Electrochemical Monitoring of the Pharmacological Activity of Natural Products

Abstract Electrochemical techniques have largely been applied to characterize the redox reactivity of natural and synthetic compounds and to determine natural and synthetic compounds in solution. A series of new applications of electrochemistry that has emerged in the last few decades and aims to obtain information on the pharmacological activity of natural products is reviewed. Such applications involve the following: (1) electrochemical testing of specific pharmacological activity via electrochemical screening; (2) in situ evaluation of drug–substrate interactions, including the study of pharmacologically active natural products and their metabolites; (3) electrochemical mimicry of select…

Square wave voltammetric determination of the redox state of a reversibly oxidized/reduced depolarizer in solution and in solid state

Abstract Square wave voltammetric measurements allows for determining the composition of system containing a reversibly reducible/oxidable electroactive species in two oxidation states. The method is based on recording the ratio of reverse to forward peak currents. That ratio can be correlated with the molar fraction of the oxidized (or reduced) form of the depolarizer. The method was compared with cyclic voltammetric methods suggested in literature and it was tested using Fe ( CN ) 6 3 - / Fe ( CN ) 6 4 - in solution phase. Application to solid state systems is illustrated by the dehydroindigo/indigo couple in synthetic Maya Blue-type specimens prepared from indigo plus different clays whe…

Electrochemistry-based chemotaxonomy in plants using the voltammetry of microparticles methodology

A methodology for characterizing vegetal taxonomic groups using microextraction-assisted voltammetry of microparticles is described. It is based on recording the voltammetric response of microparticulate films of polyphenolic compounds of leaf extracts using different organic solvents. As a result, characteristic voltammetric profiles, tentatively defining an electrochemolomic response, are obtained. Bivariant and multivariant chemometric evaluation of the voltammetric responses of such films allows characterizing vegetal families. Analysis of voltammetric responses for a set of species of the Rosales order suggests that electrochemical data can be correlated with phylogenetic trees.

Screening and authentication of herbal formulations based on microextraction-assisted voltammetry of microparticles

A simple solid state electrochemical methodology for screening and authentication of herbal formulations is described. The proposed method is based on the recording of the voltammetric response, in contact with aqueous buffers, of microparticulate films of antioxidant compounds resulting from micro-extraction of dried herbal samples with ethanol or acetone. The obtained voltammetric responses led us to differentiate between diverse active components upon application of bivariate and multivariate chemometric techniques. Resolution of herbal preparations containing two or more components is possible when well-separated voltammetric signals are recorded. In favorable cases, such characteristic…

Voltammetry of microparticles, scanning electrochemical microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy applied to the study of dsDNA binding and damage by scorpiand-like polyamine receptors

Abstract Microparticulate deposits of scorpiand-like azamacrocyclic receptors (L1–L4) attached to graphite electrodes provide distinctive voltammetric features in contact with aqueous DNA solutions at biological pH, denoting the formation of DNA surface complexes. This voltammetry allows for screening dsDNA, ssDNA and G-Quadruplex DNA using L4-modified electrodes. Scanning electrochemical microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy examination of dsDNA fibers attached to the substrate electrode in contact with DMSO solutions containing ferrocene and receptor indicate that a synergic effect is exerted between electrochemically generated ferrocenium ion and the receptors so that they increas…

Access to Phylogeny from Voltammetric Fingerprints of Seeds: the Apsparagus Case

A methodology for characterizing vegetal taxonomic groups from the voltammetric fingerprints of polyphenolic components of seeds is described. It is based on recording the voltammetric response of microparticulate films deposited on glassy carbon electrodes from seed extracts using different organic solvents. The obtained responses in contact with aqueous electrolytes provided characteristic voltammetric profiles at the level of genera/subgenera and/or families using bivariant and multivariant chemometric methods. The voltammograms of 14 species from 5 different families provided family-characteristic patterns. Analysis of voltammetric responses for a set of 20 species of the Asparagus genu…

Standard additions-dilution method for absolute quantification in voltammetry of microparticles. Application for determining psychoactive 1,4-benzodiazepine and antidepressants drugs as adulterants in phytotherapeutic formulations

A standard additions-dilution solid-state electrochemical method for the determination of psychoactive 1,4-benzodiazepine and antidepressants drugs used as adulterants in commercial slimming herbal formulations is described and compared with conventional standard addition method. The proposed method, based on the voltammetry of microparticles approach, permits quantify, via standard additions methodology, 1,4-benzodiazepine and antidepressants drugs in phytotherapeutic formulations with no need of sample dissolution using dilution with a reference electroactive compound. The method was used to measure 1,4-benzobenzodiazepines (clonazepam, flurazepam, alprazolam, midazolam, bromazepam, chlor…

Cover Picture: Access to Phylogeny from Voltammetric Fingerprints of Seeds: the Asparagus Case (Electroanalysis 2/2017)

Determination of the depth profile distribution of guest species in microporous materials using the voltammetry of immobilized particles methodology: application to lapachol attachment to palygorskite and kaolinite.

A model for determining the in-depth profile distribution of electroactive species hosted in inorganic microporous matrixes using the voltammetry of immobilized particles methodology is described. The method, based on the analysis of cyclic voltammetric data at different potential scan rates, allows us to determine the in-depth profile variation of the concentration of electroactive guest species as well as the evaluation of the (oxidized form)/(reduced form) concentration ratio in cases where two oxidation states of the electroactive species coexist. The application to Maya blue-type materials prepared from lapachol, a naphtoquinonic dye, and palygorskite and kaolinite clays is reported. T…

Screening of pharmacologic adulterant classes in herbal formulations using voltammetry of microparticles.

A solid state electrochemical method for screening different families of adulterant chemicals illegally added to commercial phytotherapuetic formulations is described. The proposed method, based on the voltammetry of microparticles approach, permits a fast and sensitive way to distinguish between anorexics (amfepramone, fenproporex, sibutramine), benzozodiazepinic anxiolytics (clonazepam, flurazepam, alprazolam, midazolam, medazepam, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam), antidepressants (bupropione, fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine), diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, chlortalidone, amiloride, spironolactone), and hypoglycemics (glimepiride, chlorpropamide, glibenclamide) based on charact…