1H-NMR-based urinary metabolomic analysis for the preventive effects of gushudan on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis rats

Abstract

Gushudan (GSD), a traditional Chinese medicine with a history of more than 15 years, has been shown to have anti-osteoporosis effects, but the specific therapeutic mechanism behind it is still unclear. To further elucidate the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and the preventive mechanism of GSD on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) rats, a rapid and comprehensive 1H NMR metabolomics method was established to detect urinary metabolic profiles in the control group, model group and GSD treatment group in this study. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was performed to investigate changes in the metabolites, and related metabolic pathways were discovered using MetaboAnalyst platform. As a result, a total of 27 differential metabolites were identified. Of these, 17 metabolites such as formate, allantoin and l-threonate were newly discovered as GIOP potential biomarkers. Energy metabolism, intestinal flora metabolism, amino acid metabolism and oxidative stress response were significantly changed in the urinary profiles of GIOP rats, and GSD could play an anti-osteoporosis role by regulating these metabolic pathways. This study compliments the earlier LC-MS based urine metabolomics research, and helps further understand the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and the potential preventive effects of GSD on GIOP rats.