A simple, rapid and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of camptothecin

Green highly sensitive and selective spectroscopic detection of guaifenesin in multiple dosage forms and spiked human plasma

Guaifenesin (GUA) is determined in dosage forms and plasma using two methods. The spectrofluorimetric technique relies on the measurement of native fluorescence intensity at 302 nm upon excitation wavelength "223 nm". The method was validated according to ICH and FDA guidelines. A concentration range of 0.1-1.1 μg/mL was used, with limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) values 0.03 and 0.08 µg/mL, respectively. This method was used to measure GUA in tablets and plasma, with %recovery of 100.44% ± 0.037 and 101.03% ± 0.751. Furthermore, multivariate chemometric-assisted spectrophotometric methods are used for the determination of GUA, paracetamol (PARA), oxomemazine (OXO), and sodium benzoate (SB) in their lab mixtures. The concentration ranges of 2.0-10.0, 4.0-16.0, 2.0-10.0, and 3.0-10.0 µg/mL for OXO, GUA, PARA, and SB; respectively, were used. LOD and LOQ were 0.33, 0.68, 0.28, and 0.29 µg/mL, and 1.00, 2.06, 0.84, and 0.87 µg/mL for PARA, GUA, OXO, and SB. For the suppository application, the partial least square (PLS) model was used with %recovery 98.49% ± 0.5, 98.51% ± 0.64, 100.21% ± 0.36 & 98.13% ± 0.51, although the multivariate curve resolution alternating least-squares (MCR-ALS) model was used with %recovery 101.39 ± 0.45, 99.19 ± 0.2, 100.24 ± 0.12, and 98.61 ± 0.32 for OXO, GUA, PARA, and SB. Analytical Eco-scale and Analytical Greenness Assessment were used to assess the greenness level of our techniques.

Biotechnology of camptothecin production in Nothapodytes nimmoniana, Ophiorrhiza sp. and Camptotheca acuminata

Cancer is probably the deadliest human disease in recent years. In the past few years, rapid clinical progress has been made in the field of anticancer drug development. Plant secondary metabolites have been noted as extremely efficacious as promising natural source for anticancer therapy for many years. Camptothecin (CPT) is one of the popularly used anti-tumor drugs possessing clinically proven properties against a plethora of human malignancies that include ovarian and colorectal cancers. For the first time, CPT was obtained from the extracts of a Chinese medicinal tree, Camptotheca acuminata Decne. from the family Cornaceae. Subsequently, CPT was also isolated from the bark of Nothapodytes foetida (Wight) Sleumer (Icacinaceae). However, the availability of enough natural sources for obtaining CPT is a major constraint. Due to overexploitation and harvesting, loss of habitat, excessive trading, and unfavorable environmental factors, the natural source of CPT has become extinct or extremely limited and hence they are red listed under endangered species. Conventional propagation has also failed to meet the ever-expanding demand for CPT production. With this, biotechnological toolkits have constantly been used as a boon to produce sustainable source, utilization, and ex situ conservation of medicinal plants. The approaches serve as a supplement to traditional agriculture in the mass production of plant metabolites with potent bioactivities. Non-availability of enough anticancer medicine and the requirement to satisfy current demands need a sustainable source of CPT. With this background, we present a comprehensive review on CPT discovery, its occurrence in the plant kingdom, biosynthesis, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, clinical studies, patterns of CPT accumulation, and biotechnological aspects of CPT production in three plants, viz., N. nimmoniana, Ophiorrhiza species, and C. acuminata.Key points• Biotechnological approaches on production of camptothecin from Nothapodytes nimmoniana, Ophiorrhiza species, and Camptotheca acuminata• In vitro propagation of camptothecin-producing plants• Genetic diversity and transgenic research on camptothecin-producing plants.