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Biomedical subjects

Weidong Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Weidong Zhang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Rapid identification of C21 steroidal saponins in Cynanchum versicolor Bunge by electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Electrospray ionization multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn) and liquid chromatography coupled with on-line electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MSn) were performed to elucidate the clearage rule of nine investigated C21 steroidal saponins and identify them in the saponin fraction of 90% ethanolic extracts from the root and rhizome of Cynanchum versicolor Bunge. The fragments of C21 steroidal saponins in positive and negative ESI-MSn were used to deduce their mass spectral fragmentation mechanisms, and their structures were further confirmed by ESI-MSn in positive mode. The MSn spectra of the [M+Na]+ ions for saponins provided a wealth of structural information on glycosidic bond cleavage, which allowed a straightforward interpretation of spectra, with respect to the identifications of features such as the sequences of sugars attached to saponins and sugar type. By using LC/ESI-MSn, nine C21 steroidal saponins were detected in the saponin fraction of C. versicolor, and an isomer of atratoglaucoside A was elucidated simultaneously. All nine compounds showed an abundant ion for the loss of 46 Da (HCOOH) from [M+Na]+. The losses of monosaccharide sequences and aglycone as neutral fragmentation from [M+Na-HCOOH]+ were also acquired as the characteristic ions of these C21 steroidal saponins. It provided important information on monosaccharide sequences and in particular on sugar types and could be used to identify and elucidate other C21 steroidal saponins. These studies allowed us to rapidly identify C21 steroidal saponins from Radix cynanchi atrati. It is indicated that the described method had wide applicability to rapidly screen and provide structural confirmation on C21 steroidal saponins in crude materials.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2006

Phospholipase C/diacylglycerol kinase-mediated signalling is required for benzothiadiazole-induced oxidative burst and hypersensitive cell death in rice suspension-cultured cells.

The involvement of phospholipase C/diacylglycerol kinase (PLC/DGK)-mediated signalling in oxidative burst and hypersensitive cell death was studied in rice suspension-cultured cells treated with benzothiadiazole (BTH) and infected by Xanthomonas oryza pv. oryza (Xoo), the causal agent of rice leaf blight disease. Treatment of rice suspension cells with BTH resulted in a significant oxidative burst, as indicated by accumulation of superoxide anion and H(2)O(2), and hypersensitive cell death, as determined by Evans blue staining. A peak in oxidative burst was detected 3-4 h after BTH treatment and hypersensitive cell death was observed 8 h after treatment. In addition, significant oxidative burst and hypersensitive cell death were detected in BTH-treated suspension cells, but not in untreated control cells, after Xoo infection. Scavengers and antioxidants of active oxygen species, e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase, N-acetylcysteine, and flavone, reduced significantly the BTH-induced oxidative burst and hypersensitive cell death, indicating that oxidative burst is required for BTH-induced hypersensitive cell death. Expression of the PLC/DGK pathway genes, a diacylglycerol kinase gene, OsDAGK1, and a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C gene, OsPI-PLC1, and a defence-related EREBP transcriptional factor gene, OsBIERF3, was activated in rice cells after BTH treatment and in the BTH-treated cells after Xoo infection. Treatment of rice cells with phosphatidic acid, a phospholipid signalling molecule, resulted in the production of oxidative burst and hypersensitive cell death. However, neomycin, a PLC inhibitor, inhibited partially but not completely the production of oxidative burst, hypersensitive cell death, and expression of OsBIERF3 and OsDAGK1 induced by BTH in rice cells. These results suggest that PLC/DGK-mediated signalling plays an important role in BTH-induced oxidative burst, hypersensitive response, and activation of defence response in rice.

Cell Culture Techniques↗
PubMed2006

Thiolated chitosan/DNA nanocomplexes exhibit enhanced and sustained gene delivery.

PURPOSE: Thiolated chitosan appears to possess enhanced mucoadhesiveness and cell penetration properties, however, its potential in gene-drug delivery remains unknown. Herein, we report on a highly effective gene delivery system utilizing a 33-kDa thiol-modified chitosan derivative. METHODS: Thiolated chitosan was prepared by the reaction with thioglycolic acid. Nanocomplexes of unmodified chitosan or thiolated chitosan with plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescenct protein (GFP) were characterized for their size, zeta potential, their ability to bind and protect plasmid DNA from degradation. The transfection efficiency of thiolated chitosan and sustained gene expression were evaluated in various cell lines in vitro and in Balb/c mice in vivo. RESULTS: Thiolated chitosan-DNA nanocomplexes ranged in size from 75 to 120 nm in diameter and from +2.3 to 19.7 mV in zeta potential, depending on the weight ratio of chitosan to DNA. Thiolated chitosan, CSH360, exhibited effective physical stability and protection against DNase I digestion at a weight ratio>or=2.5:1. CSH360/DNA nanocomplexes induced significantly (P<0.01) higher GFP expression in HEK293, MDCK and Hep-2 cell lines than unmodified chitosan. Nanocomplexes of disulphide-crosslinked CSH360/DNA showed a sustained DNA release and continuous expression in cultured cells lasting up to 60 h post transfection. Also, intranasal administration of crosslinked CSH360/DNA nanocomplexes to mice yielded gene expression that lasted for at least 14 days. CONCLUSIONS: Thiolated chitosans condense pDNA to form nanocomplexes, which exhibit a significantly higher gene transfer potential and sustained gene expression upon crosslinking, indicating their great potential for gene therapy and tissue engineering.

Adhesives↗
PubMed2006

Simultaneous determination of eight components in Radix Tinosporae by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS-MS) and diode array detection (DAD) was used to identify and simultaneously determine eight major ingredients in Radix Tinosporae. The assay was performed on a Diamonsil C(18) analytical column with a gradient solvent system of A (water containing 0.2% formic acid, 20mM ammonium acetate) and B (methanol/acetonitrile=1/1, v/v). The 217, 248, 270 and 347 nm, respectively, were chosen as the monitoring wavelengths to determine four structural types of components, say columbin, phytoecdysteroids (including 20-hydroxyecdysone, 2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside and 2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone), menisperine and protoberberine alkaloids (including columbamine, jatrorrhizine and palmatine). This method was validated in respect to precision, repeatability and accuracy, and was successfully applied to quantify the eight components in 39 batches of R. Tinosporae for quality control purpose. The results indicated that the proposed method could be readily utilized as a quality control method for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Calibration↗
PubMed2006

Simultaneous analysis of eight bioactive compounds in Danning tablet by HPLC-ESI-MS and HPLC-UV.

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and ultraviolet detector (UV) has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of eight bioactive compounds in Danning tablet (including hyperin, hesperidin, resveratrol, nobiletin, curcumine, emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion), a widely used prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The chromatographic separation was performed on a ZORBAX Extend C(18) analytical column by gradient elution with acetonitrile and formate buffer (containing 0.05% formic acid, adjusted with triethylamine to pH 5.0) at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. The eight compounds in Danning tablet were identified and their MS(n) fractions were elucidated by using HPLC-ESI-MS, and the contents of these compounds were determined by using HPLC-UV method. The standard calibration curves were linear between 5.0 and 100 microg/ml for hyperin, 10-200 microg/ml for hesperidin, 1.0-150 microg/ml for resveratrol, 2.0-120 microg/ml for nobiletin, 2.0-225 microg/ml for curcumine, 20-300 microg/ml for emodin, 2.0-200 microg/ml for chrysophanol, and 20-250 microg/ml for physcion with regression coefficient r(2)>0.9995. The intra-day and inter-day precisions of this method were evaluated with the R.S.D. values less than 0.7% and 1.3%, respectively. The recoveries of the eight investigated compounds were ranged from 99.3% to 100.2% with R.S.D. values less than 1.5%. This method was successfully used to determine the 8 target compounds in 10 batches of Danning tablet.

Calibration↗
PubMed2006

IL-4 receptor genetic polymorphisms and asthma in Asian populations.

BACKGROUND: IL-4 receptor alpha chain is crucial for the binding and signaling of IL-4, which mediates isotype switching and IgE production. The gene of IL-4 receptor alpha chain is a candidate gene for asthma and atopy. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether Ile50Val and Q576R polymorphisms of IL-4 receptor alpha chain gene were associated with asthma and higher level of total IgE in Chinese, Malay and Indian populations. METHODS: About 303 physician-diagnosed asthmatic subjects (145 Chinese, 73 Malay, 85 Indian) and 355 unselected blood donors (157 Chinese, 98 Malay, 100 Indian) were recruited. Total serum IgE level was measured by ELISA. Genotypes of Ile50/Val and Q576R were determined by PCR and restriction enzyme length polymorphism (RFLP). RESULTS: Ile50Val heterozygote is less frequent in asthmatics than in controls in Malay population (P=0.007). No difference was found in Chinese and Indian population. Ile50/Ile50 was more prevalent in higher total serum IgE group (IgE>100IU/ml) in Malay. The prevalence of Ile50/R576 haplotype was lower in asthmatics than controls in Chinese (P=0.046); while the prevalence of Ile50/Q576 haplotype was lower in asthmatics than in controls in Malay (P=0.048). The frequencies of the two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes vary among ethnicities (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: IL-4RA gene polymorphisms and its haplotypes showed ethnic variations. The association between IL-4RA gene polymorphisms, its haplotypes and asthma differed from ethnicities.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Simultaneous analysis of alkaloids from Zanthoxylum nitidum by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

The chemical profiles of nine alkaloids in Zanthoxylum nitidum, including berberubine, coptisine, sanguinarine, nitidine, chelerythrine, liriodenine, 6,7,8-trimethoxy-2,3-methylendioxybenzophenantridine, oxyavicine and dihydrochelerythrine, were identified by using high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS), and a novel and sensitive HPLC-UV method had been developed to simultaneously determine these alkaloids in 70% methanol extract of Zanthoxylum nitidum. The chromatographic separation was performed on an Agilent C(18) analytical column (5 microm, 4.6 mm i.d., 250 mm length) with a gradient solvent system of acetonitrile-0.1% formic buffer (adjusted to pH 4.5 with triethylamine). The methodological validation was carried out and the linearities (r(2)>0.9997) and recoveries (ranged from 98.3% to 101.1%) were acceptable. The limits of detection (LOD) of these alkaloids were ranged from 0.6 ng to 1.5 ng. The results indicated that the contents of alkaloids in Zanthoxylum nitidum varied significantly from habitat to habitat with contents ranged from 0.03 mg/g to 3.34 mg/g. The proposed method is simple, effective and suitable for the quality control of this traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It suggests that it is necessary to control its quality so as to insure efficacy and safety of TCM.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2006

Quantitative trait loci for baseline erythroid traits.

A substantial genetic contribution underlies variation in baseline peripheral blood counts. We performed quantitative trait locus/loci (QTL) analyses to identify chromosome (Chr) regions harboring genes influencing the baseline erythroid parameters in F2 intercrosses between NZW/LacJ, SM/J, and C57BLKS/J inbred mice. We identified multiple significant QTL for red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct) levels, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (CHCM). We identified four RBC count QTL: Rbcq1 (Chr 1, peak LOD score at 62 cM,), Rbcq2 (Chr 4, 60 cM), Rbcq3 (Chr 11, 34 cM), and Rbcq4 (Chr 10, 60 cM). Three MCV QTL were identified: Mcvq1 (Chr 7, 30 cM), Mvcq2 (Chr 11, 6 cM), and Mcvq3 (Chr 10, 60 cM). Single significant loci for Hgb (Hgbq1, Chr 16, 32 cM), Hct (Hctq1, Chr 3, 42 cM), and MCH (Mchq1, Chr 10, 60 cM) were identified. The data support the existence of a common RBC/MCH/MCV locus on Chr 10. Two QTL for CHCM (Chcmq1, Chr 2, 48 cM; Chcmq2, Chr 9, 44 cM) and an interaction between Chcmq2 with a locus on Chr 19 were identified. These analyses emphasize the genetic complexity underlying the regulation of erythroid peripheral blood traits in normal populations and suggest that genes not previously recognized as significantly impacting normal erythropoiesis exist.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Characterization of isoquinoline alkaloids, diterpenoids and steroids in the Chinese herb Jin-Guo-Lan (Tinospora sagittata and Tinospora capillipes) by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization with multistage mass spectrometry.

This study sought to determine the primary components (isoquinoline alkaloids, diterpenoids and steroids) in crude extracts of the Chinese herb Jin-Guo-Lan, prepared from the roots of Tinospora sagittata and T. capillipes, by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry coupled with diode-array detection (LC-DAD/ESI-MS(n)). After separation on a reversed-phase C(18) column using gradient elution, positive and negative ESI-MS experiments were performed. In positive ion mode, the three types of compounds showed very different characteristic ions: strong [M](+) or [M+H](+) ions were observed for isoquinoline alkaloids; [M+NH(4)](+) and/or [M+H-CO(2)](+) for diterpenoids; [M+H-nH(2)O](+) (n=1-3) for steroids. These adduct ions and/or fragments were used to deduce the mass and categories of known and unknown components in crude extracts, and their structures were further confirmed by ESI-MS(n) in positive ion mode. Moreover, UV absorption peaks obtained from DAD provided useful functional group information to aid the MS(n)-based identification. As a result, 11 compounds were unambiguously identified by comparing with standard compounds and 13 compounds were tentatively identified or deduced according to their MS(n) data. Two of these compounds (13-hydroxycolumbamine and 13-hydroxyjatrorrhizine) were found to be new compounds and another one (13-hydroxypalmatine) was detected for the first time as a natural product. In addition, a [M-*CH(3)-H(2)O](*+) ion in MS(2) of [M](+) after in-source collision-induced dissociation was used to differentiate positional isomers of protoberberine alkaloids, columbamine and jatrorrhizine. Although the roots of T. sagittata and T. capillipes contain almost identical compounds, the content of the compounds in them is dramatically different, suggesting the necessity for further comparison of the bioactivities of the two species.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed2006

Construction of eukaryotic expressing plasmids encoding HA and HA1 of influenza A virus and their transient expression in HEK293 cells.

In order to explore the feasibility and protective efficiency of influenza DNA vaccine, we constructed eukaryotic expressing plasmids encoding HA and HA1 of influenza A virus (A/PR/8/34) and studied their expression in HEK293 cells. HA and HA1 genes were amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into pcDNA3.1(+) to generate pcDNA3.1(+)/HA and pcDNA3.1(+)/HA1, respectively. After verification of the cloning fidelity by restriction endonuclease digestion, PCR, and sequencing, pcDNA3.1(+)/HA and pcDNA3.1(+)/HA1 were transfected into HEK293 cells using PolyFect Transfection Reagent. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the transient expressing cells. Fluorescence microscopy revealed strong expression of target gene in HEK293 cells transiently transfected with either pcDNA3.1(+)/HA or pcDNA3.1(+)/HA1. Therefore, the results confirm the successful construction of eukaryotic expressing plasmids capable of driving the eukaryotic expression of influenza virus antigen HA and HA1, which is likely to provide a basis for both further investigation of the mechanism of influenza viral infection and the development of influenza DNA vaccine.

Cell Line↗
PubMed2006

Spread of HIV in one village in central China with a high prevalence rate of blood-borne AIDS.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the state of HIV infection, its secular trends and influencing factors in a village central China with a high prevalence rate of blood-borne AIDS. METHODS: HIV screening in WY village was carried out. RESULTS: The rate of paid blood donors in WY village was found to be 36.3% (466/1285). The HIV infection rate was 15.3% (197/1285). Among 197 HIV positive cases, 80 (40.6%) were infected through paid blood donation, four (2.0%) were infected through sexual activity, seven cases (3.6%) were infected through mother-to-child transmission, one case (0.5%) was infected through transfusion, and one (0.5%) was infected through nosocomial infection. In 100 cases (50.8%) the infection route could not be identified, however, based on their history of paid blood donation, their age, and the chance of becoming infected with HIV through paid blood donation, it is likely that most of these 100 cases were infected by paid blood donation. In the final four cases the method of transmission could not be determined. Of the infected women of reproductive age only 1.9% (2/103) had the intention to conceive. In the cases of HIV status conflicting spouses, 51.7% (30/58) did not consistently use condoms. CONCLUSIONS: The main route of HIV transmission was found to have been paid blood donation in the past, and will be by sexual means in the future.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2006

Adaptive predictive functional control of a class of nonlinear systems.

This paper describes the use of pseudo-partial derivative (PPD) to dynamically linearize a nonlinear system, and aggregation is applied to the predicted PPD, resulting in a model-free adaptive predictive control algorithm for a nonlinear system. The algorithm design is only based on the PPD derived online from the input/output data of the controlled process, however it does provide bounded input/output sequence and setpoint tracking without steady-state error. A detailed discussion on parameter selection is also provided. To show the capability of the algorithm, simulations of a time-delay plant and a pH neutralization process show that the proposed method is effective for system parameter perturbation and external disturbance rejection.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Nominal and robust stability regions of optimization-based PID controllers.

In recent decades, several optimization-based methods have been developed for the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller design, and the common feature of these methods is that the controller has only one adjustable parameter. To keep the closed-loop systems stable is an essential requirement for the optimization-based PID controllers. In almost all these methods, however, no exact stability region for the single adjustable parameter was sketched. In this paper, using the proposed analytical procedure based on the dual-locus diagram technique, explicit stability regions of the optimization-based PID controllers are derived for stable, integrating, and unstable processes with time delay in the nominal and perturbed cases, respectively. It is revealed that the proposed analytical procedure is effective for the determination of the nominal and robust stability regions and it offers simplicity and ease of mathematical calculations over other available stability analysis methods. The results in this paper provide some insight into the tuning of the optimization-based PID controllers.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2006

Altered growth characteristics of skin fibroblasts from wild-derived mice, and genetic loci regulating fibroblast clone size.

Mouse fibroblast senescence in vitro is an important model for the study of aging at cellular level. However, common laboratory mouse strains may have lost some important allele variations related to aging processes. In this study, growth in vitro of tail skin fibroblasts (TSFs) derived from a wild-derived stock, Pohnpei (Pohn) mice, differed from growth of control C57BL/6 J (B6) TSFs. Pohn TSFs exhibited higher proliferative ability, fewer apoptotic cells, decreased expression of Cip1, smaller surface areas, fewer cells positive for senescence associated-beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) and greater resistance to H(2)O(2)-induced SA-beta-gal staining and Cip1 expression. These data suggest that TSFs from Pohn mice resist cellular senescence-like changes. Using large clone ratio (LCR) as the phenotype, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis in a Pohn/B6 backcross population found four QTLs for LCR: Fcs1 on Chr 3 at 55 CM; Fcs2 on Chr X at 50 CM; Fcs3 on Chr 4 at 51 CM and Fcs4 on Chr 10 at 25 CM. Together, these four QTLs explain 26.1% of the variations in LCRs in the N2 population. These are the first QTLs reported that regulate fibroblast growth. Glutathione S transferase mu (GST-mu) genes are overrepresented in the 95% confidence interval of Fcs1, and Pohn TSFs have higher H(2)O(2)-induced GST-mu 4, 5 and 7 mRNA levels than B6 TSFs. These enzymes may protect Pohn TSFs from oxidation.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Quantitative trait loci for baseline white blood cell count, platelet count, and mean platelet volume.

A substantial genetic contribution to baseline peripheral blood counts has been established. We performed quantitative trait locus/loci (QTL) analyses to identify chromosome (Chr) regions harboring genes influencing the baseline white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (Plt) count, and mean platelet volume (MPV) in F(2) intercrosses between NZW/LacJ, SM/J, and C57BLKS/J inbred mice. We identified six significant WBC QTL: Wbcq1 (peak LOD score at 38 cM, Chr 1), Wbcq2 (42 cM, Chr 3), Wbcq3 (0 cM, Chr 15), Wbcq4 (58 cM, Chr 1), Wbcq5 (82 cM, Chr 1), and Wbcq6 (8 cM, Chr 14). Three significant Plt QTL were identified: Pltq1 (24 cM, Chr 2), Pltq2 (36 cM, Chr 7), and Pltq3 (10 cM, Chr 12). Two significant MPV QTL were identified, Mpvq1 (62 cM, Chr 15) and Mpvq2 (44 cM, Chr 8). In total, the WBC QTL accounted for up to 31% of the total variance in baseline WBC count, while the Plt and MPV QTL accounted for up to 30% and 49% of the total variance, respectively. These analyses underscore the genetic complexity underlying these traits in normal populations and provide the basis for future studies to identify novel genes involved in the regulation of mammalian hematopoiesis.

Alleles↗
PubMed2005

Differential endocrine responses to rosiglitazone therapy in new mouse models of type 2 diabetes.

Polygenic mouse models for obesity-induced type 2 diabetes (T2D) more accurately reflect the most common manifestations of the human disease. Two inbred mouse strains (NON/Lt and NZO/HlLt) separately contributed T2D susceptibility- conferring quantitative trait loci to F1 males. Although chronic administration of rosiglitazone (Rosi) in diet (50 mg/kg) effectively suppressed F1 diabetes, hepatosteatosis was an undesired side effect. Three recombinant congenic strains (designated RCS1, -2, and -10) developed on the NON/Lt background carry variable numbers of these quantitative trait loci that elicit differential weight gain and male glucose intolerance syndromes of variable severity. We previously showed that RCS1 and -2 mice responded to chronic Rosi therapy without severe steatosis, whereas RCS10 males were moderately sensitive. In contrast, another recombinant congenic strain, RCS8, responded to Rosi therapy with the extreme hepatosteatosis observed in the F1. Longitudinal changes in multiple plasma analytes, including insulin, the adipokines leptin, resistin, and adiponectin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) allowed profiling of the differential Rosi responses in steatosis-exacerbated F1 and RCS8 males vs. the resistant RCS1 and RCS2 or moderately sensitive RCS10. Of these biomarkers, PAI-1 most effectively predicted adverse drug responses. Unexpectedly, mean resistin concentrations were higher in Rosi-treated RCS8 and RCS10. In summary, longitudinal profiling of multiple plasma analytes identified PAI-1 as a useful biomarker to monitor for differential pharmacogenetic responses to Rosi in these new mouse models of T2D.

Adiponectin↗
PubMed2005

Quantitative determination of Astragaloside IV, a natural product with cardioprotective activity, in plasma, urine and other biological samples by HPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

Astragaloside IV is a novel cardioprotective agent extracted from the Chinese medical herb Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge. This agent is being developed for treatment for cardiovascular disease. Further development of Astragaloside IV will require detailed pharmacokinetic studies in preclinical animal models. Therefore, we established a sensitive and accurate high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) quantitative detection method for measurement of Astragaloside IV levels in plasma, urine as well as other biological samples including bile fluid, feces and various tissues. Extraction of Astragaloside IV from plasma and other biological samples was performed by Waters OASIS(trade mark) solid phase extraction column by washing with water and eluting with methanol, respectively. An aliquot of extracted residues was injected into LC/MS/MS system with separation by a Cosmosil C18 5 microm, 150 mm x 2.0 mm) column. Acetonitrile:water containing 5 microM NaAc (40:60, v/v) was used as a mobile phase. The eluted compounds were detected by tandem mass spectrometry. The average extraction recoveries were greater than 89% for Astragaloside IV and digoxin from plasma, while extraction recovery of Astragaloside IV and digoxin from tissues, bile fluid, urine and fece ranged from 61 to 85%, respectively. Good linearity (R2>0.9999) was observed throughout the range of 10-5000 ng/ml in 0.5 ml rat plasma and 5-5000 ng/ml in 0.5 ml dog plasma. In addition, good linearity (R2>0.9999) was also observed in urine, bile fluid, feces samples and various tissue samples. The overall accuracy of this method was 93-110% for both rat plasma and dog plasma. Intra-assay and inter-assay variabilities were less than 15.03% in plasma. The lowest quantitation limit of Astragaloside IV was 10 ng/ml in 0.5 ml rat plasma and 5 ng/ml in 0.5 ml dog plasma, respectively. Practical utility of this new LC/MS/MS method was confirmed in pilot pharmacokinetic studies in both rats and dogs following intravenous administration.

Animals↗