ascorbic-acid and formic-acid

Composition of mobile phase can greatly influence the success of electrospray ionization (ESI)-interfaced liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. To investigate the relationship between formic-acid-based modification of mobile phase and ESI nebulizing conditions, an API 4000 ESI source and a TSQ Quantum one were compared under the same chromatographic conditions. Ginkgo terpene lactones and flavonols were measured in plasma, which involved using ascorbic acid to circumvent cross-interference between the analytes. ESI responses to using formic acid included changes in signal intensity, matrix effect, and upper limit of quantification. Significant disparities in the responses were observed between the two ESI sources, suggesting that the use of electrolyte modifier in liquid chromatography mobile phase and the pneumatic nebulization for ESI should be properly balanced to accomplish optimal ESI-based analysis. The distribution of unpaired ions toward the surface of the initial droplet was assumed to be an important step in the pneumatic ESI process. When using the electrolyte in mobile phase, a too fast droplet reduction by rapid-heating-assisted pneumatic nebulization could negatively decrease the time available for the unpaired ions to migrate from droplet interior to its surface. Ascorbic acid was identified as a major interfering substance for the bioanalytical assay; the interference mechanism might be associated with hindering the unpaired analyte ions from distributing toward the droplet surface rather than outcompeting the analyte ions for the limited excess charge on droplets surface. The current work extends the knowledge base of pneumatic ESI, which has implication for optimal use of the ESI-interfaced liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Electrolytes; Flavonols; Formates; Gases; Ginkgolides; Hot Temperature; Models, Chemical; Regression Analysis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Highly uniform, spherical porous palladium nanostructures (SPPNs) with rough surfaces were prepared by a facile and rapid ultrasound assisted reduction. The synthesis involves sonicating a solution of K(2)PdCl(4) and ascorbic acid for only 7 min at 40 °C without any additives. The products are isolated structures with a narrow size distribution, and their average diameters are controllable in a range from 40 to 100 nm via the K(2)PdCl(4) concentration. Typical products have a diameter of 52 nm and consist of loosely packed grains of 2-3 nm. They are thus very porous, with a specific surface area of 47 m(2) g(-1). The growth mechanism of SPPNs is discussed on the basis of varying relevant reaction parameters and characterizations from different microscopy techniques, nitrogen absorption analysis, and time-dependent UV-vis spectra. The electrocatalytic performance of the SPPNs was evaluated by electro-oxidation of formic acid. The mass current density per mass of SPPNs (1.88 A mg(-1)) exceeds that of commercial Pd black (1.69 A mg(-1)) and is more than twice that of commercial Pd/C catalyst (0.79 A mg(-1)). Long-term stability of the activity makes this material a promising anode catalyst for direct formic acid fuel cells.

Topics: Absorption; Ascorbic Acid; Electrochemical Techniques; Formates; Metal Nanoparticles; Nanostructures; Nanotechnology; Oxidation-Reduction; Palladium; Particle Size; Porosity; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; X-Ray Diffraction

The ability of the histidine-rich peptides, histatin-5 (Hst-5) and histatin-8 (Hst-8), to support the generation of reactive oxygen species during the Cu-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbate and cysteine has been evaluated. High levels of hydrogen peroxide (70-580 mol/mol Cu/h) are produced by aqueous solutions containing Cu(II), Hst-8 or Hst-5, and a reductant, either ascorbate or cysteine, as determined by the postreaction Amplex Red assay. When the reactions are conducted in the presence of superoxide dismutase, the total hydrogen peroxide produced is decreased, more so in the presence of the peptides (up to 50%), suggesting the intermediacy of superoxide in these reactions. On the other hand, the presence of sodium azide or sodium formate, traps for hydroxyl radicals, has no appreciable effect on the total hydrogen peroxide production for the Cu-Hst systems. EPR spin-trapping studies using 5-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propoxy cyclophosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (CYPMPO) in the cysteine-Cu(II) reactions reveal the formation of the CYPMPO-hydroperoxyl and CYPMPO-hydroxyl radical adducts in the presence of Hst-8, whereas only the latter was observed with Cu alone.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Azides; Catalysis; Copper; Cysteine; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Formates; Histatins; Hydrogen Peroxide; Oxidation-Reduction; Sodium; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxides

Extracts from Ginkgo biloba leaves confer their therapeutic effects through the synergistic actions of flavonoid and terpenoid components. We herein describe the development of an LC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneous determination of flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin) and terpenoids (bilobalide, ginkgolides A, B, C, and J) in acid-hydrolyzed plasma by circumventing cross-interference between the flavonoids and terpenoids identified. Notably, inclusion of ammonium formate (0.2 mM) in the mobile phase generated beneficial LC-electrolyte effects, including increased ESI efficiency and capacity, with the result that the newly developed procedure exhibits the highest analytical performance reported to date for ginkgo-associated studies. The method yields high sensitivity, negligible matrix interference and cross-interference, wide linear dynamic ranges, high sample throughput, and quite small initial sample size. The assay utility to dog pharmacokinetic measurements of commercial ginkgo products yielded the most comprehensive data on systemic exposure to the ginkgo compounds to date. The newly developed multi-analyte procedure should be widely useful.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Chromatography, Liquid; Dogs; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flavonoids; Formates; Ginkgo biloba; Reproducibility of Results; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Terpenes

The effects of oxygen in the photoreduction of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ), and a series of derivatives were studied in aqueous solution in the presence of acetonitrile and formate, aliphatic amines, e.g., EDTA or triethylamine, ascorbic acid, and alcohols, e.g., methanol or 2-propanol. The quinone triplet state is quenched, whereby the semiquinone and donor radicals are formed which react subsequently with oxygen. The overall reaction is oxidation of the donors and conversion of oxygen via the hydroperoxyl/superoxide radical into hydrogen peroxide. The quantum yield (Phi-O2) of this oxygen uptake changes in 2-propanol-water (1:10) from <0.01 for BQ to Phi-O2 = 0.5-0.8 for NQ. Generally Phi-O2 increases with increasing donor concentration. The specific properties of quinone structure, the radical equilibria and reactivity, and the concentration dependences are discussed.

Topics: 1-Propanol; Alcohols; Amines; Ascorbic Acid; Benzoquinones; Chemistry, Physical; Electrons; Formates; Hydrogen Peroxide; Models, Chemical; Naphthoquinones; Oxygen; Quinones; Time Factors; Water

Patients with generalized peroxisomal disorders, rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, and Refsum disease are all unable to alpha-oxidize 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic (phytanic) acid. The exact cause of the oxidation defect in these patients is not well characterized, in part because there is only limited knowledge of the biochemical pathway. In 1969, the alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid was reported [Tsai, S.-C., Avigan, J. & Steinberg, D. (1969) Studies on the alpha-oxidation of phytanic acid by rat liver mitochondria, J. Biol. Chem. 244, 2682-2692] to involve the formation of an alpha-hydroxyphytanic acid intermediate prior to removal of the alpha carbon. Subsequently, most researchers have had difficulty detecting this intermediate. In the present study, cofactors known to form hydroxy intermediates by both monooxygenase and dioxygenase reaction mechanisms were incubated with purified rat liver peroxisomes and either [2,3-3H]phytanic acid or [1-14C]phytanic acid. Reaction products were separated by reverse-phase HPLC. A single reaction product, identified as alpha-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA rather than the free fatty acid, was detected when 2-oxoglutarate/Fe+2/ascorbate, cofactors associated with a dioxygenase reaction mechanism, were present. Concomitant with alpha-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA production, there was an increased accumulation of formate and CO2. This increase in alpha-oxidation products is evidence that alpha-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA is a true pathway intermediate and that the entire pathway functions in peroxisomes. In contrast, alpha-hydroxyphytanoyl-CoA was not formed in any quantity in mitochondria. These studies suggest that the alpha-hydroxylation step of phytanic acid oxidation, which has been shown to be defective in Refsum disease, is located in peroxisomes.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Coenzyme A; Female; Formates; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Iron; Liver; Microbodies; Mitochondria, Liver; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygenases; Peroxisomal Disorders; Phytanic Acid; Rats

The decomposition of peroxynitrite in the presence of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) generated 5,5-dimethylpyrrolidone-(2)-oxy-(1) (DMPOX) without formation of DMPO/OH. Formate enhanced the peroxynitrite decomposition but did not generate any detectable amount of formate-derived free radicals. Glutathione, cysteine, penicillamine, and ascorbate reacted with peroxynitrite to generate the corresponding thiyl and ascorbyl radicals. The results show that the decomposition of peroxynitrite did not generate any significant amount of OH radicals, and one-electron reduction of peroxynitrite by ascorbate may be one of the important peroxynitrite detoxification pathways.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Cyclic N-Oxides; Cysteine; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Formates; Free Radicals; Glutathione; Hydroxyl Radical; Nitrates; Penicillamine; Spin Labels

Cu-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbate has been studied in the absence and the presence of superoxide dismutase, catalase, mannitol, glycerol, ethanol, formate, and thiourea. None of these agents except thiourea inhibited the reaction. Therefore, the role of the Haber-Weiss reaction in the ascorbate oxidation could not be demonstrated. Electron spin resonance studies demonstrated that the preventive effect of the thiol is primarily due to the chelation of the reduced copper ions with the sulphur atom. The oxidation was also prevented by the chelation of copper with physiological levels of bovine serum albumin. These observations are consistent with the concept that a metal-oxygen complex is perhaps directly involved in the oxidative process. Measurements of the peroxide produced during oxidation indicated that significant amounts of this compound accumulates only at lower levels of ascorbate and in the absence of a protein or other chelating agents. At higher ascorbate levels no peroxide accumulation takes place. These results are, thus, useful in predicting the conditions under which the nutrient may act as a pro-oxidant or as an anti-oxidant. The observations suggest that under normal conditions low levels of ascorbate may act as a pro-oxidant through H2O2 production if the system has transition metal ions devoid of chelating agents. At higher concentrations ascorbate acts predominantly as an antioxidant.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Catalase; Catalysis; Copper; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Formates; Glycerol; Hydrogen Peroxide; Mannitol; Oxidation-Reduction; Superoxide Dismutase; Thiourea

The reactivity between various MnO2+/Mn3+ complexes and ascorbic acid/ascorbate were studied using pulse radiolysis. Experimental results indicate that Mn3+-sulfate reacts with both AH2/AH- via metal-ascorbate complexes. MnO2+-formate and Mn3+-pyrophosphate both appear to react by electron transfer with no evidence of complex formation. All of these metal complexes, with the exception of Mn3+-pyrophosphate, react as fast or faster with ascorbate than free O2-. The significance of this observation in light of metal-induced oxygen toxicity will be discussed.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Cations; Formates; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Manganese; Manganese Compounds; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxides; Phosphates; Pulse Radiolysis; Solutions; Spectrophotometry; Spectrum Analysis; Sulfates

Ultrasonic radiation produced a dose dependent linear increase in lipid peroxidation (MDA formation) in the liposomal membrane. The yield of MDA was significantly inhibited by butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), the antioxidant, sodium formate, the OH. radical scavenger, and EDTA, the metal ion chelator. Ascorbic acid at low concentration increased the ultrasonic induced MDA formation while high concentrations inhibited lipid peroxidation. A mechanism of ultrasound induced lipid peroxidation is suggested.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Butylated Hydroxytoluene; Edetic Acid; Formates; Free Radicals; Lipid Peroxides; Liposomes; Malondialdehyde; Ultrasonics

In rats and in humans, dimethylformamide (DMF) is mainly metabolized into N-hydroxymethyl-N-methylformamide (DMF-OH). The in vitro oxidation of DMF by rat liver microsomes is decreased in the presence of catalase and superoxide dismutase. The radical scavengers, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), tertiary butyl alcohol (t-butanol), aminopyrine, hydroquinone and trichloroacetonitrile reduce the oxidation of DMF to DMF-OH in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, DMF inhibits the demethylation of DMSO, t-butanol and aminopyrine. The addition of iron-EDTA to the incubation system induces the production of N-methylformamide (NMF) from DMF. These results support the hypothesis that the metabolic pathway leading from DMF to DMF-OH and NMF involves hydroxyl radicals. Superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide take part in the metabolic process. DMF is preferentially metabolized into DMF-OH. NMF appears mainly when the production of hydroxyl radicals is stimulated, the methyl group being recovered as formic acid.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Biotransformation; Dimethylformamide; Edetic Acid; Ferric Compounds; Formamides; Formates; Free Radicals; Hydroxides; Hydroxyl Radical; Hypoxanthine; Hypoxanthines; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Microsomes, Liver; Oxidation-Reduction; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Xanthine Oxidase

Titration of cyanide-incubated cytochrome c oxidase (ox heart cytochrome aa3) with ferrocytochrome c or with NNN'N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine initially introduces two reducing equivalents per mol of cytochrome aa3. The first equivalent reduces the cytochrome a haem iron; the second reducing equivalent is not associated with reduction of the 830 nm chromophores (e.p.r.-detectable copper) but is probably required for reduction of the e.p.r.-undetectable copper. Excess reductant introduces a third reducing equivalent into the cyanide complex of cytochrome aa3. During steady-state respiration in the presence of cytochrome c and ascorbate, the 830 nm chromophore is almost completely oxidized. It is reduced more slowly than cytochrome a on anaerobiosis. In the presence of formate or azide, some reduction at 830 nm can be seen in the steady state; in an oxygen-pulsed system, a decrease in steady-state reduction of cytochromes c and a is associated with ab increased reduction of the 830 nm species. In the formate-inhibited system the reduction of a3 on anaerobiosis shows a lag phase, the duration of which corresponds to the time taken for the 830 nm species to be reduced. It is concluded that the e.p.r.-undetectable copper (CuD) is reduced early in the reaction sequence, whereas the detectable copper (CUD) is reduced late. The latter species is probably that responsible for reduction of the cytochrome a3 haem. The magnetic association between undetectable copper and the a3 haem may not imply capability for electron transfer, which occurs more readily between cytochrome a3 and the 830 nm species.

Topics: Anaerobiosis; Ascorbic Acid; Copper; Cytochrome a Group; Cytochrome c Group; Cytochromes; Electron Transport Complex IV; Formates; Kinetics; Oxidation-Reduction; Potassium Cyanide; Sodium Nitrite; Spectrophotometry