An investigation on the metabolic pathways of synthetic isoflavones by gas chromatography coupled to high accuracy mass spectrometry.

Rationale: Isoflavones are a group of flavonoids that may be of interest in sport doping because they can be used by athletes in the recovery periods after the administration of anabolic steroids, with the aim of increasing the natural production of luteinizing hormone (LH) and, consequently, the biosynthesis of endogenous androgens.

Methods: The in vivo metabolism of methoxyisoflavone (5-methyl-7-methoxyisoflavone) and ipriflavone (7-isopropoxyisoflavone), respectively present in a dietary supplement and in a pharmaceutical preparation, was investigated. The study was carried out by the analysis of urinary samples collected from male Caucasian subjects before, during and after the oral administration of methoxyisoflavone or ipriflavone.

In vitro antiviral activity of distamycin A against clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 from transplanted patients.

Objective(s): Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in immunocompromised individuals may require prolonged antiviral therapy resulting in the emergence of viral strains resistant to the currently employed antiviral drugs. Distamycin A (DA), a basic antibiotic belonging to the lexitropsin DNA minor groove binding drugs, exhibits antiviral properties. In this study we evaluated the in vitro cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of DA against HSV type 1 and HSV type 2 clinical isolates from transplanted patients and compared them with those of acyclovir (ACV) in search of alternative antiviral drugs.