Multi-analysis determination of tropane alkaloids in cereals and solanaceaes seeds by liquid chromatography coupled to single stage Exactive-Orbitrap

Development and validation of an analytical method based on QuEChERS followed by UHPLC-ToF-MS for the determination of tropane alkaloids in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L.) and buckwheat products

A method was developed for the determination of tropane alkaloids (TAs), including atropine, scopolamine, anisodamine and homatropine in buckwheat and related products. This work presents an optimised methodology based on QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) extraction procedure followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the determination of TAs (atropine, scopolamine, anisodamine and homatropine) in buckwheat samples. The analytical methodology was successfully validated, demonstrating good linearity, low limit of quantification, repeatability (RSDr < 15%), inter-day precision (RSDR < 19%) and recovery (74-113%). Finally, 13 commercial samples of buckwheat were analysed and the results demonstrated that they were in compliance with the current European regulations regarding TAs.

Assessment of tropane alkaloid levels in Brazilian buckwheat flour products: A novel LC-UHPLC-MS/MS approach using solid-liquid extraction at low temperature

In recent years, the monitoring of tropane alkaloids, specifically hyoscyamine and scopolamine, in food has become a pressing concern. This is due to increasing reports of food contamination with these compounds worldwide, raising awareness about the potential risks associated with their consumption. A novel method is proposed here for the determination of the sum of (+)-hyoscyamine, (-)-hyoscyamine, and (-)-scopolamine in buckwheat-based matrices, using solid-liquid extraction at low temperature and quantification by bidimensional chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The validated method presented a linear response in the concentration range of 2.5-15 μg kg-1 (r > 0.99). The precision and accuracy were in the ranges from 0.8 to 11.0 % and from 96 to 103 %, respectively. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 2.5 μg kg-1. No contamination was found at levels above the LOQ in any of the 18 samples analyzed (buckwheat flour, grains, and gluten-free mix).

An insight into recent updates on analytical techniques for bioactive alkaloids

INTRODUCTION

Alkaloids represent a wide class of naturally existing nitrogen-containing organic compounds having diverse biological activities. They are primary bioactive substances extracted from diverse plant parts. Due to their diverse biological activities, they are frequently used as medicines. The alkaloids have diverse pharmacological impacts on the human body; alkaloids are used for prevention, treatment, and reduction of discomfort associated with chronic illnesses. As most alkaloids exist in plants in complex form, combined with numerous other natural plant components, it is essential to recognize and characterize these molecules using different analytical techniques.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to review the literature on the methods and protocols for the analysis of naturally occurring alkaloids.

METHODS

We carried out a literature survey using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases and other relevant published materials. The keywords used in the searches were "alkaloids," "analytical methods," "HPLC method," "GC method," "electrochemical methods," and "bioanalytical methods," in various combinations.

RESULTS

In this article, several classes of alkaloids are presented, along with their biological activities. Moreover, it includes a thorough explanation of chromatographic techniques, hyphenated techniques, electrochemical techniques, and current trending analytical methods utilized for the isolation, identification, and comprehensive characterization of alkaloids.

CONCLUSIONS

The various analytical techniques play an important role in the identification as well as the characterization of various alkaloids from plants, plasma samples, and urine samples. The hyphenation of various chromatographic techniques with mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy plays a crucial role in the characterization of unknown compounds.

Occurrence and health risk assessment of tropane alkaloids in cereal foods consumed in Korea

Tropane alkaloids (TA) are natural toxins found in certain plants, including cereals, of which atropine and scopolamine are the main species of concern due to their acute toxicity. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of TA in cereal foods and assess the potential health risks associated with their consumption in Korea. TA levels were analyzed in 80 raw and 71 processed cereal samples, which were distributed throughout Korea in 2021, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. At least one of the six TA species, namely atropine, scopolamine, pseudotropine, tropinone, scopine, and 6-hydroxytropinone, was detected in 10 out of the 151 samples at levels ranging from 0.12 to 88.10 μg kg-1. Dietary exposure (mean, 0.23 ng kg-1 bw day-1) to atropine and scopolamine in the Korean population was estimated to be low across all age groups. This is despite considering worst-case scenarios using the total concentrations of atropine and scopolamine in a millet sample, both of which were detected, and 95th percentile consumption for consumers of millet only. Both the hazard index and margin of exposure methods indicated that the current levels of TA exposure from millet consumption were unlikely to pose significant health risks to the Korean population.

Development and validation of an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 12 ergot, 2 tropane, and 28 pyrrolizidine alkaloids in cereal-based food by LC-MS/MS

Alkaloids are naturally occurring compounds containing basic nitrogen atoms. They are biosynthesized mainly by plants but also by some fungi species. Many alkaloids are toxic to humans and animals, and they have been classified as food contaminants. Among them, ergot, tropane, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids have maximum levels in foods, established by the Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915. In this study, an analytical method was successfully developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 42 ergot, tropane, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides in cereal-based food. The method includes QuEChERS-based extraction followed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The proposed method was validated providing recoveries ranging from 71 to 119 %, intra- and inter-day precision lower than 19 %, and limits of quantification between 0.5 and 1.0 µg kg-1. Finally, the analysis of reference materials coming from FAPAS proficiency tests demonstrated the suitability for purpose of the methodology (z-scores < 2). Nine cereal-based products samples were analyzed of which ergot alkaloids were detected in two of them, while one sample showed the presence of three pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Alkaloids in food: a review of toxicity, analytical methods, occurrence and risk assessments

Alkaloids have been utilized by humans for years. They have diverse applications in pharmaceuticals. They have been proven to be effective in treating a number of diseases. They also form an important part of regular human diets, as they are present in food items, food supplements, diet ingredients and food contaminants. Despite their obvious importance, these alkaloids are toxic to humans. Their toxicity is dependent on a range of factors, such as specific dosage, exposure time and individual properties. Mild toxic effects include nausea, itching and vomiting while chronic effects include paralysis, teratogenicity and death. This review summarizes the published studies on the toxicity, analytical methods, occurrence and risk assessments of six major alkaloid groups that are present in food, namely, ergot, glycoalkaloids, purine, pyrrolizidine, quinolizidine and tropane alkaloids.

Evaluation of Tropane Alkaloids in Teas and Herbal Infusions: Effect of Brewing Time and Temperature on Atropine and Scopolamine Content

Atropine and scopolamine belong to the tropane alkaloid (TA) family of natural toxins. They can contaminate teas and herbal teas and appear in infusions. Therefore, this study focused on analyzing atropine and scopolamine in 33 samples of tea and herbal tea infusions purchased in Spain and Portugal to determine the presence of these compounds in infusions brewed at 97 °C for 5 min. A rapid microextraction technique (µSPEed^®) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the selected TAs. The results showed that 64% of the analyzed samples were contaminated by one or both toxins. White and green teas were generally more contaminated than black and other herbal teas. Of the 21 contaminated samples, 15 had concentrations above the maximum limit for liquid herbal infusions (0.2 ng/mL) set by Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1408. In addition, the effects of heating conditions (time and temperature) on atropine and scopolamine standards and naturally contaminated samples of white, green, and black teas were evaluated. The results showed that at the concentrations studied (0.2 and 4 ng/mL), there was no degradation in the standard solutions. Brewing with boiling water (decoction) for 5 and 10 min allowed for higher extraction of TAs from dry tea to infusion water.

Gastrointestinal bioaccessibility and fiber mitigation of tropane alkaloids assessed on tea and cookies by in vitro digestion

BACKGROUND

Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are toxic compounds with a high anticholinergic effect. They have been widely analyzed in food samples, but their fate in the gastrointestinal tract has not been evaluated yet.

RESULTS

In this study, static in vitro digestion was performed to assess gastrointestinal bioaccessibility of the most common TAs on tea and home-made cookies. Cookies enriched with dietary fiber (pectin, arabinogalactan, and κ-carrageenan) were also tested to evaluate their influence on TA bioaccessibility. Two extraction methods and a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method were optimized and validated. Bioaccessibility for tea (60-105%) was higher than for cookies (39-93%) (P = 0.001-0.002), which indicates TAs could be more easily absorbed when they are contaminating tea. Digestion of cookies enriched with 50 g kg^-1 of different fibers showed that, although no significant changes were observed in the gastric phase (P = 0.084-0.920), duodenal bioaccessibility was significantly reduced (P = 0.008-0.039). Pectin was the fiber with a better mitigation effect for all the compounds.

CONCLUSION

TAs bioaccessibility was determined after in vitro digestion of contaminated tea and cookies. Dietary fiber seems to be a promising mitigation strategy, significantly reducing TA bioaccessibility percentages. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The Bright and Dark Sides of Herbal Infusions: Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity and Determination of Tropane Alkaloids

Herbal infusions are highly popular beverages consumed daily due to their health benefits and antioxidant properties. However, the presence of plant toxins, such as tropane alkaloids, constitutes a recent health concern for herbal infusions. This work presents an optimized and validated methodology based on the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) extraction procedure followed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography combined with Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-ToF-MS) for the determination of tropane alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine, anisodamine, and homatropine) in herbal infusions, in accordance with criteria established by Commission Recommendation EU No. 2015/976. One of the seventeen samples was contaminated with atropine, exceeding the current European regulation regarding tropane alkaloids. In addition, this study evaluated the antioxidant capacity of common herbal infusions available on Portuguese markets, indicating the high antioxidant capacity of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), and peppermint (Mentha x piperita).

Comprehensive Dissipation of Azadirachtin in Grapes and Tomatoes: The Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis and Tentative Identification of Unknown Metabolites

Neem oil is a biopesticide normally applied together with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). However, neither its dissipation nor the influence of Bt has been previously evaluated. In this study, dissipation of neem oil was investigated when it was applied alone or together with Bt at 3 and 22 °C. A methodology involving solid-liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry was developed for that purpose. The method was validated obtaining recoveries from 87 to 103%, with relative standard deviations lower than 19% and limits of quantification from 5 to 10 μg/kg. Azadirachtin A (AzA) dissipation was fit to a single first order, being faster when neem oil was applied together with Bt and at 22 °C (RL₅₀ = 12-21 days) than alone and at 3 °C (RL₅₀ = 14-25 days). Eight related compounds were found in real samples with similar dissipation curves compared to AzA, and five unknown metabolites were identified in degraded samples, with increasing concentrations during parent compound degradation.

Green extraction approach based on μSPEed® followed by HPLC-MS/MS for the determination of atropine and scopolamine in tea and herbal tea infusions

A high throught methododology based on a green extraction technique, µSPEed®, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) has been proposed for the analysis of atropine and scopolamine in tea and herbal tea infusions. For this, a digiVOL® Digital Syringe was used with different sorbents and working conditions to obtain a fast and efficient µSPEed® extraction. The best performance was achieved with a PS/DVB sorbent phase, sample loading of 5 × 500 µL and elution with 2 × 100 µL aliquots of methanol. The strategy based on µSPEed® followed by HPLC-MS/MS was validated, attaining quantitation limits lower than 0.15 ng mL^-1 and recoveries between 94 and 106% for both analytes and applied to seventeen tea and herbal tea infusions. Fourteen infusions showed contamination with one or both analytes above the maximum content legislated (sum of atropine and scopolamine < 0.2 ng mL^-1).

Looking beyond the Active Substance: Comprehensive Dissipation Study of Myclobutanil-Based Plant Protection Products in Tomatoes and Grapes Using Chromatographic Techniques Coupled to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

A comprehensive evaluation of the dissipation of a myclobutanil plant protection product was performed in tomato and grape samples. Different temperature conditions (3 and 22 °C) were evaluated. A biphasic kinetic model provided a suitable adjustment (R² > 0.95), with persistence (residual level, RL₅₀) lower than 24 days in all cases. Solid-liquid extraction and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS) were used for metabolites' elucidation, identifying six myclobutanil metabolites, four out of them described for the first time and one of them confirmed using ¹H, ¹³C, (¹H-¹H)-COSY, (¹H-¹³C)-HMQC, and (¹H-¹³C)-HMBC nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Their degradation curves were also evaluated, increasing their concentrations when the myclobutanil concentration decreases. Additionally, coformulants present in the commercial formulation were monitored employing headspace solid-phase microextraction method (HS-SPME)-gas chromatography coupled to HRMS (GC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS). Seven coformulants were quantified in tomato samples. Their dissipation curves were studied, and it was observed that they were almost degraded 12 days after application.

Mesostructured Silicas as Cation-Exchange Sorbents in Packed or Dispersive Solid Phase Extraction for the Determination of Tropane Alkaloids in Culinary Aromatics Herbs by HPLC-MS/MS

In this work, Hexagonal Mesoporous Silica (HMS) and Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15) mesostructured silicas were synthesized and functionalized with sulfonic acid groups. The materials (HMS-SO3− and SBA-15-SO3−) were evaluated as strong cation exchange sorbents for sample extract clean-up, by solid phase extraction (SPE) and dispersive solid phase extraction, to determine atropine (At) and scopolamine (Sc) in commercial culinary aromatic herbs. Under optimized conditions, 0.25 g of sample was subject to solid−liquid extraction with acidified water (pH 1.0), and good recovery percentages were achieved for At and Sc using 75 mg of HMS-SO3− in SPE as the clean-up stage, prior to their determination by HPLC-MS/MS. The proposed method was validated in a thyme sample showing recoveries in the range of 70−92%, good linearity (R2 > 0.999), adequate precision (RSD ≤ 14%) and low limits (MDL 0.8−2.2 µg/kg and MQL 2.6−7.2 µg/kg for both analytes). Sixteen aromatic herbs samples (dried thyme, basil and coriander leaves) were analysed and At was found in fourteen samples over an interval of <5−42 μg/kg, whereas Sc was found in three of the sixteen samples studied (between <5−34 μg/kg). The amount of At and Sc found in some analysed samples confirms the importance of setting maximum levels of At and Sc in culinary aromatic herbs.

Occurrence and Chemistry of Tropane Alkaloids in Foods, with a Focus on Sample Analysis Methods: A Review on Recent Trends and Technological Advances

Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are natural toxins produced by different plants, mainly from the Solanaceae family. The interest in TAs analysis is due to the serious cases of poisoning that are produced due to the presence of TA-producing plants in a variety of foods. For this reason, in recent years, different analytical methods have been reported for their control. However, the complexity of the matrices makes the sample preparation a critical step for this task. Therefore, this review has focused on (a) collecting the available data in relation to the occurrence of TAs in foods for human consumption and (b) providing the state of the art in food sample preparation (from 2015 to today). Regarding the different food categories, cereals and related products and teas and herbal teas have been the most analyzed. Solid–liquid extraction is still the technique most widely used for sample preparation, although other extraction and purification techniques such as solid-phase extraction or QuEChERS procedure, based on the use of sorbents for extract or clean-up step, are being applied since they allow cleaner extracts. On the other hand, new materials (molecularly imprinted polymers, mesostructured silica-based materials, metal–organic frameworks) are emerging as sorbents to develop effective extraction and purification methods that allow lower limits and matrix effects, being a future trend for the analysis of TAs.

Review on the genus Brugmansia: Traditional usage, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Brugmansia belongs to the Solanaceae family and contains approximately 7-8 species distributed in America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The genus Brugmansia plants are used in the traditional medicine of different parts of the world for the treatment of inflammations, rheumatic arthritis, wounds, skin infections, headache, asthma, colic, aches, and so on.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review study that focuses on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and traditional uses of Brugmansia species in order to understand the link between the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and modern therapeutic uses, and provide a scientific fundamental for further research in the phytochemical and pharmacological activities of their species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information reported in this study was retrieved from the scientific database such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, Springer, CNKI, Wiley, Google Scholar, and Baidu Scholar, up until May 2020. The key search word was "Brugmansia." Additionally, information was derived by search on the reference lists of included articles and Ph.D. dissertations.

RESULTS

As traditional uses, Brugmansia species are used against a wide range of diseases such as body pain, inflammatory conditions, skin infection, wound, and other diseases. Also, these species are used as a hallucinogen, protection from evil, and magical rituals. Phytochemical investigations have led to reporting approximately 189 chemical compounds in this genus. Among these components, tropane alkaloids, terpenes, and flavonoids are the most representative components of Brugmansia species. The plant extracts and chemical constituents of Brugmansia species exhibit a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antispasmodic, anti-asthmatic, antinociceptive, antiprotozoal activities, and so on.

CONCLUSION

This review summarized and analyzed the information of traditional uses, phytochemical, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of the genus Brugmansia plants, which show their species have interesting chemical constituents with different biological activities. The traditional uses of some species from this genus have been estimated by pharmacological activities, such as the anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiasthma, antinociceptive, anti-addictive, and antiprotozoal activity. However, the traditional uses of many species have not been confirmed, also the secondary metabolites of the many species have not yet been determined and have never been pharmacologically estimated. Considerably more research is needed to assert the ethnopharmacological uses, determine the chemical constituents, toxicity, and pharmacological activities of the genus Brugmansia species. The present review will be helpful for further research in the phytochemistry and pharmacology of Brugmansia species.

Multivariate statistical analysis of tropane alkaloids in Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher from different regions to trace geographical origins

Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher is an important Tibetan folk medicine and the source of tropane alkaloids (TAs) grown in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. There are marked differences in quality of A. tanguticus from geographic areas. The aim of present research was to establish a method for the quantitative analysis of TAs coupled with chemometrics analysis to trace geographical origins. Qualitative analysis of TAs in A. tanguticus was carried out using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and quantitative analysis of TAs in different plant organs from different geographical origin was achieved. Contents of TAs were subjected to the principal component analysis, and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis. The contents of the three marker compounds (anisodamine, anisodine and atropine) in the roots and acrial parts of A. tanguticus were positive correlated and varied significantly from different geographical origins. Principal component analysis, and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis results showed excellent discrimination between different geographical origin of A. tanguticus. This study could provide comprehensive evaluation and further utilization of A. tanguticus resources.

Alkaloids of the Genus Datura: Review of a Rich Resource for Natural Product Discovery

The genus Datura (Solanaceae) contains nine species of medicinal plants that have held both curative utility and cultural significance throughout history. This genus’ particular bioactivity results from the enormous diversity of alkaloids it contains, making it a valuable study organism for many disciplines. Although Datura contains mostly tropane alkaloids (such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine), indole, beta-carboline, and pyrrolidine alkaloids have also been identified. The tools available to explore specialized metabolism in plants have undergone remarkable advances over the past couple of decades and provide renewed opportunities for discoveries of new compounds and the genetic basis for their biosynthesis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of studies on the alkaloids of Datura that focuses on three questions: How do we find and identify alkaloids? Where do alkaloids come from? What factors affect their presence and abundance? We also address pitfalls and relevant questions applicable to natural products and metabolomics researchers. With both careful perspectives and new advances in instrumentation, the pace of alkaloid discovery—from not just Datura—has the potential to accelerate dramatically in the near future.

Determination of atropine and scopolamine in spinach-based products contaminated with genus Datura by UHPLC-MS/MS

Datura species are well known because of their high concentration of tropane alkaloids, which has led to poisoning episodes when Datura is accidentally mixed with edible crops. Therefore, the European Union has set a maximum level in cereal-based infant food products of 1 µg kg^-1 for atropine and scopolamine. However, the occurrence of these compounds in other commodities has become a global concern. Spinach and derived products can be contaminated with Datura innoxia leaves. In this study, we tested frozen spinachs and spinach-based infant food products. The determination was carried out by UHPLC-MS/MS after applying the QuEChERS method as sample treatment. The LOQs were below 0.016 µg kg^-1, achieving satisfactory results in terms of precision, accuracy, and matrix effects. The obtained results (ranging between 0.02 and 8.19 µg kg^-1) were close to the maximum level set by the European Union for 24% of the samples tested.

Sulfonic Acid-Functionalized SBA-15 as Strong Cation-Exchange Sorbent for Solid-Phase Extraction of Atropine and Scopolamine in Gluten-Free Grains and Flours

A novel method was developed and applied to the determination of the most representative tropane alkaloids (TAs), atropine and scopolamine, in gluten-free (GF) grains and flours by HPLC-MS/MS. Accordingly a suitable sample treatment procedure based on solid-liquid extraction (SLE) and followed by strong cation-exchange solid-phase extraction (SCX-SPE) was optimized. SBA-15 mesostructured silica functionalized with sulfonic acids was evaluated as sorbent. The proposed method was fully validated in sorghum flour showing good accuracy with recoveries in the range of 93–105%, good linearity (R² > 0.999) and adequate precision (RSD < 20%). Low method quantification limits (MQL) were obtained (1.5 and 2.4 µg/kg for atropine and scopolamine, respectively) and no matrix effect was observed thanks to the extraction and clean-up protocol applied. The method was applied to 15 types of GF samples of pseudocereals (buckwheat, quinoa and amaranth), cereals (teff, corn and blue corn, sorghum and millet) and legumes (red and green lentil, chickpea and pea). Atropine was found above the MQL in eight of them, with values between 7 and 78 µg/kg, while scopolamine was only found in teff flour, its concentration being 28 µg/kg. The method developed is an interesting tool for determining TAs in a variety of samples of GF grains and flours.

Interpol review of controlled substances 2016-2019

This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in controlled substances from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20Papers%202019.pdf.

Enantioseparation of acetyltropic acid by countercurrent chromatography with sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin as chiral selector

Acetyltropic acid is an important synthetic intermediate for preparation of tropane alkaloid derivatives, which can be used as anticholinergic drugs, deliriants, and stimulants. In the present work, acetyltropic acid was successfully enantioseparated by countercurrent chromatography using sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin as chiral selector. A biphasic solvent system composed of n-butyl acetate/n-hexane/0.1 mol/L citrate buffer at pH = 2.2 containing 0.1 mol/L of sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin (7:3:10, v/v) was selected, which produced a suitable distribution ratio D_S  = 1.14, D_R  = 2.31 and a high enantioseparation factor α = 2.03. Baseline separation was achieved for preparative enantioseparation of 50 mg of racemic acetyltropic acid. A method for chiral analysis of acetyltropic acid by conventional reverse phase liquid chromatography with hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin as mobile phase additive was established, and formation constants of inclusion complex were determined. It was found that different substituted β-cyclodextrin should be selected for enantioseparation of acetyltropic acid by countercurrent chromatography and reverse phase liquid chromatography.

Effects of dietary multi-strain probiotics supplementation in a low fishmeal diet on growth performance, nutrient utilization, proximate composition, immune parameters, and gut microbiota of juvenile olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of multi-strain probiotics (MSP) in a low fish meal (FM) diet on overall performance, gut microbiota, selected non-specific immune responses and antioxidant enzyme activities of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) juveniles. A total of 225 healthy olive flounders (initial mean body weight, 13.5 ± 0.01 g) were randomly separated into 3 groups of 75 fish, each group having three replicates of 25 fish; first group was fed with a FM-based control diet (Con), 2nd group was fed with a low-FM diet containing a blend of plant and animal protein meals replacing 30% of the FM protein (FM30), and 3rd group was fed with the FM30 diet supplemented with 10⁸-10⁹ CFU kg^-1 of the MSP (Pro). With the exception of lipid retention, which was significantly lower in fish fed the FM30 diet compared to the other two treatments, no other statistically significant differences were recorded with respect to any of the other growth and nutrient utilization parameters. Myeloperoxidase and lysozyme activities of fish fed the Pro diet were much higher and significantly different than those of fish fed the FM30 diet. Glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly higher in Pro- than in Con-fed fish, which, in turn, was significantly higher than FM30-fed fish. Expression of immune-related genes including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α was markedly upregulated in livers of the fish fed Pro diet compared to those fed the Con and FM30 diets. Furthermore, supplementation of MSP in FM30 diet enriched the Lactobacillus abundance in the fish gut as well as predictive gene functions in relation to lipid and carbohydrate metabolisms. These data suggested that the MSP could reduce the potential adverse effects of the low-FM diet and might be used as a healthy immunostimulant for olive flounder.

Understanding Central Nervous System Effects of Deliriant Hallucinogenic Drugs through Experimental Animal Models

Hallucinogenic drugs potently alter human behavior and have a millennia-long history of use for medicinal and religious purposes. Interest is rapidly growing in their potential as CNS modulators and therapeutic agents for brain conditions. Antimuscarinic cholinergic drugs, such as atropine and scopolamine, induce characteristic hyperactivity and dream-like hallucinations and form a separate group of hallucinogens known as "deliriants". Although atropine and scopolamine are relatively well-studied drugs in cholinergic physiology, deliriants represent the least-studied class of hallucinogens in terms of their behavioral and neurological phenotypes. As such, novel approaches and new model organisms are needed to investigate the CNS effects of these compounds. Here, we comprehensively evaluate the preclinical effects of deliriant hallucinogens in various animal models, their mechanisms of action, and potential interplay with other signaling pathways. We also parallel experimental and clinical findings on deliriant agents and outline future directions of translational research in this field.

Screening of drugs and homeopathic products from Atropa belladonna seed extracts: Tropane alkaloids determination and untargeted analysis

Homeopathic products are still a controversial issue in modern medicine, understood as complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). In this particular case, homeopathic products prepared from Atropa belladonna extracts may present specific problems due to the effects derived from its components. This article applies a simple, rapid, reliable method to the analysis of different homeopathic products obtained from Atropa belladonna; drugs containing high concentration of plant extracts; and Atropa belladonna seeds. The method was based on a simple solid-phase preconcentration method followed by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry using Exactive-Orbitrap as an analyser. An in-house database was set and atropine and scopolamine were the compounds detected at highest concentrations in homeopathic products from Atropa belladonna extracts (4.57 and 2.56 μg/kg, respectively), in Belladonna ointment (4007 and 1139 μg/kg, respectively) and Belladonna seeds (338 and 32.1 mg/kg, respectively). Other tropane alkaloids such as tropine, apoatropine, aposcopolamine, tropinone, homatropine, and anisodamine were detected at lower concentrations (0.04-1.36 μg/kg). When untargeted analysis was performed, other tropane alkaloids were identified in the tested samples, such as ecgonine (0.003 μg/kg), benzoylecgonine (0.56 μg/kg), calystegines A (19.6 μg/kg), B (33.1 μg/kg), and C (1.01 μg/kg). Finally other compounds present in the homeopathic products, such as sugars (fructose, glucose, and lactose) or amino acids (valine, ornithine, leucine, and phenylalanine), were identified.