Research on the neuro-protective compounds in Terminalia chebula retz extracts in-vivo by UPLC–QTOF-MS

Abstract

We have developed a strategy to analyze the components absorbed in the plasma and brain tissue of rats after intragastric administration of Terminalia chebula Retz extracts by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC–QTOF-MS). Nine components (gallic acid, methyl gallate, ferulic acid, ethyl gallate, brevifolin carboxylic acid, ellagic acid, galloflavin, arjugenin, and arjunic acid) and four metabolites were identified in plasma, and five components (ethyl gallate, brevifolin carboxylic acid, ellagic acid, arjugenin, and arjunic acid) were identified in the rat brain based on their fragmentation behaviors. The components present in the plasma were associated with the antioxidant activity of T. chebula Retz, and the components absorbed in the brain were associated with its neuro-protective effects. This approach allowed us to rapidly determine the active components of T. chebula Retz and develop a method for its quality control. This analysis method showed good resolution and high sensitivity, and is a potentially powerful tool for the determination of effective components of natural products.