Methotrexate (Amethopterin), an antimetabolite and antifolate agent, inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, thereby preventing the conversion of folic acid into tetrahydrofolate, and inhibiting DNA synthesis. Methotrexate, also an immunosuppressant and antineoplastic agent, is used for the research of rheumatoid arthritis and a number of different cancers (such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia)^[1][2][3].

Methotrexate (Amethopterin) reduces thymus and spleen indices of mice. Methotrexate markedly decreases white blood cells, thymic and splenic lymphocytes at dose ≥5 mg/kg. However, there is a significant difference between the treatment plus control group and the model group (p<0.01). The combination of grape seed proanthocyanidins and Siberian ginseng eleutherosides obviously diminishes the effects of Methotrexate exposure on indices of thymus and spleens in mice^[2].
Methotrexate (MTX) (2 mg/kg; i.p.; once in a week for 5 weeks) is effective in Freund’s complete adjuvant-induced arthritis. The combination of Methotrexate (1 mg/kg; i.p.; once in a week for 5 weeks) and Curcumin (30 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, thrice a week for 5 weeks; i.p.) shows a significant anti-arthritic action and protection from hematological toxicity^[4].

Shanghai Jinpan Biotech Co Ltd has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

454.44

C₂₀H₂₂N₈O₅

59-05-2

固体

Light yellow to yellow

甲氨蝶呤；氨甲蝶呤；氨甲叶酸

Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere.

4°C, protect from light

*In solvent : -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month (protect from light)

DMSO 中的溶解度 : ≥ 50 mg/mL (110.03 mM; 吸湿的 DMSO 对产品的溶解度有显著影响，请使用新开封的 DMSO)

* “≥” means soluble, but saturation unknown.

* 请根据产品在不同溶剂中的溶解度选择合适的溶剂配制储备液；一旦配成溶液，请分装保存，避免反复冻融造成的产品失效。
储备液的保存方式和期限：-80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month (protect from light)。-80°C储存时，请在6个月内使用，-20°C储存时，请在1个月内使用。

• 方案 一

  请依序添加每种溶剂： 10% DMSO    40% PEG300    5% Tween-80    45% Saline

  Solubility: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (5.50 mM); 澄清溶液

  此方案可获得 ≥ 2.5 mg/mL（饱和度未知）的澄清溶液。

  以 1 mL 工作液为例，取 100 μL 25.0 mg/mL 的澄清 DMSO 储备液加到 400 μL PEG300 中，混合均匀；再向上述体系中加入 50 μL Tween-80，混合均匀；然后再继续加入 450 μL 生理盐水 定容至 1 mL。

  生理盐水的配制：将 0.9 g 氯化钠，溶解于 ddH₂O 并定容至 100 mL，可以得到澄清透明的生理盐水溶液。

• 方案 二

  请依序添加每种溶剂： 10% DMSO    90% (20% SBE-β-CD in Saline)

  Solubility: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (5.50 mM); 澄清溶液

  此方案可获得 ≥ 2.5 mg/mL（饱和度未知）的澄清溶液。

  以 1 mL 工作液为例，取 100 μL 25.0 mg/mL 的澄清 DMSO 储备液加到 900 μL 20% 的 SBE-β-CD 生理盐水水溶液 中，混合均匀。

  20% SBE-β-CD in Saline 的配制（4°C，储存一周）：2 g SBE-β-CD（磺丁基醚 β-环糊精）粉末定容于 10 mL 的生理盐水中，完全溶解至澄清透明。

• 方案 三

  请依序添加每种溶剂： 5% DMSO    40% PEG300    5% Tween-80    50% Saline

  Solubility: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (5.50 mM); 澄清溶液
• 方案 四

  请依序添加每种溶剂： 5% DMSO    95% (20% SBE-β-CD in Saline)

  Solubility: ≥ 2.5 mg/mL (5.50 mM); 澄清溶液

• [1]. Tian H, et al. Understanding the mechanisms of action of methotrexate: implications for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis. 2007;65(3):168-73.  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Swierkot J, et al. Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis. Pharmacol Rep. 2006 Jul-Aug;58(4):473-92.  [Content Brief]

  [3]. Ehab Tousson, et al. The Effect of L-carnitine on Amethopterin-induced Toxicity in Rat Large Intestine.

  [4]. Banji D, et al. Evaluation of the concomitant use of methotrexate and curcumin on Freund’s complete adjuvant-induced arthritis and hematological indices in rats. Indian J Pharmacol. 2011;43(5):546-550.  [Content Brief]

Each cell line is studied in growth inhibition experiments using 96-well microtiter plates. As antifols are schedule dependent, preliminary experiments are aimed at defining the longest duration of exposure that would allow for continuous logarithmic phase growth of cells without changing of the culture media while maintaining a linear relationship between SRB optical density and cell number. Twenty-four hours after cell plating, the cell lines are exposed to the antifol for 120 h (three replicates per experiment). To ensure that a complete sigmoidal survival-concentration curve could be observed, the following drug concentrations are studied: Methotrexate (0.002-5 μM), AMT (0.0001-1 μM), PXD (0.0003-10 μM), TLX (0.0002-0.5 μM). Experiments are repeated at least twice^[1].

Shanghai Jinpan Biotech Co Ltd has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

Mice^[2]
The combination of bioactive phytochemicals is administered one week prior to the Methotrexate exposure. Treatment group I: mice are given a combination of green tea polyphenols and eleutherosides from Siberian ginseng (0.2 mL/10 g, i.g. once daily) for 15 days, and a single dose of Methotrexate (2 mg/kg, i.p. once daily) is added on the 8th day. Treatment group II: mice are given a combination of grape seed proanthocyanidins and eleutherosides from Siberian ginseng for 15 days, and Methotrexate is administered on the 8th day in a similar manner. Model group: animals received distilled water instead of bioactive phytochemicals combinations for 15 days and the same Methotrexate protocol applied to this group on the 8th day. Control group: mice are given distilled water through 15 days and physiological saline instead of Methotrexate is administered on the 8th day in a similar manner. Twelve hours after the final doses, the animals are euthanized by cervical dislocation.

Shanghai Jinpan Biotech Co Ltd has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

• [1]. Tian H, et al. Understanding the mechanisms of action of methotrexate: implications for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis. 2007;65(3):168-73.  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Swierkot J, et al. Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis. Pharmacol Rep. 2006 Jul-Aug;58(4):473-92.  [Content Brief]

  [3]. Ehab Tousson, et al. The Effect of L-carnitine on Amethopterin-induced Toxicity in Rat Large Intestine.

  [4]. Banji D, et al. Evaluation of the concomitant use of methotrexate and curcumin on Freund’s complete adjuvant-induced arthritis and hematological indices in rats. Indian J Pharmacol. 2011;43(5):546-550.  [Content Brief]