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Three D-glucans were isolated from the mycelium of the fungus Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 by sequential extraction with hot-water and hot aqueous KOH (2% w/v) followed by ethanol precipitation. Following their purification by gel permeation chromatography on Sepharose CL-4B, the structural characteristics of the D-glucans were determined by FT-IR and 13C NMR spectroscopy and, after methylation, by GC-MS. The hot-water extract produced a fraction designated Q1A that was a beta-(1-->6)-D-glucan with the following structure: [Formula: see text] The alkaline extract, when subjected to repeated freeze-thawing, yielded two fractions: K1P (insoluble) that comprised a beta-(1-->3)-D-glucan with beta-D-glucose branches at C-6 with the structure: [Formula: see text] and K1SA (soluble) consisting of a backbone chain of alpha-(1-->4)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residues substituted at O-6 with alpha-D-glucopyranosyl residues: [Formula: see text]

Various components of garlic and aged garlic extract, including allicin, S-allylcysteine (SAC) and volatile metabolites of allicin were determined in breath, plasma and simulated gastric fluids by HPLC, gas chromatography (GC) or HPLC- and GC-mass spectrometry (MS). Data indicate that allicin decomposes in stomach acid to release allyl sulfides, disulfides and other volatiles that are postulated to be metabolized by glutathione and/or S-adenosylmethionine to form allyl methyl sulfide. SAC can be absorbed by the body and can be determined in plasma by HPLC or HPLC-MS using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)-MS.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was the major technique used to determine various metabolites after consumption of dehydrated granular garlic and an enteric-coated garlic preparation, in breath, plasma, and simulated gastric fluids. A special short-path thermal desorption device was used as an introduction technique for the gas chromatograph for the determination of volatiles. These garlic preparations release allicin, which decomposes in stomach acid or with time in the intestine to release allyl sulfides, disulfides and other volatiles, some of which are postulated to be metabolized by glutathione and/or S-adenosylmethionine to form allyl methyl sulfide, the main sulfur containing volatile metabolite. S-Allylcysteine, a non-volatile bioactive component of aged garlic preparations, was determined in human plasma and urine by HPLC-MS using the negative ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mode (APcI)- MS. The technique of selected ion monitoring was used for quantitation. A synthetic internal standard of deuterated S-allylcysteine was added to the plasma or urine to ensure recovery and to obtain reliable quantitative data.

A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric procedure has been developed for the quantitation in human plasma of the enantiomers of rimantadine and its three hydroxylated metabolites. The assay utilized derivatization of all analytes with the optically active reagent S-alpha-methyl-alpha-methoxy(pentafluorophenyl)acetic acid, selective ion monitoring, methane negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry and stable isotope dilution techniques. This method has been used to measure plasma concentrations of the enantiomers of rimantadine, m-hydroxyrimantadine and p-hydroxyrimantadine (equatorial and axial epimers) in the ranges 2.5-250, 2.5-50, 1.25-62.5 and 1.25-62.5 ng/mL, respectively, in six subjects given a single 200 mg dose of racemic rimantadine. Although there are no significant differences in the concentration-time profiles of R- and S-rimantadine, large stereospecific differences in the disposition of their metabolites are observed.

Eight patients with AIDS or ARC received four single doses of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC). The treatments included 0.5 and 5 mg oral tablets, a 0.5 mg oral solution, and a 0.5 mg intravenous infusion. Blood samples were collected for 4 to 6 h after each dose. Plasma concentrations of ddC were determined by a specific gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) assay. A combination of the low dose and the assay sensitivity of 2 ng/ml limited data treatment and comparison. Mean Cmax of 8.5, 7.6, and 79.0 ng/ml occurred at mean tmax of 1.1, 1.3, and 0.9 h for the 0.5 mg oral solution, the 0.5 mg tablet, and the 5 mg tablet, respectively. A mean clearance of 5.57 ml/min/kg and volume of distribution of 0.64 L/kg were determined from the 0.5 mg intravenous infusion. Half-life values ranged between 0.95 and 2.0 h and appeared to be independent of the dose and route of administration. The bioavailability values calculated for the oral tablets were variable, ranging from 54 to 127%. Single doses of ddC were well tolerated in this population. The results of this pilot study indicate that ddC is rapidly and extensively absorbed when administered as an oral tablet or solution to fasting AIDS or ARC patients. It is also rapidly eliminated with a half-life of 1-2 h. There are no apparent differences in the absorption or elimination of ddC between 0.5 and 5 mg oral doses.

A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric procedure has been developed for the quantification of a diltiazem analog, naltiazem, in human plasma. The assay utilizes an extraction at neutral pH with hexane:ethylene dichloride:methyl-t-butyl ether (70:20:10), selective ion monitoring, methane or ammonia positive chemical ionization mass spectrometry and stable isotope dilution. The method has been used to analyze plasma concentrations of naltiazem in clinical samples over a range of 2-200 ng ml-1, using 1 ml of plasma.

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric procedure has been developed for the quantitation in plasma and urine of the enantiomers of rimantadine, an antiviral drug effective against type A influenza. The assay utilizes derivatization with an optically active reagent, selective ion monitoring, methane negative-ion chemical ionization (NICI) mass spectrometry and stable isotope dilution. The method has been used to measure concentrations of each rimantadine enantiomer over a range of 2.5-250 and 12.5-1250 ng/ml in the plasma and urine, respectively, of four male volunteers administered rimantadine. In plasma and urine, no differences were observed in the disposition of the unconjugated enantiomers. In urine, one enantiomer, but not both, was released following enzymatic hydrolysis.

A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric procedure has been developed for the quantification in plasma of dideoxycytidine (DDC), a candidate anti-AIDS drug. The assay uses an extraction with ethyl acetate containing 10% methanol followed by three derivatization steps: (i) reaction with t-butyl dimethyl chlorosilane to silylate the 5'-hydroxyl group; (ii) pentafluorobenzoylation of the amino group with pentafluorobenzoyl chloride; (iii) methylation of the ring nitrogen adjacent to the amino group with diazomethane. The resulting derivative is quantified using stable isotope dilution, selective ion monitoring and methane negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Plasma concentrations of DDC were measured over a range of 2-200 ng ml-1 using 1 ml plasma for extraction.

A GC-MS procedure has been developed for the quantitation in plasma and urine of rimantadine, an antiviral drug effective against type A influenza. The assay utilizes selective ion monitoring, methane negative ion chemical ionization (NCI) and stable isotope dilution. Sensitivity to NCI is effected by derivation of rimantadine with pentafluorobenzoyl chloride. The method has been used to quantitate plasma concentrations of rimantadine over a range from 4.2 ng/ml to 416 ng/ml, and urinary concentrations of rimantadine over a range of 21 ng/ml to 2077 ng/ml.

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric procedure has been developed for the quantitation of the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil in human plasma. The assay utilizes an extraction at alkaline pH with benzene-dichloroethane (80:20), selective ion monitoring, isobutane positive-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry and stable isotope dilution. The method has been used to measure plasma concentrations of flumazenil in over 1500 clinical samples over a range of 0.5-200 ng/ml (using 2 ml of plasma).

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric procedure has been developed for the quantitation of the antiviral agent rimantadine and its meta- and para-hydroxylated metabolites in human plasma and urine. The assay utilizes an extractive pentafluorobenzoylation at alkaline pH with cyclohexane saturated with triethanolamine-chloroform (2:1) containing pentafluorobenzoyl chloride, selective ion monitoring, methane negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry and stable isotope dilution. The method has been used to measure plasma concentrations of rimantadine, m-hydroxyrimantadine and the two epimers of p-hydroxyrimantadine between 5-250, 5-100 and 2.5-50 ng/ml, respectively. Similarly, the urine concentrations of these analytes measured were between 25-1250, 25-500 and 12.5-250 ng/ml, respectively.