Elena Lizarraga

Validation of a liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous quantification of ochratoxin A and its analogues in red wines

A validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection for the simultaneous quantification of ochratoxin A (OTA) and its analogues (ochratoxin B (OTB), ochratoxin C (OTC) and methyl ochratoxin A (MeOTA)) in red wine at trace levels is described. Before their analysis by HPLC-FLD, ochratoxins were extracted and purified with immunoaffinity columns from 50 mL of red wine at pH 7.2. Validation of the analytical method was based on the following parameters: selectivity, linearity, robustness, limits of detection and quantification, precision (within-day and between-day variability), recovery and stability. The limits of detection (LOD) in red wine were established at 0.16, 0.32, 0.27 and 0.17 ng L(-1) for OTA, OTB, MeOTA and OTC, respectively. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was established as 0.50 ng L(-1) for all of the ochratoxins. The LOD and LOQ obtained are the lowest found for OTA in the reference literature up to now. Recovery values were 93.5, 81.7, 76.0 and 73.4% for OTA, OTB, MeOTA and OTC, respectively. For the first time, this validated method permits the investigation of the co-occurrence of ochratoxins A, B, C and methyl ochratoxin A in 20 red wine samples from Spain.

Co-occurrence of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and zearalenone in barley from a northern region of Spain

One-hundred and twenty-three barley samples from a region of Spain (Navarra) were analysed in order to evaluate the possible co-occurrence of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFG1, AFB2 and AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEA). The results indicated that 80% of the samples presented detectable, although very low levels, of two or more mycotoxins. The most frequent combinations were AFB1 and OTA; AFB1, ZEA and OTA; and AFB1 and ZEA. In general, the statistical study did not show significant differences between levels or incidence for the mycotoxins in different years of harvest, variety of barley, farming or origin. The calculated values for daily intake were low and the risk to consumers could be assumed to be very low. However, the co-occurrence of several mycotoxins, and therefore synergic or additive effects, should be taken into account when determining permitted levels or risk assessment.

Cytotoxic and Proapototic Activities of Imidoselenocarbamate Derivatives Are Dependent on the Release of Methylselenol

In the search for new molecules with potential antiangiogenic activity, we found that several imidoselenocarbamate derivatives effectively suppressed the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced by hypoxia in NCI-H157 tumor cells. Mechanistic studies indicated that these compounds inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation triggered by hypoxia, suggesting that inhibition of STAT3 function may play a role in VEGF inhibition. Moreover, these molecules showed interesting proapoptotic and antiproliferative effects. Both the presence of selenium, but not sulfur, and the nature of the radical substituents were important for activity. Interestingly, under hypoxic conditions, several methyl imidoselenocarbamate derivatives released methylselenol, a highly reactive and cytotoxic gas, which was responsible for their biological activities. The kinetics of the release of methylselenol by these molecules was highly dependent on the nature of the substituent radicals and correlated with their early proapoptotic activity. Our results support the notion that pharmacological activities reported for methyl imidoselenocarbamate derivatives are dependent on the release of methylselenol. Given the well-known antitumor activities of this compound, imidoselenocarbamate derivatives represent a promising approach to develop new drugs that release methylselenol in a controlled way.

Thermal stability of selenium, sulfur and nitrogen analogous phthalazine derivatives

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) are analytical and quantitative methods capable of providing reliable, fast and reproducible results. These data allow establishing the thermal stability, purity degree and the polymorphic behavior of organic compounds. Thermal analysis of fusion and degradation processes was carried out on organonitrogen, organosulfur and organoselenium phthalazine derivatives to establish thermal stability criteria. Decomposition and fusion temperatures of 27 biological active compounds, synthesized by our research group were determined using TG and DSC. Analysis of the thermal data indicated that: (a) in general, nitrogen compounds are more stable than sulfur and selenium compounds; (b) thioderivatives possess degradation temperatures higher than selenium compounds; (c) the presence of selenium atoms in molecular structure has associated a minor thermal stability; (d) sulfide derivatives decomposition process have higher Tonset values than disulfide compounds; (e) there are differences in the stability due to groups selenol, methylseleno, and cyanoseleno; (f) the nature of the substituent located on the benzyl ring has no effects on selenophthalazines thermal stability.

Structural variations on antitumour agents derived from bisacylimidoselenocarbamate. A proposal for structure-activity relationships based on the analysis of conformational behaviour.

A molecular modelling study has been carried out on a previously reported series of symmetrically substituted bisacylimidoselenocarbamate (BSeC) derivatives that show remarkable antitumour activity in vitro against a panel of human tumour cell lines. These derivatives can be considered as a central scaffold constructed around a methyl carbamimidoselenoate nucleus in which two heteroarylacyl fragments are located on the scaffold nitrogen atoms, thus forming the different BSeCs. The results reveal that the nature of the selected heteroaryl ring has a marked influence on the antiproliferative activity of the compounds and this can be related, as a first approximation, to the ability to release methylselenol (MeSeH), a compound that, according to our initial hypothesis, is ultimately responsible for the antitumour activity of the compounds under investigation. The release of MeSeH from the active BSeCs has been confirmed by means of Head Space Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry techniques. The data that support this connection include the topography of the molecules, the conformational behaviour of the compounds, which influences the accessibility of the hydrolysis point, the interaction map obtained for an O2H type probe, and the location and energy of the HOMO/LUMO orbitals.

Development, validation and application of a GC-MS method for the simultaneous detection and quantification of neutral lipid species in Trypanosoma cruzi

The development and validation of an analytical method for the simultaneous analysis of five neutral lipids in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes by GC-MS is presented in this study. The validated method meets all validation parameters for all components and the chromatographic conditions have been optimized during its development. This analytical method has demonstrated good selectivity, accuracy, within-day precision, recovery and linearity in each of the established ranges. In addition, detection and quantification limits for squalene, cholesterol, ergosterol and lanosterol have been improved and it is worth highlighting the fact that this is the first time that squalene-2,3-epoxide validation data have been reported. The new validated method has been applied to epimastigotes treated with compounds with in vitro anti-T.cruzi activity. This new methodology is straightforward and constitutes a tool for screening possible sterol biosynthesis pathway inhibitors in Trypanosoma cruzi, one of the most studied targets in Chagas disease treatment. Therefore, it is an interesting and useful contribution to medicinal chemistry research.

Thermal analysis of novel selenocarbamates

Trace element selenium and its metabolites have received a great deal of attention with regard to the development of new therapies for both cancer prevention and treatment. Following this approach, our research group has synthesized a series of novel selenocarbamates derivatives. We present thermal analysis of the novel compounds, performed with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Relationship is found among thermal analytical data and structure of the different series of compounds. These data allow establishing criteria for the selection of substituents that improve the stability. The most thermally unstable compounds are those with higher cytotoxic activities, suggesting that the release of methylselenol could be implicated in the biological activity.

Antitumoural Sulphur and Selenium Heteroaryl Compounds: Thermal Characterization and Stability Evaluation

The physicochemical properties of a compound play a crucial role in the cancer development process. In this context, polymorphism can become an important obstacle for the pharmaceutical industry because it frequently leads to the loss of therapeutic effectiveness of some drugs. Stability under manufacturing conditions is also critical to ensure no undesired degradations or transformations occur. In this study, the thermal behaviour of 40 derivatives of a series of sulphur and selenium heteroaryl compounds with potential antitumoural activity were studied. In addition, the most promising cytotoxic derivatives were analysed by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric techniques in order to investigate their polymorphism and thermal stability. Moreover, stability under acid, alkaline and oxidative media was tested. Degradation under stress conditions as well as the presence of polymorphism was found for the compounds VA6E and VA7J, which might present a hurdle to carrying on with formulation. On the contrary, these obstacles were not found for derivative VA4J.

Thermal stability and decomposition of urea, thiourea and selenourea analogous diselenide derivatives

The fusion and thermal decomposition of thirty-three diselenide compounds with a urea, thiourea or selenourea group linked with different aliphatic or aromatic substituents have been studied by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and mass spectrometry in order to perform comparative thermal stability studies among analogs. A relationship has been found between stability and a series of effects which occur in the compound structures. Analysis of the thermal data indicated that: (a) in general, compounds with a urea or selenourea group are more stable than those with a thiourea group; (b) no difference in stability exists when an aromatic or aliphatic group is linked to the thiourea group but when linked to the urea or selenourea groups, stability does differ; (c) selenourea compounds with aliphatic chain are the most unstable; and (d) the nature of the substituent located on the benzyl ring has no effects on thermal stability. Therefore, criteria for the selection of substituents can be established in order to improve the stability of these drugs. In addition, the mass spectral fragmentation in comparison with thermal analytical data helps in confirming the thermal behavior of the compounds.