Quality Control of Danggui Buxue Tang, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoction, by (1)H-NMR Metabolic Profiling.

Pui Hei Chan,Wendy L Zhang,Karl W K Tsim,Chi Yuen Cheung,Henry Lam

doi:10.1155/2014/567893

Abstract

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is one of the simplest traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions, first described in China in 1247 AD. DBT is composed of 2 herbs, Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR), boiled together in a 5 : 1 ratio. Clinically, DBT is prescribed to women as a remedy for menopausal symptoms. Here, H-NMR metabolic profiling was conducted for DBT and the water extracts of AR or ASR, to evaluate the potential of this chemical profiling method for quality control of the herbal decoction. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that DBT could be readily distinguished from the water extracts of its constituent herbs by the metabolic profiles. More interestingly, the metabolic profile of DBT was not a simple sum of that of AR and ASR. Asparagine was found at significantly higher concentration in DBT than that in either AR or ASR extract, contributing mainly to the discrimination of DBT sample. In addition, we employed the same method to profile a commercial DBT powder, verifying its authenticity as compared to our prepared DBT. This study is the first to employ H-NMR metabolic profiling for the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine decoctions.

Highlights

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been used as medicines or health supplements for more than 2500 years
We summed up the Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR) spectra in a 5 : 1 ratio, so as to simulate the profile of a 5 : 1 mixture of AR extract and ASR extract, that is, AR + ASR
The profiles of AR, AR + ASR, and Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) showed a close similarity, likely because AR was the major component in the decoction

Summary

Introduction

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been used as medicines or health supplements for more than 2500 years. TCMs are often prepared as decoctions with specific combinations of individual herbs in well-defined formulae. Among thousands of herbal formulae, Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is one of the simplest, composed of two herbs only. DBT was firstly described in Neiwaishang Bianhuo Lun by Li Dongyuan in China in 1247 AD. The DBT formula should include 10 qian (∼37.3 g) of Astragali Radix (AR), roots of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge var. Mongholicus (Bunge) P.K. Hsiao, and two qian (∼7.5 g) of Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR), roots of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. DBT is prescribed to women in China as a remedy for menopausal symptoms, in order to improve their “Qi” (vital energy) and nourish their “Blood” (body circulation)

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Discussion

Conclusion