Metabolite analysis of Huangqi Jianzhong Tang using UHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS in rat plasma

Abstract

Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (HQJZ), a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in China. However, its active substances remain unclear due to the lack of systemic metabolism studies. In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-Exactive mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS) was used to detect and identify its metabolites in rat plasma after oral administration of HQJZ coupled with Compound Discover 2.0 software. The possible metabolic pathways were calculated and deduced based on 71 previous detected prototype compounds. As results, a total of 95 compounds were identified in rat plasma, including 11 prototype compounds and 84 related metabolites. Among them, flavonoids and saponins were the main ingredients in vivo. Meanwhile, it was speculated that HQJZ experienced oxidation, reduction, acetylation, methylation, and glucuronic acid reaction in rat plasma. This study established a reliable method for the detection of prototype components and metabolites of TCMs, which could provide helpful information for further research into the active substances of HQJZ.