Separation of the enantiomers of substituted putrescine and cadaverine analogues by gas chromatography on chiral and achiral stationary phases

Analysis of polyamines as markers of (patho)physiological conditions

The aliphatic polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, are normal cell constituents that play important roles in cell proliferation and differentiation. The equilibrium between cellular uptake and release and the balanced activities of biosynthetic and catabolic enzymes of polyamines are essential for normal homeostasis in the proliferation and functions of cells and tissues. However, the intracellular polyamine content increases in hyperplastic or neoplastic growth. Although the involvement of polyamines in physiological and pathological cell proliferation and differentiation has been well established, the role they play is quite different in relation to cell systems and animal models and is dependent on inducer agents and stimuli. Also, the experimental procedures used to deplete polyamines have been shown to influence the cell responses. In this paper, the assay methods currently in use for polyamines are reviewed and compared with respect to sensitivity, reproducibility and applicability to routine analysis. The relevance of polyamine metabolism and the uptake/release process in many physiological and pathological processes is highlighted, and the cellular polyamine pathways are discussed in relation to the possible diagnostic and therapeutic significance of these mediators.

Gas chromatographic determination of enantiomers as diastereomers following pre-column derivatization and applications to pharmacokinetic studies: a review

The introduction of chiral chromatographic methods has revolutionized the art of separation and quantitation of chiral drugs in biological fluids. A large number of chiral derivatization reagents for various functional groups are available commercially. Therefore, pre-column derivatization methods have become attractive and simple for the gas chromatographic assays in biological fluids. The intent of this article is to review the pre-column chiral derivatization reagents employed in gas chromatographic separations and analyses of enantiomers. A discussion of numerous procedures necessary to develop a quantitative gas chromatographic assay method for drug enantiomers is presented. In this regard, quantitative gas chromatographic assays based on this approach have been applied to investigate the stereoselective pharmacokinetics of several chiral drugs such as fenfluramine, norfenfluramine, methylphenidate, etodolac, propranolol, suprofen and methoxyphenamine.