Metabolomics research on the hepatoprotective effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

The Bioactivities and Potential Clinical Values of Angelica Sinensis Polysaccharides

Angelica sinensis Radix (ASR), one of the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicines, contains many chemical components such as polysaccharides, volatile oil, flavonoids, amino acids, and organic acids, among which polysaccharides play an indispensable role in the therapeutic effect of ASR. A. sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) has many biological activities, for instance, hematopoietic, anti-tumor, and liver protection, which are closely related to the treatment of human diseases such as chronic anemia, leukemia, and diabetes. In addition, there are excellent application prospects for drug delivery in nanoparticles. This paper reviews the chemical compositions, extraction methods, biological activity, action mechanism, potential clinical applications, nanoparticles, and research prospect of ASP from 2010 to 2020, so as to provide references for its further development.

Metabolomics research on the hepatoprotective effect of cultured bear bile powder in α-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholestatic mice

Natural bear bile powder (NBBP) is a famous traditional medicine and has been widely used in clinic. However, access to the sources of bear bile is restricted; hence, it is essential to discover new substitutes for NBBP. Cultured bear bile powder (CBBP) is transformed from chicken bile and contains main ingredients as to NBBP. In the present study, the effect and potential mechanism of action of CBBP on cholestatic liver injury in-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced mouse model was explored using metabolomics. CBBP treatment ameliorated impaired hepatic dysfunction and tissue damage that induced by ANIT. Metabolomics showed there were 28 different metabolites induced by ANIT as compared with control mice, and 18 of which was reversed by CBBP. Pathway analysis revealed that those 18 metabolites are mainly involved in bile acid (BA) biosynthesis and D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism. Further LC-MS/MS analysis showed that CBBP and NBBP both reduced serum and liver levels of BAs, but increased their biliary levels. Additionally, CBBP and NBBP upregulated expression of BA efflux transporters, Mrp2, Mrp3, and Mrp4, and metabolic enzymes, Cyp2b10 and Ugt1a1 of liver tissue of cholestatic mice, increased the BA excretion and metabolism. Moreover, CBBP and NBBP treatment upregulated GCLc/GCLm expression, and restored glutathione metabolism. In conclusion, the protective effects of CBBP against cholestatic liver injury were similar to those of NBBP. Mechanistically, both CBBP and NBBP reversed the disruption in homeostasis of BAs and glutathione, alleviating damage to hepatocytes.

The feeding of dietary Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide enhances the immune responses, the expression of immune-related genes and the growth performance of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

Polysaccharides have many functions in aquatic animals and are widely used as immunopotentiators. However, despite the emergence of serious diseases, few studies have explored the effects of Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide (CPP) on crustaceans. We studied the effects of CPP on the growth performance, nonspecific immunity, antioxidant activity and disease resistance of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Healthy crayfish (5.80 ± 0.1 g) were fed diets supplemented with 0% (control), 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.20%, and 0.30% CPP for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8-week feeding trial, the optimal final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in the crayfish fed the diets with 0.15% and 0.20% CPP, followed by those fed the diet with 0.30% CPP and then those fed the diet with 0.10% CPP, whereas the values of these parameters were obtained with the control crayfish (P < 0.05). The crayfish fed the diets with 0.15% and 0.20% CPP exhibited a significantly higher total hemocyte count (THC) and significantly increased phenoloxidase (PO), lysozyme (LZM), hemocyte (Hc), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) compared with those belonging to the other groups (P < 0.05). The crayfish fed the diets with 0.15% and 0.2% CPP exhibited significantly higher total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, a significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and a significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content compared with the other groups (P < 0.05), which indicated that antioxidant capacity was significantly induced by the CPP-supplemented diets. Significantly upregulated expression of immune-related genes (anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (alf), peroxiredoxin (prx5), cathepsin B (ctsb), mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (mtMnsod), cyclophilin A (cypa), glutathione peroxidase (gpx), Toll-like receptor 3 (tlr3), and heat shock protein 70 (hsp70)) was detected in the crayfish fed the diets supplemented with 0.15% and 0.20% CPP diet compared with the levels observed in the control crayfish. These results showed that dietary CPP supplementation greatly improved the growth, immunity and antioxidant capacities of crayfish, and according to the observed results, 0.15%-0.2% is the recommended optimal level of CPP dietary supplementation for crayfish.

GC-MS-based metabolomics research on the anti-hyperlipidaemic activity of Prunella vulgaris L. polysaccharides

Prunella vulgaris polysaccharides (PVPs) have a variety of biological activities, but the mechanism and extent of their anti-hyperlipidaemic effect remain unclear. In vitro, PVPs had a significant inhibitory effect on angiotensin (Ang II)-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. A metabolomics approach based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and chemometrics was established in this study to evaluate the anti-hyperlipidaemic activity of PVPs in a high-fat Sprague-Dawley rat model. In vivo, PVPs could significantly reduce the weight gain and the increases in serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-C and non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C levels observed in rats fed a high-fat diet; they could also significantly increase serum GSH-Px activity, reduce the content of MDA and TNF-α and decrease abdominal fat volume in rats. Furthermore, PVPs exerted a repairing effect on morphological and structural damage in liver tissue cells in hyperlipidaemic rats fed a high-fat diet. PVPs improved lipid metabolism disorder in rats. Alanine, threonine, succinic acid, proline, inositol and arachidonic acid levels in the serum were considered potential biomarkers involved in amino acid, glucose, energy and lipid metabolism. Therefore, PVPs may interfere with hyperlipidaemia through anti-lipid peroxidation effects, attenuation of inflammation and regulation of glucose, amino acid, energy and lipid metabolism.

Resource, chemical structure and activity of natural polysaccharides against alcoholic liver damages

Many natural polysaccharides from bio-resources hold advantages of multi-functions, high efficiency, non-toxicity or low side effect, and have strong potentials in protection against alcoholic liver damages. This review summarized the bio-resources, chemical and structural characteristics of natural polysaccharides with potentials in inhibition against alcoholic liver damages, and also emphasized knowledge on correlations between their chemical structure and function. Approximately 95 species were confirmed in generation of hepatoprotective polysaccharides. Products as crude polysaccharides originated from 17 species were sum up despite the indetermination of their accurate structure. Additional four polysaccharides were described for their known chemical structures. Possible roles of hepatoprotective polysaccharides were provided with evidence on antioxidant promotion, lipids regulation, apoptosis inhibition and anti-inflammation, as well as confirmations in immune enhancement, iron removal and anti-fibrosis when currently treated against the alcoholic liver damages. To sum up, this overview could serve to guide development and utilization of natural hepatoprotective polysaccharides.

A Metabonomics Approach to Drug Toxicology in Liver Disease and its Application in Traditional Chinese Medicine

BACKGROUND

The progression of liver disease causes metabolic transformation in vivo and thus affects corresponding endogenous small molecular compounds. Metabonomics is a powerful technology which is able to assess global low-molecular-weight endogenous metabolites in a biological system. This review is intended to provide an overview of a metabonomics approach to the drug toxicology of diseases of the liver.

METHODS

The regulation of, and relationship between, endogenous metabolites and diseases of the liver is discussed in detail. Furthermore, the metabolic pathways involved in drug interventions of liver diseases are reviewed. Evaluation of the protective mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in liver diseases using metabonomics is also reviewed. Examples of applications of metabolite profiling concerning biomarker discovery are highlighted. In addition, new developments and future prospects are described.

RESULTS

Metabonomics can measure changes in metabolism relating to different stages of liver disease, so metabolic differences can provide a basis for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of various diseases.

CONCLUSION

Metabonomics has great advantages in all aspects of the therapy of liver diseases, with good prospects for clinical application.

Polyethylenimine-coated PLGA nanoparticles-encapsulated Angelica sinensis polysaccharide as an adjuvant to enhance immune responses

Nanoparticle delivery systems have been widely investigated as new vaccines strategy to enhance the immune responses to antigens against infectious diseases. The positively charged nanoparticles could efficiently improve the immune responses due to targeting and activating the antigen-presenting cells. In this study, the immunopotentiator Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) was encapsulated into Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles, and the polyethylenimine, one of the cationic polymers, was used to coat nanoparticles to develop a new nanoparticle delivery system (ASP-PLGA-PEI) with positively charged. The ASP-PLGA-PEI nanoparticles significantly activated macrophages, and promoted the expression of the MHCII and CD86 and the production of IL-1β and IL-12p70 cytokines of macrophages. Furthermore, the antigen adsorbed on the surface of the ASP-PLGA-PEI nanoparticles enhanced the antigen uptake by macrophages. Moreover, the mice immunized with PCV2 antigen adsorbed ASP-PLGA-PEI nanoparticles significantly enhanced PCV2-specific IgG immune response and the levels of cytokines, induced a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response with Th1 bias compared with other groups. These findings demonstrate that the positively charged nanoparticles (ASP-PLGA-PEI) have the potential to serve as an effective vaccine delivery and adjuvant system to induce vigorous and long-term immune responses.

The Recent Applications and Developments of Bioinformatics and Omics Technologies in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely utilized as complementary health care in China whose acceptance is still hindered by conventional scientific research methodology, although it has been exercised and implemented for nearly 2000 years. Identifying the molecular mechanisms, targets and bioactive components in TCM is a critical step in the modernization of TCM because of the complexity and uniqueness of the TCM system. With recent advances in computational approaches and high throughput technologies, it has become possible to understand the potential TCM mechanisms at the molecular and systematic level, to evaluate the effectiveness and toxicity of TCM treatments. Bioinformatics is gaining considerable attention to unearth the in-depth molecular mechanisms of TCM, which emerges as an interdisciplinary approach owing to the explosive omics data and development of computer science. Systems biology, based on the omics techniques, opens up a new perspective which enables us to investigate the holistic modulation effect on the body.

Objective:

This review aims to sum up the recent efforts of bioinformatics and omics techniques in the research of TCM including Systems biology, Metabolomics, Proteomics, Genomics and Transcriptomics.

Conclusion:

Overall, bioinformatics tools combined with omics techniques have been extensively used to scientifically support the ancient practice of TCM to be scientific and international through the acquisition, storage and analysis of biomedical data.

Effects of Centella asiatica extract on antioxidant status and liver metabolome of rotenone-treated rats using GC-MS

Centella asiatica has been used as a culinary vegetable or medicinal herb. In this study, the hepatoprotective effect of the standardized extract of C. asiatica (ECa233) in rotenone-treated rats was examined using a GC-MS-based metabolomic approach. ECa233 contains >80% triterpenoids with a ratio of madecassoside to asiaticoside of 1.5(±0.5):1. Rats were randomly divided into three groups (with six rats/group): sham negative control, rotenone positive control and the ECa233 test group. Rats in the ECa233 group received 10 mg/kg ECa233 orally for 20 days, followed by 2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal rotenone injection to induce toxicity before being sacrificed. Metabolomic analysis showed that supplementation of ECa233 protected rat liver against rotenone toxicity. Pipecolinic acid was one of the most important metabolites; its level was decreased in the rotenone group as compared with the control. Supplementation with ECa233 before administration of rotenone raised pipecolinic acid to levels intermediate between controls and rotenone alone. The metabolomics approach also helped discover a possible new genuine epimetabolite in the present work. Antioxidant tests revealed that ECa233 inhibited lipid peroxidation and increased catalase activities in liver tissue.

Polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis protects H9c2 cells against oxidative injury and endoplasmic reticulum stress by activating the ATF6 pathway

Objectives

Angelica sinensis exerts various pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activity. This study aimed to investigate the active ingredients in A. sinensis with antioxidant properties and whether A. sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) protects H9c2 cells against oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

Methods

The ingredients of A. sinensis and their targets and related pathways were determined using web-based databases. Markers of oxidative stress, cell viability, apoptosis, and ER stress-related signalling pathways were measured in H9c2 cells treated with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ASP.

Results

The ingredient–pathway–disease network showed that A. sinensis exerted protective effects against oxidative injury through its various active ingredients on regulation of multiple pathways. Subsequent experiments showed that ASP pretreatment significantly decreased H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in H9c2 cells. ASP pretreatment inhibited H₂O₂-induced reactive oxygen species generation, lactic dehydrogenase release, and malondialdehyde production. ASP exerted beneficial effects by inducing activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and increasing ATF6 target protein levels, which in turn attenuated ER stress and increased antioxidant activity.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that ASP, a major water-soluble component of A. sinensis, exerts protective effects against H₂O₂-induced injury in H9c2 cells by activating the ATF6 pathway, thus ameliorating ER and oxidative stress.

Stimulating effects of polysaccharide from Angelica sinensis on the nonspecific immunity of white shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) was prepared by hot water extraction. Then, high-performance liquid chromatography and ion chromatography analyses were conducted, and the results indicated that ASP is a heteropolysaccharide, has a molecular mass of 82,000 Da and consists of arabinose, galactose and glucose (molar ratio of 6:1:1). The effects of ASP on the nonspecific immunity of white shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) were investigated by feeding them with ASP-containing diets (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/kg) during a 12-week breeding experiment. Oral ASP administration significantly improved the survival rate, phenoloxidase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, glutathione peroxidase level, disease resistance against V. alginolyticus, total haemocyte count and number of hyaline cells, semigranular cells and granular cells (p < .05). ASP exhibits immunostimulatory effects on Pacific white shrimps (L. vannamei) and may thus be used as a diet supplement for them.

Gas chromatography-time of flight/mass spectrometry-based metabonomics of changes in the urinary metabolic profile in osteoarthritic rats

The aim of the present study was to explore changes in the urinary metabolic spectrum in rats with knee osteoarthritis, using gas chromatography-time of flight/mass spectrometry (GC-TOF/MS) to determine the metabonomic disease pathogenesis. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control and model groups (n=8/group), and 20 µl of 4% papain and 0.03 M L-cysteine was injected into the right knee on days 1, 3 and 7 to establish the knee osteoarthritis model. Following 14 days, urine was collected over 12 h and cartilage ultrastructural damage was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. GC-TOF/MS, combined with principal component analysis, partial least squares discriminant modeling and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant modeling, was used to analyze the changes in the metabolic spectrum trajectory and to identify potential biomarkers and their related metabolic pathways. Compared with the control group, the synovial cell lining of the knee joint exhibited proliferation, inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fiber hyperplasia in the knee osteoarthritis group. A total of 23 potential biomarkers were identified, including alanine, α-ketoglutarate, asparagine, maltose and glutamine. Furthermore, metabolomic pathogenesis of osteoarthritis may be related to disorders of amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, vitamin B₆ metabolism and nucleic acid metabolism.

A lipidomics investigation into the intervention of celastrol in experimental colitis

Celastrol is well known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. In this study, the efficacy of celastrol against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice was established and the mechanism was investigated using lipidomics. Celastrol treatment significantly alleviated DSS-induced colitis in mice, as revealed by the body weight, colon length, scores of rectal bleeding and diarrhea, serum TNF-α level, and histological analysis results. Lipidomics analysis based on UPLC/MS revealed characteristic changes in the metabolic profiles of the colitis mice, with altered levels of lipid markers associated with IBD, including LPC18 : 0, LPC18 : 1, LPC18 : 2, sphingomyelin (SM), and increased LPC18 : 0/LPC18 : 1 and LPC18 : 0/LPC18 : 2 ratios. For the celastrol-treated colitis mice, however, levels of the above lipid markers were restored, together with recovered saturated LPC/unsaturated LPC ratios. Accordingly, using GC-MS analysis, increased stearic acid (C18 : 0)/oleic acid (C18 : 1) and stearic acid (C18 : 0)/linoleic acid (C18 : 2) ratios were observed in colitis mice, which were later recovered after celastrol treatment. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the liver expression of stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1), the key enzyme controlling the desaturation of saturated fatty acid, was dramatically inhibited in IBD mice, and was obviously recovered after celastrol treatment. These results suggest that the increased saturated LPC/unsaturated LPC (and saturated fatty acid/unsaturated fatty acid) ratios associated with SCD1 down-regulation could be regarded as biomarkers of colitis, and celastrol alleviates DSS-induced colitis partially via up-regulation of SCD1, restoring the altered balance between stearic acid- and oleic acid-derived lipid species, which plays an important role in alleviating colitis. In all, this study provided the scientific basis for further development of celastrol in treating IBD.

Advances on Bioactive Polysaccharides from Medicinal Plants

In recent decades, the polysaccharides from the medicinal plants have attracted a lot of attention due to their significant bioactivities, such as anti-tumor activity, antioxidant activity, anticoagulant activity, antidiabetic activity, radioprotection effect, anti-viral activity, hypolipidemic and immunomodulatory activities, which make them suitable for medicinal applications. Previous studies have also shown that medicinal plant polysaccharides are non-toxic and show no side effects. Based on these encouraging observations, most researches have been focusing on the isolation and identification of polysaccharides, as well as their bioactivities. A large number of bioactive polysaccharides with different structural features and biological effects from medicinal plants have been purified and characterized. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the most recent developments in physiochemical, structural features and biological activities of bioactive polysaccharides from a number of important medicinal plants, such as polysaccharides from Astragalus membranaceus, Dendrobium plants, Bupleurum, Cactus fruits, Acanthopanax senticosus, Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Aloe barbadensis Miller, and Dimocarpus longan Lour. Moreover, the paper has also been focused on the applications of bioactive polysaccharides for medicinal applications. Recent studies have provided evidence that polysaccharides from medicinal plants can play a vital role in bioactivities. The contents and data will serve as a useful reference material for further investigation, production, and application of these polysaccharides in functional foods and therapeutic agents.

Integrative hepatoprotective efficacy comparison of raw and vinegar-baked Radix Bupleuri using nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics

Radix Bupleuri (RB), with a Chinese name Chaihu, is one of the most popular Traditional Chinese herbal drug. It can be baked with vinegar to afford vinegar-baked Radix Bupleuri (VBRB), which is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for liver diseases treatment. In the present study, nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomic approach was used to compare the liver protective effect of RB and two types of VBRBs, which were prepared by two kinds of vinegar. The contents of 14 metabolites in the liver of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) treated mice were significantly altered in comparison with control group, and VBRB prepared by Shanxi vinegar showed best effect as revealed by the amount and regulatory degree of the perturbed metabolites. The metabolism pathways analysis showed that the liver protective effect was related with the energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, ketone body metabolism, glutathione metabolism, amino acids metabolism and nucleotide synthesis. The results presented here showed that metabolomic approach made it possible to disclose the subtle biological difference between two types of VBRB, which highlight the potential of metabolomic approach to quantitatively compare the pharmacological effect of the herbal drugs.

Angelica sinensis in China-A review of botanical profile, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and chemical analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, known as Dang Gui (in Chinese), is a traditional medicinal and edible plant that has long been used for tonifying, replenishing, and invigorating blood as well as relieving pain, lubricating the intestines, and treating female irregular menstruation and amenorrhea. A. sinensis has also been used as a health product and become increasingly popular in China, Japan, and Korea.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper aims to provide a systemic review of traditional uses of A. sinensis and its recent advances in the fields of phytochemistry, analytical methods and toxicology. In addition, possible trends, therapeutic potentials, and perspectives for future research of this plant are also briefly discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An extensive review of the literature was conducted, and electronic databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Reaxys were used to assemble the data. Ethnopharmacological literature and digitalised sources of academic libraries were also systematically searched. In addition, information was obtained from local books and The Plant List (TPL, www.theplantlist.org).

RESULT

This study reviews the progress in chemical analysis of A. sinensis and its preparations. Previously and newly established methods, including spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC), and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis (NMR), are summarized. Moreover, identified bioactive components such as polysaccharides, ligustilide and ferulic acid were reviewed, along with analytical methods for quantitative and qualitative determination of target analytes, and fingerprinting authentication, quality evaluation of A. sinensis, and toxicology and pharmacodynamic studies. Scientific reports on crude extracts and pure compounds and formulations revealed a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory activity, antifibrotic action, antispasmodic activity, antioxidant activities, and neuroprotective action, as well as cardio- and cerebrovascular effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the published scientific literature are numerous reports regarding analytical methods that use various chromatographic and spectrophotometric technologies to monitor various types of components with different physicochemical properties simultaneously. This review discusses the reasonable selection of marker compounds based on high concentrations, analytical methods, and commercial availabilities with the goal of developing quick, accurate, and applicable analytical approaches for quality evaluation and establishing harmonised criteria for the analysis of A. sinensis and its finished products. Compounds isolated from A. sinensis are abundant sources of chemical diversity, from which we can discover active molecules. Thus, more studies on the pharmacological mechanisms of the predominant active compounds of A. sinensis are needed. In addition, given that A. sinensis is one of the most popular traditional herbal medicines, its main therapeutic aspects, toxicity, and adverse effects warrant further investigation in the future.

Chemometrics applied to quality control and metabolomics for traditional Chinese medicines

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) bring a great challenge in quality control and evaluating the efficacy because of their complexity of chemical composition. Chemometric techniques provide a good opportunity for mining more useful chemical information from TCMs. Then, the application of chemometrics in the field of TCMs is spontaneous and necessary. This review focuses on the recent various important chemometrics tools for chromatographic fingerprinting, including peak alignment information features, baseline correction and applications of chemometrics in metabolomics and modernization of TCMs, including authentication and evaluation of the quality of TCMs, evaluating the efficacy of TCMs and essence of TCM syndrome. In the conclusions, the general trends and some recommendations for improving chromatographic metabolomics data analysis are provided.

Metabolomics and its application to the evaluation of the efficacy and toxicity of traditional Chinese herb medicines

Traditional Chinese herb medicines (TCHMs) have been used in the treatment of a variety of diseases for thousands of years in Asian countries. The active components of TCHMs usually exert combined synergistic therapeutic effects on multiple targets, but with less potential therapeutic effect based on routine indices than Western drugs. These complex effects make the assessment of the efficacy of TCHMs and the clarification of their underlying mechanisms very challenging, and therefore hinder their wider application and acceptance. Metabolomics is a crucial part of systems biology. It allows the quantitative measurement of large numbers of the low-molecular endogenous metabolites involved in metabolic pathways, and thus reflects the fundamental metabolism status of the body. Recently, dozens of metabolomic studies have been devoted to prove the efficacy/safety, explore the underlying mechanisms, and identify the potential biomarkers to access the action targets of TCHMs, with fruitful results. This article presents an overview of these studies, focusing on the progress made in exploring the pharmacology and toxicology of various herbal medicines.