A Fast and Efficient UPLC-ESI-MS/MS Method for Detection, Identification, and Quantitative Analysis of Bioactive Substances in Medicinal Herbal Extracts of Preventing Hair Loss

Overview of Recent Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry-Based Methods for Natural Toxins Detection in Food Products

Natural toxins include a wide range of toxic metabolites also occurring in food and products, thus representing a risk for consumer health. In the last few decades, several robust and sensitive analytical methods able to determine their occurrence in food have been developed. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry is the most powerful tool for the simultaneous detection of these toxins due to its advantages in terms of sensitivity and selectivity. A comprehensive review on the most relevant papers on methods based on liquid chromatography mass spectrometry for the analysis of mycotoxins, alkaloids, marine toxins, glycoalkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides and furocoumarins in food is reported herein. Specifically, a literature search from 2011 to 2021 was carried out, selecting a total of 96 papers. Different approaches to sample preparation, chromatographic separation and detection mode are discussed. Particular attention is given to the analytical performance characteristics obtained in the validation process and the relevant application to real samples.

Hair Growth is Promoted in Mouse Dorsal Skin by a Mixture of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco Leaf Extract and Alpha-Terpineol by Increasing Growth Factors and wnt3/β-Catenin

In this study, we investigated the effect of a mixture of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco leaf extract and α-terpineol, a natural monoterpene alcohol (PEaT), on hair growth and its mechanisms. C57/BL6 mice (total n = 14) in the telogen phase of hair growth were used. Either distilled water as vehicle or PEaT was topically applied to the dorsal skin for 17 days. Chronological hair growth change was examined by hair growth-promoting scores. In addition, to find out mechanisms of PEaT on hair growth, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Ki-67, wnt3, and β-catenin expressions were investigated by using immunohistochemistry. We found that PEaT remarkably promoted hair growth by inducing early anagen transition compared with the control group. In addition, treatment with PEaT significantly increased numbers of Ki-67-positive cells and expressions of IGF-1, VEGF, wnt3, and β-catenin in the outer root sheath. These results indicate that PEaT used in this study might be a good hair growth promoter, showing that PEaT treatment increased growth factors and cell proliferation through upregulation of wnt3 and β-catenin expressions.

Determination of the neuropharmacological drug nodakenin in rat plasma and brain tissues by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry: Application to pharmacokinetic studies

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry detection using selected reaction monitoring in positive ionization mode was developed and validated for the quantification of nodakenin in rat plasma and brain. Pareruptorin A was used as internal standard. A single step liquid-liquid extraction was used for plasma and brain sample preparation. The method was validated with respect to selectivity, precision, accuracy, linearity, limit of quantification, recovery, matrix effect and stability. Lower limit of quantification of nodakenin was 2.0 ng/mL in plasma and brain tissue homogenates. Linear calibration curves were obtained over concentration ranges of 2.0-1000 ng/mL in plasma and brain tissue homogenates for nodakenin. Intra-day and inter-day precisions (relative standard deviation, RSD) were <15% in both biological media. This assay was successfully applied to plasma and brain pharmacokinetic studies of nodakenin in rats after intravenous administration.

Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the determination of hinokiflavone in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

Hinokiflavone has drawn a lot of attention for its multiple biological activities. In this study, a sensitive and selective method for determination of hinokiflavone in rat plasma was developed for the first time, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Amentoflavone was used as an internal standard. Separation was achieved on a Hypersil Gold C₁₈ column with isocratic elution using methanol-water (65:35, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. A triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in the negative electrospray mode with selected reaction monitoring was used to detect the transitions of m/z 537 → 284 for hinokiflavone and m/z 537 → 375 for IS. The LOQ was 0.9 ng/mL with a linear range of 0.9-1000 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day accuracy (RE%) ranged from -3.75 to 6.91% and from -9.20 to 2.51% and the intra- and inter-day precision (RSD) was between 0.32-14.11 and 2.85-10.04%. The validated assay was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of hinokiflavone in rats. The half-life of drug elimination at the terminal phase was 6.10 ± 1.86 h, and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the time of last measurable concentration and to infinity values obtained were 2394.42 ± 466.86 and 2541.93 ± 529.85 h ng/mL, respectively.