular drugs is crucial for understanding their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. A simple, sensitive, specific, and high-throughput liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous estimation and pharmacokinetic study of losartan (LOS), losartan carboxylic acid (LCA), ramipril (RAM), ramiprilate (RPT), and hydrochlorothiazide (HCZ) in rat plasma using irbesartan (IBS) and metolazone (MET) as internal standards (ISs). After solid phase extraction (SPE), analytes and ISs were separated on an Agilent Poroshell 120, EC-C18 (50 mm × 4.6 mm, i.d., 2.7 μm) column with a mobile phase consisting of methanol/water (85:15, v/v) containing 5 mmol/L ammonium formate and 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The precursor → product ion transitions for the analytes and ISs were monitored on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, operating in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode and switching the electrospray ionization (ESI) mode during chromatography from positive (to detect LOS, LCA, RAM, RPT, and IBS) to negative (to detect HCZ and MET). The method was validated as per the FDA guidelines and it exhibited sufficient specificity, accuracy, and precision. The method was found to be linear in the range of 3-3000 ng/mL for LOS and LCA, 0.1-200 ng/mL for RAM and RPT, and 1-1500 ng/mL for HCZ. The described method was successfully applied to the preclinical pharmacokinetic study of analytes after oral administration of a mixture of LOS (10 mg/kg), RAM (1 mg/kg), and HCZ (2.5 mg/kg) in rats.
A new degradant of Nafcillin Sodium was found at a level of 1.8% w/w during the gradient reversed-phase HPLC analysis in stability storage samples. This impurity was identified by LC-MS and was characterized by (1)H-NMR,...A new degradant of Nafcillin Sodium was found at a level of 1.8% w/w during the gradient reversed-phase HPLC analysis in stability storage samples. This impurity was identified by LC-MS and was characterized by (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, LC/MS/MS, elemental analysis, and IR techniques. Based on the structural elucidation data, this impurity was named as N-[(2S)-2-carboxy-2-{[(2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl)carbonyl]amino}ethylidene]-3-({N-[(2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl)carbonyl]glycyl}sulfanyl)-D-valine. This impurity was prepared by isolation and was co-injected into the HPLC system to confirm the retention time. To the best of our knowledge, this impurity has not been reported elsewhere. The identification and structural elucidation of this degradant impurity has been discussed in detail.
Fingolimod is an immunosuppressive agent which is used for the prophylaxis of organ transplantation rejection or multiple sclerosis treatment. In this study, systematic forced degradation studies on fingolimod bulk powde...Fingolimod is an immunosuppressive agent which is used for the prophylaxis of organ transplantation rejection or multiple sclerosis treatment. In this study, systematic forced degradation studies on fingolimod bulk powder were performed to develop a stability-indicating HPLC method. Separation of fingolimod and its degradation products was achieved on a Nova-Pak C8 column. The mobile phase was a mixture of potassium dihydrogenphosphate 50 mM (pH 3.0) and acetonitrile (45:55, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The proposed method was linear in the range of 0.125-20 μg mL(-1). The within-day and between-day coefficients of variation were in the range of 0.6-1.2%. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of the fingolimod amount in pharmaceutical dosage forms.
A short and sensitive stability-indicating gradient RP-UPLC method was developed for the quantitative determination of process-related impurities and degradation products of tolterodine tartrate in pharmaceutical formula...A short and sensitive stability-indicating gradient RP-UPLC method was developed for the quantitative determination of process-related impurities and degradation products of tolterodine tartrate in pharmaceutical formulations. The method was developed by using the Waters ACQUITY UPLC™ BEH shield RP18 (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) column with a mobile phase containing a gradient mixture of solvent A and B at a detection wavelength of 210 nm. During the stress study, the degradation products of tolterodine tartrate were well-resolved from tolterodine and its impurities and the mass balances were found to be satisfactory in all the stress conditions, thus proving the stability-indicating capability of the method. The developed method was validated as per ICH guidelines with respect to specificity, linearity, limit of detection and quantification, accuracy, precision, ruggedness, and robustness. During the stability (40°C/75% RH, 3 months) analysis of the drug product, one unknown impurity was detected by the above stability-indicating method. The unknown impurity was isolated by preparative HPLC and subjected to mass and NMR studies. Based on the spectral data, the unknown impurity was characterised as 2-(3-amino-1-phenylpropyl)-4-methylphenol (des-N,N-diisopropyl tolterodine). Structural elucidation of the impurity by spectral data is discussed in detail.
Lopinavir is an antiretroviral drug used for the inhibition of HIV protease. Four related substances of lopinavir were observed during the manufacturing process of lopinavir in the laboratory and they were identified. Th...Lopinavir is an antiretroviral drug used for the inhibition of HIV protease. Four related substances of lopinavir were observed during the manufacturing process of lopinavir in the laboratory and they were identified. The present work describes the origin, synthesis, characterization, and control of these related substances.
New 7-thio derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H,5H)-dione have been synthesized by the reaction of 3-cyclohexyl-7-thio-6,7-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H,5H)-dione with alkylhalogenides...New 7-thio derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H,5H)-dione have been synthesized by the reaction of 3-cyclohexyl-7-thio-6,7-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H,5H)-dione with alkylhalogenides. The synthesized compounds were tested for antioxidant activity on the model of Fe(2+)-dependent oxidation of adrenaline in vitro. It was found that the antiradical activity of 7-thio derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidine-2,4(3H,5H)-dione significantly depends on the structure of the substituent which is part of the thioether fragment of the base molecule.
5-Amino-N-aryl-3-[(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides 4a-c were synthesized by the reaction of N-(aryl)-2-cyano-3-[(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]-3-(methylthio)acrylamides 3a-c with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol....5-Amino-N-aryl-3-[(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides 4a-c were synthesized by the reaction of N-(aryl)-2-cyano-3-[(4-methoxyphenyl)amino]-3-(methylthio)acrylamides 3a-c with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol. The reaction of 5-amino-N-aryl-1H-pyrazoles 4a-c with acetylacetone 5 or 2-(4-methoxybenzylidene)malononitrile 8 yielded the pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives 7a-c and 10a-c, respectively. The structures of the synthesized compounds were established based on elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, MS, (1)H-NMR, and (13)C-NMR). Representative examples of the new synthesized products were screened for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells.
In order to develop new selective COX-2 inhibitors, a new series of 2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one derivatives possessing a methylsulfonyl pharmacophore group at the para position of the C-4 phenyl ring were designed, synthes...In order to develop new selective COX-2 inhibitors, a new series of 2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one derivatives possessing a methylsulfonyl pharmacophore group at the para position of the C-4 phenyl ring were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activity. In vitro COX-1/COX-2 isozyme inhibition structure-activity studies identified 3-(benzyloxy)-2-[4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]-4H-chromen-4-one (5d) as a potent COX-2 inhibitor (IC50 = 0.07 μM) with a high COX-2 selectivity index (SI = 287.1) comparable to the reference drug celecoxib (COX-2 IC50 = 0.06 μM; COX-2 SI = 405). A molecular modeling study where 3-(benzyloxy)-2-[4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]-4H-chromen-4-one (5d) was docked into the active site of COX-2 showed that the p-MeSO2 substituent on the C-4 phenyl ring was well-oriented in the vicinity of the COX-2 secondary pocket (Arg(513), Val(523), and His(90)) and the carbonyl group of the chromene ring could interact with Ser(530). The structure-activity data acquired indicated that the nature and size of the substituent on the C-3 chromene scaffold are important for COX-2 inhibitory activity. Our results also indicated that the chromene moiety constitutes a suitable template to design new COX-2 inhibitors.
A series of novel N-alkyl tetra- and perhydroquinoline derivatives and their hydrochlorides were prepared from tetrahydro- or trans-perhydroquinoline by direct alkylation with alkyl halides and subsequent precipitation w...A series of novel N-alkyl tetra- and perhydroquinoline derivatives and their hydrochlorides were prepared from tetrahydro- or trans-perhydroquinoline by direct alkylation with alkyl halides and subsequent precipitation with HCl gas. The antimicrobial activity of the resulting amines was evaluated in an agar diffusion assay. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the active compounds were determined by the microdilution method. In contrast to the tetrahydroquinolines, the perhydro analogues showed significant antifungal activity. In an assay for the detection of target enzymes in ergosterol biosynthesis, N-undecylperhydroquinoline was identified as an inhibitor of Δ8,7-isomerase.
In managing drug prices at the national level, orphan drugs represent a special case because the price of these agents is higher than that determined according to value-based principles. A common practice is to set the o...In managing drug prices at the national level, orphan drugs represent a special case because the price of these agents is higher than that determined according to value-based principles. A common practice is to set the orphan drug price in an inverse relationship with the number of patients, so that the price increases as the number of patients decreases. Determination of prices in this context generally has a purely empirical nature, but a theoretical basis would be needed. The present paper describes an original exponential model that manages the relationship between price and number of patients for orphan drugs. Three real examples are analysed in detail (eculizumab, bosentan, and a data set of 17 orphan drugs published in 2010). These analyses have been aimed at identifying some objective criteria to rationally inform this relationship between prices and patients and at converting these criteria into explicit quantitative rules.
The present study reports the preparation and evaluation of polymer composites of chitosan and montmorillonite. The prepared polymer composites were evaluated for various powder properties and characterized by FTIR-ATR (...The present study reports the preparation and evaluation of polymer composites of chitosan and montmorillonite. The prepared polymer composites were evaluated for various powder properties and characterized by FTIR-ATR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy- Attenuated Total Reflectance), XRD (X Ray Diffraction), and SEM (Scaning Electron Microscopy) techniques. Heckel and Kawakita equations indicated good compression characteristics of the composites. The polymer composites were employed in formulating sustained release tablets of aceclofenac. The formation of intercalated lamellar structures due to the entrapment of clay particles in the polymeric matrix network was found to be responsible for the drug release retardant behavior of the composites. The in vitro drug release data were fitted to various models like zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Hixon and Crowell for studying the mechanism of drug release from the formulation. The value of release exponent (n) was found to range between 0.59 and 0.82, indicating non-Fickian (anomalous) drug release behavior. Swelling-induced diffusion of the drug through the polymer matrix and polymer matrix chain relaxation appeared to play a role in the release of the drug from the polymer composites.
Both sonochemical and classical methodologies have been employed to convert camphor, 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one, C₉HC=O, into a number of derivatives including hydrazones, C₉HC=N-NHAr , imines, C₉HC=N-R ,...Both sonochemical and classical methodologies have been employed to convert camphor, 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one, C₉HC=O, into a number of derivatives including hydrazones, C₉HC=N-NHAr , imines, C₉HC=N-R , and the key intermediate nitroimine, C₉HC=N-NO₂ . Reactions of nitroamine with nucleophiles by classical methods provided the desired compounds in a range of yields. In evaluations of activity against , compound exhibited the best activity (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 3.12 µg/mL), comparable to that of the antitubercular drug ethambutol. The other derivatives displayed modest antimycobacterial activities at 25-50 µg/mL. In in vitro tests against cancer cell lines, none of the synthesized camphor compounds exhibited cytotoxic activities.
Efavirenz is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV). (2S)-(2-Amino-5-chlorophenyl)-4-cyclopropyl-1,1,1-trifluoro-3-butyn-2-ol (AMCOL), used as...Efavirenz is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV). (2S)-(2-Amino-5-chlorophenyl)-4-cyclopropyl-1,1,1-trifluoro-3-butyn-2-ol (AMCOL), used as an intermediate in the synthesis of efavirenz and a degradation impurity, has an aminoaryl derivative which is a well-known alerting function for genotoxic activity. Upon request from a regulatory agency, a selective and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for trace level quantitative determination of AMCOL related compound of efavirenz, for a risk assessment and comparison of impurity levels with the commercially available innovator product (brand name: Sustiva). The method provided excellent sensitivity at a typical target analyte level of <2.5 ppm, an established threshold of toxicological concern (TTC), when the drug substance and drug product samples were prepared at 15.0 mg/mL. The AMCOL sample was analyzed on a Luna C18 (2) (100 mm × 4.6 mm, 3 µm) column interfaced with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer operated in a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Positive electrospray ionization (ESI) was employed as the ionization source and the mobile phase used was 5.0 mM ammonium acetate-methanol (35:65, v/v). The calibration curve showed good linearity over the concentration range of 0.2-5.0 ppm with a correlation coefficient of >0.999. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were found to be 0.07 and 0.2 ppm, respectively. The developed method was validated as per international council on harmonization (ICH) guidelines in terms of LOD, LOQ, linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, and robustness.
This paper describes the facile synthesis of sildenafil citrate () and its related compounds through an improved chlorosulfonation reaction using chlorosulfonic acid and thionyl chloride. This synthesis results in pure s...This paper describes the facile synthesis of sildenafil citrate () and its related compounds through an improved chlorosulfonation reaction using chlorosulfonic acid and thionyl chloride. This synthesis results in pure sildenafil with high yield. The structures of the compounds were determined with infrared (IR), ¹H-NMR and C-NMR spectroscopic methods, and high resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS) analysis.
Tadalafil is a clinically approved phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It contains two chiral carbons, and the marketed isomer is the , isomer wit...Tadalafil is a clinically approved phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. It contains two chiral carbons, and the marketed isomer is the , isomer with a methyl substituent on the terminal nitrogen of the piperazinedione ring. In this report, tadalafil analogues with an extended hydrophilic side chain on the piperazine nitrogen were designed to interact with particular hydrophilic residues in the binding pocket. This leads to analogues with moderate inhibitory activity on phosphodiesterase-5, even for isomers in which chiral carbons are of the configuration.
One of the most significant characteristics of cancer cells is their rapid dividing ability and overexpression of LDL receptors, which offers an opportunity for the selective targeting of these cells. 5-Fluorouracil (5-F...One of the most significant characteristics of cancer cells is their rapid dividing ability and overexpression of LDL receptors, which offers an opportunity for the selective targeting of these cells. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-encapsulated low density lipid nanoparticles (LDLN) were prepared by the emulsion congealing method which mimics the plasma-derived LDL by acquiring the apolipoprotein B-100 from the blood. The average particle size, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and drug content of the prepared LDLN dispersion were found to be 161±3.5 nm, with spherical shape, and 0.370±0.05 mg/mL, respectively. In vitro release studies revealed a sustained profile which decreased with a lapse of time. In vivo studies of 5-FU serum concentration and biodistribution revealed a 5-FU serum concentration of 8.5% in tumor cells and about 2.1% in the liver at the end of 24 hr from LDLN. Tumor growth suppression studies showed 185.42% average tumor growth and 89.76% tumor height as compared to the control exhibiting tumor growth at 1166.47% and tumor height at 176.07%. On the basis of these collective data, it is suggested that a higher accumulation of LDLN, when given as an IV, in solid tumors is attributed to the active uptake of LDLN via LDL receptors via apolipoprotein B-100.
A simple, rapid, and highly selective RP-HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of Ambrisentan (AMB) and Tadalafil (TADA) drug substances in the fixed dosage strength of 10 mg and 40 mg, respectivel...A simple, rapid, and highly selective RP-HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of Ambrisentan (AMB) and Tadalafil (TADA) drug substances in the fixed dosage strength of 10 mg and 40 mg, respectively. Effective chromatographic separation was achieved using a Hypersil GOLD C18 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm internal diameter, 5 μm particle size) with a mobile phase composed of methanol, water, and acetonitrile in the ratio of 40:40:20 (by volume). The mobile phase was pumped using a gradient HPLC system at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min, and quantification of the analytes was based on measuring their peak areas at 260 nm. The retention times for Ambrisentan and Tadalafil were about 2.80 and 7.10 min, respectively. The reliability and analytical performance of the proposed HPLC procedure were statistically validated with respect to system suitability, linearity, ranges, precision, accuracy, specificity, robustness, detection, and quantification limits. Calibration curves were linear in the ranges of 1-20 μg/mL for Ambrisentan and 4-80 μg/mL for Tadalafil with correlation coefficients >0.990. The proposed method proved to be selective and stability-indicating by the resolution of the two analytes from the forced degradation (hydrolysis, oxidation, and photolysis) products. The validated HPLC method was successfully applied to the analysis of AMB and TADA in pharmaceutical dosage form.
A series of new p-nitrophenylhydrazone derivatives 3a-f were synthesized, characterized, and investigated for their antioxidant activities. These compounds have been synthesized by refluxing (p-nitrophenyl)hydrazine with...A series of new p-nitrophenylhydrazone derivatives 3a-f were synthesized, characterized, and investigated for their antioxidant activities. These compounds have been synthesized by refluxing (p-nitrophenyl)hydrazine with 4-sub-stituted salicylaldehydes. The structures of the compounds were established by IR, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR, and MS data. The antioxidant activities (free radical-scavenging activity, reducing power, metal chelating activity, and total anti-oxidant activity) of the hydrazone compounds were evaluated. All of the compounds exhibited significant activities, while compound 3a, with the shortest chain, showed the highest antioxidant activity in all of the tests.