Method development and validation for rapid identification of epigallocatechin gallate using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography

Plasma Gel Matrix as a Promising Carrier of Epigallocatechin Gallate for Regenerative Medicine

Plasma gel (PG) is a protein matrix prepared from platelet-poor plasma and can be utilized as a drug carrier for controlled release. We previously demonstrated its applicability as a carrier of polyphosphate. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the main flavonoid found in green tea and functions as a strong antioxidant. To explore the applicability of PG as an EGCG carrier, we examined the release of EGCG from the PG matrix using an in vitro system. Pooled platelet-poor plasma (PPP) was prepared from four healthy adult male donors, mixed with EGCG, and heated at 75 °C for 10 or 20 min to prepare the PG matrix. The PG-EGCG matrix was incubated in PBS at 37 °C, and the EGCG released into PBS was determined using spectrophotometry. The antioxidant capacity was determined based on the principle of the iodine decolorization reaction. EGCG precipitated and incorporated into the PG matrix during thermal preparation. Trypsin, used to simulate the in vivo degradation of PG, released EGCG from the PG matrix over time. The released EGCG maintained its antioxidant capacity during incubation. These results indicate that thermally prepared PG matrices can be utilized as a promising EGCG carrier in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Levamisole incorporation in fish feed - Ensuring the medication dose and avoidance of leaching into the water

Levamisole, an anthelmintic and immunostimulant drug, has been studied as a promising alternative for aquaculture use. While oral administration through feeding is the main route of administration in fish farming, no studies evaluating methods of levamisole incorporation into the feed have been reported so far. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate potential procedures for levamisole incorporation in extruded fish feed using ethyl cellulose, gelatin, or vegetable oil, to avoid drug leaching to the water during the animal's medication. A suitable LC-MS/MS method was optimized (full factorial design), validated, and applied to evaluate the efficiency of the process, the homogeneity of the drug concentration, and the leaching rate. The method has been demonstrated to be selective, precise (RSD < 4.9%), accurate (recovery > 98.4%), and linear (r > 0.99, 125-750 mg kg-1). The incorporation procedures using the three coating agents showed high incorporation efficiency (70%) and a homogeneous drug concentration among the extruded feed pellets. A low levamisole leaching rate was verified in the feed prepared using the ethyl cellulose coating procedure (4.3% after 15 min of immersion in the water). On the other hand, fish feed coated with gelatin and oil resulted in a high leaching rate (30-35% after 15 min). Thus, this study shows that coating ethyl cellulose may be a promising procedure for levamisole incorporation in fish feed and with the potential to enhance its use in animal production while reducing environmental contamination.

HPLC for simultaneous quantification of free mannose and glucose concentrations in serum: use in detection of ovarian cancer

Background: Abnormal levels of monosaccharides in blood have been linked to tumorigenesis. In this study, a novel high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was established for the simultaneous determination of free mannose and glucose in the serum. Methods: The serum was directly derivatized by 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone under alkaline conditions using L-rhamnose as an internal standard. The chromatographic separation was then performed on a Poroshell EC-C18 chromatographic column (4.6 × 100 mm, particle size 2.7 μm, Agilent) with gradient elution using NH4Ac-HAc and acetonitrile as the mobile phases. The method was thereafter validated according to international guidelines. The serum samples obtained from 200 healthy individuals and 200 ovarian cancer (OC) patients were analyzed for free mannose and glucose. Results: The method was found to be reproducible for quantification within 20 min and included online sample purification. The method displayed excellent linearity in the concentration range (for mannose: 0.5-500 μg/mL; glucose: 0.5-1500 μg/mL). The precision, recovery, and stability met the FDA bioanalytical method validation acceptance criteria. Overall, the measurement of glucose content by HPLC correlated well with the different enzymatic methods. Ovarian cancer mannose levels in the serum were significantly higher in the advanced stage (61.22 μmol/L, p < 0.0001) than those in healthy volunteers and early-stage patients (44.51 μmol/L versus 50.09 μmol/L, p < 0.0001). The AUC for the ratio of serum free glucose to mannose (G/M) was 0.98 (p < 0.0001), with a sensitivity of 91.46% and a specificity of 98.50%, which served as a biomarker for OC diagnosis. Conclusion: We report a simple, repeatable, and attractive analytical method by HPLC, which can be used for quantitative estimation of free mannose and glucose simultaneously in human serum. Our results indicate that the serum level of mannose could be used as a potential biomarker of ovarian cancer.

Ultra high-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) method development and validation for the identification of oxidized product of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG)

OBJECTIVE

In the present study we reported oxidation of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and validation of oxidized product by a validated ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method.

METHODS

Two hundred milligrams of EGCG was oxidized in 5 mL of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and was identified by a validated UHPLC method with precision and robustness. Confirmation of parameters like C-H stretching and mass was carried out using infrared spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy, respectively. Identification of oxidized EGCG (O-EGCG) was done by UHPLC.

RESULTS

The infrared spectroscopy chromatograms observed less intensity C-H stretching as compared to O-EGCG. The mass of EGCG and O-EGCG were 459.09 and 915.16, respectively. Structure elucidation revealed a loss of one proton in O-EGCG as compared to EGCG. Validation of the developed method was specific, with linear correlation coefficient 0.9981 and 0.9917, respectively for EGCG and O-EGCG, the accuracy rate of 95.2%-99.6% for EGCG, and 99.18%-101.5% for O-EGCG.

CONCLUSION

Together, the results of this study demonstrate the formation of a dimer also the UHPLC method developed for identification of both EGCG and O-EGCG is validated as per the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines.

Arsenic-induced uterine apoptotic damage is protected by ethyl acetate fraction of Camellia sinensis (green tea) via Bcl-2-BAX through NF-κB regulations in Wistar rats

The non-invasive treatment strategy is indispensable to overcome the side effects of conventional treatment with chelating agents against arsenic. Presence of catechins and flavonoids in Camellia sinensis have potential antioxidant properties and other beneficial effects. The aim of the study was to explore the curative potential role of Camellia sinensis against uterine damages produced by sodium arsenite in mature albino rats. A dose of 10 mg of Camellia sinensis ethyl acetate (CS-EA) fraction/100 gm body weight was provided to the sodium arsenite-treated rats (10 mg/Kg body weight). LC-MS analysis was used for the detection of active component in CS-EA fraction. Enzymatic antioxidants analysis carried out by reproducible native gel technique. Hormones and some pro and anti-inflammatory markers were detected by ELISA, PCR, and western blot techniques respectively. Immunostaining was performed for the detection of estradiol receptor alpha. LC-MS analysis of CS-EA fraction ensured the presence of active tea polyphenol and tea catechin of which highest peak of epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) was obtained in this study. Significant elevations of lipid peroxidation end products followed by the diminution of antioxidant enzymes activities were noted in arsenicated rats which were capably retrieved by the treatment of CS-EA fraction. Post-treatment with CS-EA fraction meaningfully improved gonadotrophins and estradiol signalling in association with a highly expressing estradiol receptor-α (ERα) in the ovary and uterus followed by the maintenance of normal utero-ovarian histoarchitecture in arsenic fed rats. CS-EA fractioned treated group overturned the sodium arsenite driven higher expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and proapoptotic markers along with a low level of anti apoptotic Bcl-2 expression and comparatively lower NF-κB signalling in the uterus via regulating IKK β kinase mostly by EGCG of CS-EA fraction. However, ethyl acetate fraction of Camellia sinensis played a critical role in minimizing arsenic-mediated uterine hypo-function.