Rensheng Luo

Prediction of Solubility of Drugs and Other Compounds in Organic Solvents

We have set out a procedure for the prediction of solubilities of drugs and other compounds in a wide range of solvents, based on the Abraham solvation equations. The method requires a knowledge of solubilities of a given compound in a few solvents, as shown by our own experimental data on apocynin, diapocynin, dehydrodivanillin, and dehydrodi(methyl vanillate). The procedure is especially useful for very hydrophobic compounds such as cholesteryl acetate and cholesterol that we give as examples. Other examples include vanillin and 3,4-dichlorobenzoic acid. If the solubility in water is available, then this alone is sufficient to predict solubilities in organic solvents, provided that the Abraham descriptors are available for the compound. Predictions can be made for solubilities in some 85 solvents.

Determination of Neurotoxic Acetogenins in Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) Fruit by LC-HRMS

The concentrations of the neurotoxins, annonacin and squamocin, were determined in a lyophilized sample of the fruit pulp of the North American pawpaw (Asimina triloba) by LC coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry or LC-HRMS. The sample was extracted using dry methanol at 100 °C and 10 MPa pressure in a sealed container. The extraction of annonacin and squamocin was optimal at 100 °C with 7.72 and 0.162 mg/g, respectively, being found. Also, several isomers of annonacin and squamocin were separated and detected but not quantified.

Neurotoxicity of Dietary Supplements from Annonaceae Species

Dietary supplements containing plant materials of Annonaceae species (Annona muricata L., A. squamosa L., A. mucosa JACQ., A. squamosa × cherimola Mabb.) were extracted by hot, pressurized ethyl acetate and analyzed for their effect in vitro on Lund human mesencephalic neurons. Cell viability was measured by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and cell death was determined by lactate dehydrogenase levels. Three supplements strongly decreased the cell viability at extract concentrations of 1 µg/mL, of which 1 decreased cell viability at 0.1 µg/µL. Also, strong neuronal toxicities of these supplements were found. Cell death was observed at concentrations of 10 µg/mL. The degree of toxicity was comparable to the ones found in Annonaceous fruit extracts. Two fruit pulps of Annonaceae (A. muricata and A. squamosa) showed a reduction in cell viability at lower concentrations. The fruit pulp extract of A. muricata revealed the strongest neurotoxic effect, with 67% cell death at a concentration of 1 µg/mL. A high reduction in cell viability coupled with pronounced cell death was found at 0.1 µg/mL for an Annonaceous seed extract. These results demonstrate that the intake of dietary supplements containing plant material from Annonaceae may be hazardous to health in terms of neurotoxicity.