Gas-phase fragmentation of the N-oxide and N-hydroxylated derivatives of retrorsine using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

Metabolic characterization of a potent natural neuroprotective agent dendrobine in vitro and in rats

Dendrobine is the main sesquiterpene alkaloid of Dendrobium nobile Lindl, which exhibits potent neuroprotective activity. However, its metabolism and disposition are little known. In this study, we investigated the metabolic characteristics of dendrobine in vitro and in rats. The metabolic stability and temporal profile of metabolites formation of dendrobine were assayed in human/rat liver microsomal and S9 fractions. Dendrobine metabolites were separated and identified mainly by UPLC-Q/Orbitrap MS. After oral administration of dendrobine (50 mg/kg) to rats, the accumulative excretion rate of dendrobine in feces, urine, and bile was 0.27%, 0.52%, and 0.031%, respectively, and low systematic exposure of dendrobine (AUC_0-∞ = 629.2 ± 56.4 ng·h/mL) was observed. We demonstrated that the elimination of dendrobine was very rapid in liver microsomal incubation (the in vitro elimination t_1/2 in rat and human liver microsomes was 1.35 and 5.61 min, respectively). Dendrobine underwent rapid and extensive metabolism; cytochrome P450, especially CYP3A4, CYP2B6, and CYP2C19, were mainly responsible for its metabolism. Aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde oxidase were involved in the formation of carboxylic acid metabolites. By the aid of in-source fragmentation screening, hydrogen/deuterium exchange experiment, post-acquisition processing software, and available reference standards, 50 metabolites were identified and characterized in liver microsomal incubation and in rats. The major metabolic pathways of dendrobine were N-demethylation, N-oxidation, and dehydrogenation, followed by hydroxylation and glucuronidation. Collectively, the metabolic fate of dendrobine elucidated in this study not only yields benefits for its subsequent metabolism study but also facilitates to better understanding the mode of action of dendrobine and evaluating the pharmacologic efficiency of the high exposure metabolites.

Elucidating the mass spectrum of the retronecine alkaloid using DFT calculations

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are natural molecules playing important roles in different biochemical processes in nature and in humans. In this work, the electron ionization mass spectrum of retronecine, an alkaloid molecule found in plants, was investigated computationally. Its mass spectrum can be characterized by three main fragment ions having the following m/z ratios: 111, 94, and 80. In order to rationalize the mass spectrum, minima and transition state geometries were computed using density functional theory. It was showed that the dissociation process includes an aromatization of the originally five-membered ring of retronecine converted into a six-membered ring compound. A fragmentation pathway mechanism involving dissociation activation barriers that are easily overcome by the initial ionization energy was found. From the computed quantum chemical geometric, atomic charges, and energetic parameters, the abundance of each ion in the mass spectrum of retronecine was discussed.