Scopoletin is a coumarin compound with various biological activities including detumescence and analgesic, insecticidal, antibacterial and acaricidal effects. However, interference with scopolin and other components often leads to difficulties in purification of scopoletin with low extraction rates from plant resource. In this paper, heterologous expression of the gene encoding β-glucosidase An-bgl3 derived from Aspergillus niger were carried out. The expression product was purified and characterized with further structure-activity relationship between it and β-glucosidase analyzed. Subsequently, its ability for transforming scopolin from plant extract was studied. The results showed that the specific activity of the purified β-glucosidase An-bgl3 was 15.22 IU/mg, the apparent molecular weight was about 120 kDa. The optimum reaction temperature and pH were 55 ℃ and 4.0, respectively. Moreover, 10 mmol/L metal ions Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ increased the enzyme activity by 1.74-fold and 1.20-fold, respectively. A 10 mmol/L solution containing Tween-20, Tween-80 and Triton X-100 all inhibited the enzyme activity by 30%. The enzyme showed affinity towards scopolin and tolerated 10% methanol and 10% ethanol solution, respectively. The enzyme specifically hydrolyzed scopolin into scopoletin from the extract of Erycibe obtusifolia Benth with a 47.8% increase of scopoletin. This demonstrated that the β-glucosidase An-bgl3 from A. niger shows specificity on scopolin with good activities, thus providing an alternative method for increasing the extraction efficiency of scopoletin from plant material.
Aspergillus niger/genetics* ; beta-Glucosidase/chemistry* ; Scopoletin ; Polysorbates ; Coumarins

Based on the fact that chromogenic reaction of blue complex, a reaction product which can be dissolved in organic solvents, can be realized by polyethoxy and ammonium thiocyanate in tween 80, a rapid and accurate way for the determination for tween 80 in pharmaceutical adjuvant was established in this study, providing reliable technical means for quality control of traditional Chinese medicine injections. Based on the study of reaction kinetics, chromogenic reaction temperature and time, as well as extraction of organic solvents and other key conditions were optimized, and Kumu injection was used as the test material for method validation and applicability investigation. It was finally determined that 3 mL ammonium thiocyanate solution was added in the sample solution, and the reaction was carried out in a boiling water bath for 2 h. After cooling to room temperature, 5 mL of dichloromethane was added to extract the chromogenic product. The absorbance value was measured at the wavelength of 623 nm to calculate the tween 80 content in the sample. Under optimized conditions, tween 80 solution showed a good linear relationship with the absorbance in the range from 0.8 mg to 3.0 mg. The linear regression equation was ＝0.258-0.047. The correlation coefficient was 0.999 6. Under the experimental conditions, the average recovery was 99.66%, and the precision RSD was less than 2.0%. The results showed that this method can quickly and accurately determine the content of tween 80 in Kumu injection, and it could be applicable to the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine injections.
Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Polysorbates ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Solvents ; Temperature

The effective components of flavonoids in the "Pueraria lobata-Hovenia dulcis" drug pair have low bioavailability in vivo due to their unstable characteristics. This study used microemulsions with amphoteric carrier properties to solve this problem. The study drew pseudo-ternary phase diagrams through titration compatibility experiments of the oil phase with emulsifiers and co-emulsifiers and screened the prescription composition of blank microemulsions. The study used average particle size and PDI as evaluation indicators, and the central composite design-response surface method(CCD-RSM) was used to optimize the prescription; high-dosage drug-loaded microemulsions were obtained, and their physicochemical properties, appearance, and stability were evaluated. The results showed that when ethyl butyrate was used as the oil phase, polysorbate 80(tween 80) as the surfactant, and anhydrous ethanol as the cosurfactant, the maximum microemulsion area was obtained. When the difference in results was small, K_(m )of 1∶4 was chosen to ensure the safety of the prescription. The prescription composition optimized by the CCD-RSM was ethyl butyrate(16.28%), tween 80(9.59%), and anhydrous ethanol(38.34%). When the dosage reached 3% of the system mass, the total flavonoid microemulsion prepared had a clear and transparent appearance, with average particle size, PDI, and potential of(74.25±1.58)nm, 0.277±0.043, and(-0.08±0.07) mV, respectively. The microemulsion was spherical and evenly distributed under transmission electron microscopy. The centrifugal stability and temperature stability were good, and there was no layering or demulsification phenomenon, which significantly improved the in vitro dissolution of total flavonoids.
Polysorbates/chemistry* ; Flavonoids ; Pueraria ; Surface-Active Agents/chemistry* ; Ethanol ; Emulsions ; Particle Size ; Solubility

OBJECTIVETo research the effect of polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) on Yuxingcao injection and volatile oils from Houttuynia cordata.

METHOD1H-NMR spectra of aldehydic and new matter in Yuxingcao injection, volatile oils of H. cordata, and solutions of Tween 80 and volatile oil of H. cordata are determined and compared from various angles of growing origin, storage temperature, and storage time.

RESULTThree aldehydic singlets in 1H-NMR spectra of every volatile oil from 4 aerial part of H. cordata were observed. These aldehydic peaks were basically disappeared and a new peak at delta 8.30 was found in 1H-NMR spectra of the volatile oil solutions in tween 80. Any obvious aldehydic peak in 1H-NMR spectra did not be observed in Yuxincao injection. A weak peak at 8 8.30 was found in 1H-NMR spectra in Yuxincao injection, and the peak high of delta 8.30 was remarked gone up when the injection was stored in 40 degrees C for 1 to 3 months.

CONCLUSIONTween 80 might cause the obvious reduce of aldehydic compounds contents and the production of a novel singal at delta 8.30 in 1H-NMR spectra when it was mixed with the volatile oil from the aerial part of H. cordata. The novel signal at delta 8.30 in 1H-NMR spectra existed in Yuxincao injection and was very small, but was increased remarkably when the Yuxincao injection was stored at 40 degrees C for 1 month at least.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Houttuynia ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; Polysorbates ; Temperature

To establish kinetic assay method for the analysis of hemolysis and to investigate dynamic hemolytic process of polysorbate 80. The UV-VIS spectrum of heme changes when hemoglobin is released continuously during the hemolytic process. Therefore, dynamic hemolytic curve was determined as a new way to characterize the kinetic process of interaction between polysorbate 80 and red blood cells. The effect of polysorbate 80 on blood cells could be perfectly investigated by the hemolytic dynamics. Dynamic hemolytic parameters of polysorbate 80 were calculated according to the hemolytic curves. The constants of hemolytic rate and maximum hemolytic rate of polysorbate 80 had fine linear relationships at the range of 1-20 mg x mL(-1) and 5-20 mg x mL(-1), respectively. In comparison with the present official method such as macroscopic observation and static spectrophotometric methods, kinetic spectrophotometry has the advantages of real time, on-line determination, sensitive, objective, good reproducibility and 2-dimensional information acquired. Therefore, as a biological technique, kinetic spectrophotometry could be applied to evaluate the quality of polysorbate 80 and to screen other solubilizing excipients.
Animals ; Drug Stability ; Erythrocytes ; chemistry ; Excipients ; chemistry ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Hemolysis ; Kinetics ; Polysorbates ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; methods

OBJECTIVETo establish the method for determining polysorbate 80 in Reduning injection by HPLC-ELSD, and to control the mass of polysorbate 80 in Reduning injection.

METHODIt was performed by HGPC-ELSD with TOSHTSK-GEL G4000PWxl (7.8 mm x 300 mm, 10 μm). Water was used as mobile phase, the flow rate was 0.7 mL x min(-1), and the temperature was set at 30°C. The evaporated light scattering detector was adopted. The drift tube temperature was 55°C, and nitrogen was used as carrier gas, with the flow rate of 2.0 L x min(-1) and gain of 1.0.

RESULTThe calibration curve showed good linearity of polysorbate 80 in the test range from 1.01 to 15.20 g x L(-1) (r2 = 0.999 3). The recovery rate was 98.10% with RSD of 2.0%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, rapid, accurate and reliable and suitable for the determination of polysorbate 80 in Reduning injection.

Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Injections ; Polysorbates ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Time Factors

Sonogenic microbubble agent is a newly developed drug targeting delivery system, which uses ultrasonic beam to enhance the delivery of drug and gene to targeted cells and tissues. In this paper, the preparation of sonogenic phospholipids-based microbubbles was optimized by using central composite experimental design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM). Hydrogenated egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC), Tween 80 and polyethylene glycol 1500 (PEG 1500) were important components affecting the concentration of 2 - 8 microm microbubbles in the preparation. The combined effects of these three factors were analyzed by CCD and optimized by RSM. Evaluation variable was the concentration of 2 - 8 microm microbubbles. Overall desirability was fitted to a second-order polynomial equation, through which three dimensional response surface graphs were produced. Optimal experimental conditions were selected from the stationary point of the response surfaces. The stability of the sonogenic phospholipids-based microbubbles by the optimal formulation was investigated by accelerated experiment. The contrast effect in vivo of the optimal formulation was investigated. Foreign market product SonoVue was used as the control. From the results, all the three factors had positive effects on the concentration of 2 - 8 microm microbubbles. The optimal condition in the preparation of phospholipids-based microbubbles was obtained as following: EPC 8.35 mg, Tween 80 21.68 mg and PEG 1500 201 mg. The mean value of the concentration of 2 - 8 microm microbubbles in rechecking experiment reached 8.60 x 10(9) x mL(-1). From the accelerated experiment, phospholipids-based microbubbles showed good physical stability. The intensity (relative unit) and duration of the contrast effect by the optimal formulation were 4.47 +/- 0.15 and (302 +/- 7) s respectively, which showed little difference with foreign market product SonoVue [4.28 +/- 0.13, (309 +/- 8) s]. The optimal formulation selected by CCD and RSM showed high microbubble concentration, good physical stability and effective sonogenic contrast effect.
Animals ; Contrast Media ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Design ; Male ; Microbubbles ; Particle Size ; Phosphatidylcholines ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polysorbates ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Ultrasonics

OBJECTIVETo observe the anaphylaxis and hemocytolysis of 6 kinds of tween-80 injection from different source.

METHODThe Hartley albinism guinea pig was used to carry on the active systematic anaphylaxis (ASA) and the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). The in vitro hemolytic experiment and the hemocytolysis was observed by means of spectrophotometry on the domestic rabbit.

RESULTThe result of ASA and PLA of 6 kinds of tween-80 injection from different source assumed the negative. In observation time, the temolysis rate of 3 kinds of tween-80 injection are more than 5%, while the others are also more than 5% only in the highly concentrated test tube.

CONCLUSIONSix kinds of tween-80 injection from different source have not caused the immune-mediated anaphylaxis, but it may have hematolysis tendency on intravenous injection. The hemocytolysis of tween-80 may not be entirely caused by the impurities. It is worthy of further study that the physical and chemical properties of the product itself and the undeserved concentration is doubtful whether there is also some internal relations with the generation of hemolytic.

Anaphylaxis ; chemically induced ; Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Hemolysis ; drug effects ; Injections ; Male ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; drug effects ; Polysorbates ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Rabbits

AIMTo prepare solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) loaded with all trans retinoic acid using an ultrasonic technique with Compritol 888 ATO as matrix material, and investigate properties of nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSUltrasonic technique was adopted to prepare solid lipid nanoparticles in an aqueous system using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) as a model drug. Physicochemical proterties of SLN were investigated in detail. Drug release from two sorts of ATRA-SLN was investigated using a dialysis bag method. Compared with ATRA solution, the in vivo pharmacokinetics of two sorts of ATRA-SLN after intravenous injection to rats were studied.

RESULTSSolid lipid nanoparticles loaded with all-trans retinoic acid was readily and quickly prepared by ultrasonic technique. The morphological investigation by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that the particles had round and uniform shapes. The mean diameters of them were (158 +/- 9) nm and (89 +/- 11) nm separately. The SLN dispersion was stable at 4 degrees C for more than one year. Drug loading was 3.3%, drug entrapment efficiency was more than 95%, the in vitro release was well in accordance with Weibull distribution. Compared with ATRA control solution, SLN could stay in the blood circulation for a longer time after intravenous injection.

CONCLUSIONThe ultrasonic technique was appropriate for the preparation of solid lipid nanoparticles.

Animals ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Stability ; Fatty Acids ; Male ; Nanostructures ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Poloxamer ; chemistry ; Polysorbates ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tretinoin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Ultrasonics

An Aersol-OT (AOT) included microemulsion containing fluorouracil was prepared by using appropriate proportion of oil, co-surfactant and water for increasing the drug transdermal delivery ability. According to the area of microemulsion basing on the pseudo-tertiary phase diagrams, the optimum formulation was screened initially. And the permeation flux of fluorouracil across excised mice skin was determined in vitro using Franz diffusion cell to optimize the formulation further. The effect of the kind of co-surfactant, the content of water, the content of mixed surfactant, the mass ratio of surfactant/cosurfactant (Km) and the drug load on skin permeation of fluorouracil were evaluated. The optimum formulation was composed of 0.5% (w/v) fluorouracil, 30% water, 20% mix-surfactant (AOT/Tween 85, Km = 2) and 49.5% oil (IPM). The cumulative amount permeated of fluorouracil in 12 hour was 1 355.5 microg x cm(-2), 19.1 folds and 7 folds more than 0.5% fluorouracil aqueous solution and 2.5% (w/w) fluorouracil cream, respectively. The permeation of this microemulsion accorded with first-order model. The water/AOT/Tween 85/IPM microemulsion system promoted the permeation of fluorouracil greatly, which may be a promising vehicle for the transdermal delivery of fluorouracil and other hydrophilic drug.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Emulsions ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Mice ; Myristates ; chemistry ; Oils ; chemistry ; Polysorbates ; chemistry ; Skin Absorption ; Succinates ; chemistry ; Surface-Active Agents ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry