Sang Beom Kim

Simultaneous determination of aceclofenac and diclofenac in human plasma by narrowbore HPLC using column-switching.

A fully automated narrowbore high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with column-switching was developed for the simultaneous determination of aceclofenac and diclofenac from human plasma samples. Plasma sample (100 microl) was directly introduced onto a Capcell Pak MF Ph-1 column (20 x 4 mm I.D.) where primary separation was occurred to remove proteins and concentrate target substances using acetonitrile potassium phosphate (pH 7, 0.1 M) (14:86, v/v). The drug molecules eluted from MF Ph-1 column were focused in an intermediate column (35 x 2 mm I.D.) by the valve switching step. The substances enriched in intermediate column were eluted and separated on the narrowbore phenyl hexyl column (100 x 2 mm I.D.) using acetonitrile-potassium phosphate (pH 7, 0.02M) (33:67, v/v) when the valve status was switched back to A position. The method showed excellent sensitivity (detection limit of 10 ng ml(-1)) with small volume of samples (100 microl), good precision and accuracy, and speed (total analysis time 17 min) without any loss in chromatographic efficiency. The response was linear (r2 > or = 0.999) over the concentration range of 50-10,000 ng ml(-1).

Potentiation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Induced Apoptosis by Mistletoe Lectin

Abstract Mistletoe ledins (MLs) constitute the active principle in extract preparations from mistletoe, commonly used as immunomodulator in adjuvant tumor therapy. MLs, classified as type II ribosome inactivating proteins, inhibit protein synthesis. Inhibitors of protein synthesis may modify cancer cell response to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF). In the present study, we have hypothesized that the anticancer efficacy of TNF may be potentiated by MLs. In deed, simultaneous treatment of human cervix carcinoma HeLa or breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells with MLs isolated from European or Korean mistletoe rendered them more sensitive to induction of apoptosis by TNF. The mechanism by which MLs amplify the effect of TNF may involve suppression of the survival protein synthesis.

Column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of clarithromycin in human plasma with electrochemical detection.

A column-switching HPLC method was described for the direct analysis of clarithromycin in human plasma using electrochemical detector without sample pre-purification step. Plasma samples were diluted with washing solvent, i.e. acetonirile-methanol-0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) (5:2:93, v/v) and then, injected to the precolumn. After plasma proteins had flowed out from the precolumn, clarithromycin and internal standard (roxithromycin) were eluted to a Luna 2 C(18) column and separated with acetonitrile-methanol-0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) (41:6:53, v/v). Electrochemical oxidation of clarithromycin occurred at 0.87 V vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode with glassy carbon electrode. The calibration curve was linear in the concentration range 0.1-4 mug ml(-1) with correlation coefficient of 0.998. This method showed excellent precision (RSD 3.8% at 0.1 mug ml(-1)) and accuracy (+/-2%) with the total analysis time per sample of 30 min. The present method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of clarithromycin in volunteers receiving a single oral administration of clarithromycin.

Protein kinase A or C modulates the apoptosis induced by lectin II isolated from Korean mistletoe, Viscum album var. Coloratum, in the human leukemic HL-60 cells.

Abstract Mistletoe lectins (MLs) are increasingly used as an anticancer drug in the treatment of human tumors. The cytotoxic activity of MLs against tumor cells is due to programmed cell death (apoptosis). The up-or down-regulation of protein kinas A (PKA) or C (PKC) is known to be associated with the regulation of drug-induced apoptosis. Previously, we isolated cytotoxic MLII from the extract of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. Coloratum) and characterized its biochemical properties. The present study was designed to investigate the role of PKA and PKC in ML II-induced apoptosis. Exposure of human leukemia HL-60 cells to various doses of ML II resulted in apoptosis. However, the treatment of these cells with dibutyl-cyclic AMP (DB-cAMP), PKA activator, or 12-O-tertadecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), PKC activator, suppressed ML II-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, KT5720 and staurospoline, PKA and PKC inhibitors, respectively, reversed the suppression by DB-cAMP and TPA in the ML II-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. These results

Rapid microbore liquid chromatographic analysis of biphenyldimethyl dicarboxylate in human plasma with on-line column switching

A fully automated method including microbore liquid chromatography and column switching was developed for the analysis of biphenyldimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) from human plasma samples. After direct injection of plasma samples (100 microl) into the system, deproteinization and analyte fractionation occurred on a Capcell Pak MF Ph-1 column (20x4 mm I.D.) and the DDB fraction was transferred from the MF Ph-1 column to an intermediate column (35x2 mm I.D.) using 15% acetonitrile in phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.0). The main separation was performed on a microbore C18 column (150x1.5 mm I.D.) using 45% acetonitrile in water. The method showed excellent sensitivity (detection limit of 5 ng/ml) and good precision (CV.< or =3.0%), and shortened total analysis time (20 min). In the concentration range of 5-200 ng/ml, the mean recovery was 90.7+/-1.8% and the response was linear (r2> or =0.999).

Placenta Hominis Protects Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized Rats

In China, Japan, and Korea, placenta hominis extracts (PHEs) are used clinically for the treatment of osteoporosis. The anti-osteoporotic effect of PHEs was studied. The trabecular bone area and thickness in OVX rats decreased by 50% from those in sham-operated rats; these decreases were completely inhibited by administration of PHEs for 7 weeks. Osteoclast numbers and the osteoblast surface were enhanced in OVX rats, but PHEs had no effect on these phenomena. Serum phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase in OVX rats increased compared to those in sham-operated rats, but the increases were not affected by the administration of PHEs. Thyroxine (T4) level was stimulated in OVX rats. The extracts inhibited the T4 level in the OVX rats. These results strongly suggest that PHEs be effective in preventing the development of bone loss induced by OVX in rats.

Heat Shock Treatment Protects Human Hl-60 Cells from Apoptosis Induced by Lectin II Isolated from Korean Mistletoe, Viscum Album Var. Coloratvm

Abstract Mistletoe lectin II (ML II) isolated from Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. Coloratum), an effective therapeutic agent for cancers, is known to induce cell death via apoptosis. In the present study, we found the protective effect of heat shock treatment of human leukemia HL-60 cells against ML II-induced apoptosis. Exposure of HL-60 cells to ML II for 4 h resulted in apoptosis of the cells, which was evaluated by examining “DNA ladder” formation and DNA fragmentation assay. The DNA fragmentation was significantly reduced in the cells subjected to heat shock treatment by incubation at 42 °C for 1 h and subsequently allowed to recover for 2-16 h at 37 °C., prior to exposure to ML II. HL-60 cells transfected with heat shock protein (hsp) 70 gene exhibited resistance to ML II-induced apoptosis very similar to that seen when untransfected cells were heat-shocked. These results indicate that ML II-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells is inhibited by heat shock treatment, at least in part, via a hsp 70-mediated mechanism.