Shaofu Zhuyu Decoction Research Articles

UHPLC-MS Simultaneous Determination and Pharmacokinetic Study of Three Aromatic Acids and One Monoterpene in Rat Plasma after Oral Administration of Shaofu Zhuyu Decoction

We developed a sensitive and rapid method for determination of ferulic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, and paeoniflorin in rat plasma based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The separation of the four compounds was carried out on an AcQuity UHPLC™ BEH C18 column using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid). Electrospray ionization in positive and negative ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring was used to identify and quantify active components. All calibration curves gave good linearity (r > 0.991) over the concentration range from 4.24-2875 ngmL(-1) for all components. The precision of the in vivo study was evaluated by intraday and interday assays and the percentages of RSD were all within 10.6%. The recovery ranged from 60.2 to 77.9%. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of all three aromatic acids and one monoterpene in rat plasma. Furthermore, we compared the pharmacokinetics profile of the four compounds in normal and primary dysmenorrhea rats' plasma following oral administration of Shaofu Zhuyu decoction (SFZYD) and its ethanol supernatant extract (SFE).

COMPARATIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF TEN AROMATIC ACIDS IN SIWU SERIES DECOCTIONS AND THEIR CONSTITUTING HERBS BY HPLC-DAD METHOD

A high performance liquid chromatographic method with diode array detection (DAD) was established for simultaneous determination of ten aromatic acids in five Siwu series decoctions (Xiongqiong decoction, Siwu decoction, Taohongsiwu decoction, Xiangfusiwu decoction, and Shaofuzhuyu decoction) and related 16 crude herbs. These ten compounds were analyzed simultaneously with a SunFire C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 µm) by gradient elution using 0.5% aqueous acetate acid (v/v)-methanol as the mobile phase; the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. The sample was detected with DAD at 230, 254, and 323 nm and the column was maintained at 25°C. All the compounds showed good linearity (r2 > 0.9998) in the range of the test concentration. The precisions were evaluated by intra-day and inter-day tests, and relative standard deviation (RSD) values were reported within the range of 0.23–2.28% and 0.26–2.79%. The recovery studies for the quantified compounds were observed over the range of 94.8% and 104.6% with RSD values less than 3.29%. The validated method was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of the aromatic acids contents in five formulae and 16 crude herbs, and some aromatic acids were identified for the first time in these crude herbs. The results also indicated that the contents of some aromatic acids varied greatly in different decocting process. This research provided some experimental data reference for clinical application of the relative herbs, and it could enhance the study of the compatibility rule of traditional Chinese medicine.

Analysis of morphic traits between physical and chemical properties and chemical constituents based on different combinations of Shaofu Zhuyu decoction

The formulae decoctions are commonly used in clinic and have characteristics of simple preparation and rapid effect. It was considered as a complex physical and chemical system. In this article, the physical and chemical properties and chemical components and their relationships were investigated to explore the changes of characteristics resulted from different combinations of drugs of Shaofu Zhuyu decoction. The method of partial leasts-quares regression was adopted to evaluate the correlation between physical and chemical parameters and chemical components. These researches may provide a new way to investigate the state of bioactive components, the action mechanisms, and property of treating diseases of traditional Chinese medicine decoction.

Evaluation of the analgesic activities of the crude aqueous extract and fractions of Shao Fu Zhu Yu decoction

Context: Shao Fu Zhu Yu decoction (SFD), a well-known Chinese medicine, has been used for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in China for more than 200 years.Objective: A crude water extract and four fractions from SFD were evaluated for their analgesic activities for the purpose of validating the ethnomedical use of SFD.Material and method: The analgesic activities were studied by measuring nociception using acetic acid-induced abdominal contractions, the hot-plate test, formalin-induced licking and oxytocin-induced writhing in estrogen-treated mouse models. Prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide production in cultured lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophage cells were determined. Chemical components were separated and identified in the SFD analgesic fractions using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS).Results: Oral SFD exerted significant analgesic activities in all nociceptive models except the hot-plate test. The activity-guided fractionation demonstrated that the SFD-40% fraction was the most potent with marked inhibition of pain responses at a dose of 54 mg/kg in vivo, and significantly inhibited prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide production in LPS-treated mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro. Further UPLC-MS analysis showed the presence of several chemical components in the SFD-40% fraction, including ferulic acid, paeoniflorin, typhaneoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside.Discussion and conclusion: These results demonstrated that SFD has significant peripheral analgesic activities, mainly attributed to the SFD-40% fraction, and supports the use of SFD in traditional Chinese medicine.

The Protective Effects of the Active Fraction of Shaofu Zhuyu Decoction on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Injury in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

In this paper, the protective effects of the active fraction (SF-7) from Shaofu Zhuyu decoction (SFZYD) were tested on a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) oxidative injury model. This active fraction (SF-7) shows potent antioxidant properties. The cell viability and oxidative damage markers of VSMCs were determined after exposure to H2O2 for 16 hours. It was observed that SF-7 significantly increased cell survival and reduced apoptosis of H2O2-injured VSMCs. Moreover, SF-7 could markedly increase intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decrease the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in H2O2-injured VSMCs, and suppress the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Thus, SF-7 exhibits protective effects against H2O2-injury on VSMCs, which may be associated with its antioxidant properties. It is suggested that SF may be useful in the treatment of blood stasis syndrome in which oxidative injury is mainly implicated.

Inhibitory Effects of Active Fraction and Its Main Components of Shaofu Zhuyu Decoction on Uterus Contraction

Shaofu Zhuyu decoction is a famous formula for treating primary dysmenorrhea in China since the Qing dynasty. In this paper, the inhibitory effects of active-guided fraction and its main bioactive components of Shaofu Zhuyu decoction on a model of non-pregnant mice uterine contraction induced by oxytocin in vitro were investigated. Qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses were used to correlate the chemical composition of active fraction with the spasmolytic effects. Seven ingredients in the active fraction were identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD. Three ingredients, ferulic acid, vanillic acid, and typhaneoside, were evaluated for their effects on mice isolated uterine contraction induced by oxytocin in vitro. The ED(50) of them were 63.0 microg/ml, 57.6 microg/ml, 109.7 microg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, the inhibitory activity of the combination of these three compounds was prior to the fraction and seven compounds group. The ED(50) was 65.5 microg/ml. The data stated that ferulic acid, vanillic acid, and typhaneoside were possibly the main active components in the bioactive fraction of Shaofu Zhuyu decoction. The study also implied that Shaofu Zhuyu decoction may have direct inhibitory effects on the contractility of the mice uterus and justified the traditional use of the prescription for treating the uterine cramping associated dysmenorrhea.

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the bioactive components and their metabolites of Shaofu Zhuyu decoction active extract in rat plasma

A rapid, sensitive and selective ultra-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC–ESI-MS/MS) method was developed for analysis and identification of the bioactive components and their metabolites in rat plasma following oral administration Shaofu Zhuyu decoction active extract. The analysis was carried out on an AcQuity™ UPLC chromatographic instrument and a QTOF mass spectrometer using positive and negative electrospray ionization (ESI), respectively. The results showed that sixteen peaks were detected and twelve peaks, including flavones, organic acids and terpene glycosides, were identified by comparing with reference compounds. Furthermore, nine metabolites, including quercetin glucuronide sulfates, quercetin diglucuronides, isorhamnetin sulfates, isorhamnetin glucosides, and isorhamnetin glucuronides were detected and identified in rat plasma based on the mass fragmentation behaviors and literature reports. These results provided a meaningful basis for evaluating the bioactive components and their action mechanisms of complex traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs).

Screening and analyzing the potential bioactive components from Shaofu Zhuyu decoction, using human umbilical vein endothelial cell extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

In this paper, a useful method for screening and analyzing the potential bioactive components in bioassay-guided fraction (SF-11) from Shaofu Zhuyu decoction was developed using human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q-TOF/MS spectrometry. In addition, the protective effects on HUVEC damage induced by adrenaline in vitro were also investigated. The results showed that SF-11 significantly inhibited the endothelin (ET) release and reversed the NO secretion of HUVEC (p < 0.05), and promoted the PGI(2) release of HUVEC (p < 0.05). Two effective components, paeoniflorin and typhaneoside, from SF-11 were screened and identified using live cell extract and HPLC coupled with Q-TOF/MS spectrometry. The compounds, paeoniflorin and typhaneoside, showed significantly inhibiting effects on the ET release and reversing of NO secretion of HUVEC (p < 0.05), with similar effects to SF-11, and promoting the PGI(2) release of HUVEC at the concentration of 0.208 and 0.013 micromol/mL, respectively (p < 0.05). These data indicated that the method of live cell extraction coupled with HPLC-MS technology is feasible, rapid and useful for screening and analyzing potential bioactive components from TCMs.