POLARIMETRY AND DYNAMIC LIGHT SCATTERING IN QUALITY CONTROL OF CARDIOTONIC AND HYPOTENSIVE TINCTURES

Objective: To substantiate the possibility of using polarimetry to control the quality of tinctures as an additional pharmacopoeial method. Methods: The polarimetric method (POL-1/2, Atago, Japan, the measurement accuracy of±0.002 °) was used to measure the optical activity (α °) of motherwort, valerian and hawthorn tinctures. The dynamic light scattering method (DLS; Zetasizer Nano ZS, Malvern, UK) was used to assess the stability of alcoholic and aqueous dilutions of tinctures according to the intensity of dynamic light scattering dependent on the size (d, nm) of the dispersed phase particles and the values of the electrokinetic potential (ξ, mV). Results: For the first time in this investigation, the polarimetry approach was proposed to evaluate the cardiotonic and hypotensive tinctures' quality and for their identification. Valerian tincture, dilution 1:40,-0.10°<α°<-0.89°; motherwort, tincture-dilution 1:10,-0.10°<α°<-2.21°; hawthorn, tincture without dilution,-0.76°<α°<-1.55°-these are the acceptable ranges of optical activity (α°) of their alcohol dilutions. Beyond these intervals, the use of the polarimetric approach is impossible. Values of optical activity below 0.1 correspond to too low a content of optically active components. Tinctures with optical activity above the upper value of the interval were unstable dispersed systems with low values of the electrokinetic potential (|ξ|≪25mV) and micron particle sizes. Reference tinctures were made from raw materials (Leonurus cardiaca L.) to verify the results. The quality parameters: optical activity (α°), spectra of dynamic light scattering by intensity, volume, and number ("I-d"; "V-d"; "N-d"), electrokinetic potential (ξ) values, and photon pulse count per second (Count Rate, kcps) corresponded to the results obtained for pharmaceutical dosage forms. Conclusion: The permissible intervals of optical activity (α°) of their ethanol dilutions, as well as their relationships with the particle size of the dispersed phase and the values of the electrokinetic potential, were established for the first time to evaluate the quality of tinctures. The obtained results show that polarimetry can be recommended as an additional pharmacopoeial quality control method for tinctures

Identification of sex chromosomes in Eremias velox (Lacertidae, Reptilia) using lampbrush chromosome analysis

Reptiles are good objects for studying the evolution of sex determination, since they have different sex determination systems in different lineages. Lacertid lizards have been long-known for possessing ZZ/ZW type sex chromosomes. However, due to morphological uniformity of lacertid chromosomes, the Z chromosome has been only putatively cytologically identified. We used lampbrush chromosome (LBC) analysis and FISH with a W-specific probe in Eremias velox (Pallas, 1771) to unequivocally identify the ZW bivalent and investigate its meiotic behavior. The heterochromatic W chromosome is decondensed at the lampbrush stage, indicating active transcription, contrast with the highly condensed condition of the lampbrush W chromosomes in birds. We identified the Z chromosome by its chiasmatic association with the W chromosome as chromosome XIII of the 19 chromosomes in the LBC karyotype. Our findings agree with previous genetic and genomic studies, which suggested that the lacertid Z chromosome should be one of the smaller macrochromosomes

The COMPARISON OF BIOPHARMACEUTICAL PARAMETERS OF CANNABINOIDS AND NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS BY QSAR METHOD

Objective: To prove the benefits of biopharmaceutical parameters of cannabinoids over NSAIDs using quantitative structure and activity relationships (QSAR). Methods: The topological indices of Wiener (W) and Balaban (J) were calculated using the previously developed original program ChemicDescript (certificate no. 2003612305). Results: It was shown that the calculated topological indices were in one-to-one correspondence with such biopharmaceutical parameters as the constants of equilibrium binding to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, toxicity, and lipophilicity. For example, it was shown that when the Wiener index changes from 480 to 530 LogK increases from 1.0 to 3.5. The LD50-W/J and logP-W/J diagrams demonstrate that cannabinoids are less toxic and more lipophilic than NSAIDs. Cannabidiol and cannabinol, having close values of their topological indices and insignificant psychoactivity, have the highest LD50 values, i.e. they are the least toxic. Moreover, for synthetic cannabinoids – nabilone and THJ-2201 – the Wiener index is approximately 2 times higher than for plant analogues. Conclusion: In connection with the successful promotion of cannabinoid analgesics in the global pharmaceutical market, the results obtained are important for demonstrating their advantages over NSAIDs in terms of toxicity and lipophilicity. The results demonstrate the possibility of predicting the cannabinoid receptor binding energy of synthetic and newly identified plant cannabinoids, as well as assessing their toxicity and lipophilicity

COMPARISON OF BIOPHARMACEUTICAL PARAMETERS OF CANNABINOIDS AND NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS BY QSAR METHOD

Objective: To prove the benefits of biopharmaceutical parameters of cannabinoids over NSAIDs using quantitative structure and activity relationships (QSAR). Methods: The topological indices of Wiener (W) and Balaban (J) were calculated using the previously developed original program ChemicDescript (certificate no. 2003612305). Results: It was shown that the calculated topological indices were in one-to-one correspondence with such biopharmaceutical parameters as the constants of equilibrium binding to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, toxicity, and lipophilicity. For example, it was shown that when the Wiener index changes from 480 to 530 LogK increases from 1.0 to 3.5. The LD50-W/J and logP-W/J diagrams demonstrate that cannabinoids are less toxic and more lipophilic than NSAIDs. Cannabidiol and cannabinol, having close values of their topological indices and insignificant psychoactivity, have the highest LD50 values, i.e. they are the least toxic. Moreover, for synthetic cannabinoids–nabilone and THJ-2201–the Wiener index is approximately 2 times higher than for plant analogues. Conclusion: In connection with the successful promotion of cannabinoid analgesics in the global pharmaceutical market, the results obtained are important for demonstrating their advantages over NSAIDs in terms of toxicity and lipophilicity. The results demonstrate the possibility of predicting the cannabinoid receptor binding energy of synthetic and newly identified plant cannabinoids, as well as assessing their toxicity and lipophilicity

THE NEW APPROACHES TO IDENTIFICATION OF TINCTURES AND MEDICINAL PLANTS

Objective: The objective of this study is to develop methods for identifying herbal medicines and tinctures by processing spectral results across a wide range of wavelengths using principal component analysis (PCA). Methods: Medicinal plants and tinctures of valerian, motherwort, and hawthorn have been analyzed using UV spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, ATR FTIR spectrometry, and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. PCA was used to process the results of spectral analysis. Statistical processing of spectral results was carried out using the OriginPro program (OriginLab Corporation, USA, 2021). Results: For herbal medicines with sedative, hypotensive, and cardiotonic effects, spectral data libraries have been created in the following dimensions: UV spectrophotometry with 1800 absorption units (Ai), spectrofluorimetry with 4010 fluorescence intensity units (Ii), IR spectroscopy with a light transmittance of 50250 units (Ti), and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with an intensity of 1568 (Ii). These libraries were used as the primary matrices for PCA. Visualization of the PCA results was done using a scores plot and a loadings plot, which illustrate the contribution of each principal component (PC) to the PCA model. After performing chemometric processing on the original spectral results, it was discovered that samples belonging to the same botanical genus occupy distinct and compact regions in two-dimensional or three-dimensional space. Unknown plant samples (blind samples) and samples of other botanical species were successfully tested using new method. Conclusion: For the first time, tinctures and medicinal plants were identified based on their botanical genus using spectral techniques coupled with principal component analysis, eliminating the need for a chemical reference substance

ARRHENIUS KINETICS IN THE EVALUATION OF THE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF PHARMACEUTICAL TINCTURES

Objective: To develop a method for identifying tinctures by assessing their biological activity at different temperatures based on Arrhenius kinetics. Methods: The tinctures of anti-inflammatory and cardiotonic actions were chosen for Spitotox-test. Chromatographic ethanol (HPLC grade, 99.8%, Fisher Scientific, UK) and deionized high-resistance water (18.2 MΩ cm, Milli-Q, Millipore) were used to prepare 70% water-alcohol extractant. The dispersity of the infusions and solvents was evaluated by LALLS (Malvern, UK) (micrometer range) and DLS (nanometer range) (Zetasizer Nano ZS, Malvern, UK) methods. Results: The observed (obs) values of activation energy (obsEa) of ligand-receptor interactions of infusoria Spirostomum ambiguum and components of tinctures with regard to the extractant: water volume ratio was ranked in descending order of toxicity: motherwort (1:10; 87±13 kJ/mol) >calendula (1:7; 103±18 kJ/mol) > eucalyptus (1:7; 159±5 kJ/mol) > valerian (1:5; 135±6 kJ/mol) > hawthorn (1:4; 113±20 kJ/mol). The found values of activation energy were included in the previously created library for the construction of the correlation diagram «obsEa - LD50», which allowed to assess the toxicity of tinctures in comparison with other pharmaceutical substances. Conclusion: The method for assessing the biological activity of tinctures was developed by Arrhenius kinetics. The values of activation energy obsEa of ligand-receptor interactions can be used for identification of tinctures

Controlling the Quality of Nanodrugs According to Their New Property—Radiothermal Emission

Previous studies have shown that complexly shaped nanoparticles (NPs) have their intrinsic radiothermal emission in the millimeter range. This article presents a method for controlling the quality of nanodrugs—immunobiological preparations (IBPs)—based on the detection of their intrinsic radiothermal emissions. The emissivity of interferon (IFN) medicals, determined without opening the primary package, is as follows (µW/m2): IFN-α2b—80 ± 9 (105 IU per package), IFN-β1a—40 ± 5 (24 × 106 IU per package), IFN-γ—30 ± 4 (105 IU per package). The emissivity of virus-like particles (VLP), determined using vaccines Gam-VLP-multivac (120 μg) in an injection bottle (crimp cap vials), was as follows: 12 ± 1 µW/m2, Gam-VLP—rota vaccines—9 ± 1 µW/m2. This study shows the reproducibility of emissivity over the course of a year, subject to the storage conditions of the immunobiological products. It has been shown that accelerated aging and a longer shelf life are accompanied by the coagulation of active NPs, and lead to a manyfold drop in emissivity. The dependence of radiothermal emission on temperature has a complex, non-monotonic nature. The emission intensity depends on the form of dosage, but remains within the order of magnitude for IFN-α2b for intranasal aqueous solution, ointments, and suppositories. The possibility of the remote quantitative control of the first phases of the immune response (increased synthesis of IFNs) to the intranasal administration of VLP vaccines has been demonstrated in experimental animals

Dissecting thrombus-directed chemotaxis and random movement in neutrophil near-thrombus motion in flow chambers

Abstract Background Thromboinflammation is caused by mutual activation of platelets and neutrophils. The site of thromboinflammation is determined by chemoattracting agents release by endothelium, immune cells, and platelets. Impaired neutrophil chemotaxis contributes to the pathogenesis of Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS). In this hereditary disorder, neutrophils are known to have aberrant chemoattractant-induced F-actin properties. Here, we aim to determine whether neutrophil chemotaxis could be analyzed using our previously developed ex vivo assay of the neutrophils crawling among the growing thrombi. Methods Adult and pediatric healthy donors, alongside with pediatric patients with SDS, were recruited for the study. Thrombus formation and granulocyte movement in hirudinated whole blood were visualized by fluorescent microscopy in fibrillar collagen-coated parallel-plate flow chambers. Alternatively, fibrinogen, fibronectin, vWF, or single tumor cells immobilized on coverslips were used. A computational model of chemokine distribution in flow chamber with a virtual neutrophil moving in it was used to analyze the observed data. Results The movement of healthy donor neutrophils predominantly occurred in the direction and vicinity of thrombi grown on collagen or around tumor cells. For SDS patients or on coatings other than collagen, the movement was characterized by randomness and significantly reduced velocities. Increase in wall shear rates to 300–500 1/s led to an increase in the proportion of rolling neutrophils. A stochastic algorithm simulating leucocyte chemotaxis movement in the calculated chemoattractant field could reproduce the experimental trajectories of moving neutrophils for 72% of cells. Conclusions In samples from healthy donors, but not SDS patients, neutrophils move in the direction of large, chemoattractant-releasing platelet thrombi growing on collagen