UPLC-MS/MS-Based Rat Serum Metabolomics Reveals the Detoxification Mechanism of Psoraleae Fructus during Salt Processing.

Dan Wang,Shengrong Li,Yilong Chen,Na Li,Leilei He,Xiaomei Zhang

doi:10.1155/2021/5597233

Abstract

Psoraleae Fructus (PF) is a botanical medicine widely used in Asian countries, of which salt products have higher safety and efficacy. However, the biological mechanism of the detoxification of salt-processing Psoraleae Fructus (SPF) has not yet been revealed. In this study, UPLC-MS/MS technology was used to explore the metabolic differences between SPF and PF in normal rats and reveal the mechanism of salt processing. The histopathological results of rat liver and kidney showed that the degree of liver and kidney injure in the SPF group was less than that in the PF group. The results of metabolomics showed that the detoxification mechanism of PF by salt processing might be related to glycerophospholipid metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism. PF-induced inflammation could be reduced by regulating the expression of metabolites to achieve the purpose of salt processing and detoxification. It included reducing the production of metabolites such as 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, tyrosine, arginine, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and phenylacetylglycine/hippuric acid ratio and upregulating the expression of metabolites such as creatine.

Highlights

Psoraleae Fructus (PF) is the dried and mature fruit of the legume Psoralea corylifolia L., which has the functions of warming kidney and assisting yang, promoting qi absorption to calm panting, and warming the spleen and check diarrhea
Studies mostly focus on chemical composition changes [21, 22], and there is a lack of research on its metabolic differences in vivo. erefore, we explored the potential mechanism of salt processing to reduce PF toxicity from the perspective of metabolism in vivo through animal serum metabolomics technology
We further explored the possible mechanism of salt processing to reduce the toxicity of PF by screening metabolic differences and analyzing metabolic pathway. e results showed that the detoxification of PF by salt processing may be related to the regulation of the following metabolic pathways, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism

Summary

Introduction

Psoraleae Fructus (PF) is the dried and mature fruit of the legume Psoralea corylifolia L., which has the functions of warming kidney and assisting yang, promoting qi absorption to calm panting, and warming the spleen and check diarrhea. Modern studies have found that PF has anti-inflammatory [1], antibacterial [2], antioxidant [3], antitumor [4], and similar estrogen-like effects [5]. The commonly used Chinese medicine decoction pieces are PF and salt-processing Psoraleae Fructus (SPF), both of which are used in the treatment of osteoporosis [6], fractures, and vitiligo [7] through compatibility with other Chinese medicines. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, these processing methods can improve the efficacy of drugs, reduce toxicity, change the channel tropism of the original herbal medicine, or improve the smell and taste of the drugs [11]. The metabolism of drugs in vivo is the key to revealing changes in the efficacy or toxicity of drugs

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Discussion

Conclusion