Exploring the neuroprotective effects of ginkgolides injection in a rodent model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by GC-MS based metabolomic profiling

Lactate protects neurons and astrocytes against ischemic injury by modulating Ca2+ homeostasis and inflammatory response

Lactate is now considered an additional fuel or signaling molecule in the brain. In this study, using an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model, we found that treatment with lactate inhibited the global increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]) in neurons and astrocytes, decreased the percentage of dying cells, and caused a metabolic shift in astrocytes and neurons toward aerobic oxidation of substrates. OGD resulted in proinflammatory changes and increased expression of cytokines and chemokines, whereas incubation with lactate reduced these changes. Pure astrocyte cultures were less sensitive than neuroglia cultures during OGD. Astrocytes exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) also showed pro-inflammatory changes that were reduced by incubation with lactate. Our study suggests that lactate may have neuroprotective effects under ischemic and inflammatory conditions.

Antiplatelet effect of ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine injection in acute ischemic stroke: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

This study was designed to evaluate antiplatelet effect and therapeutic effect of ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine injection (GDLI) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned 70 inpatients within 48 hr after the onset of AIS to combination therapy with GDLI and aspirin (GDLI at a dose of 25 mg/d for 14 days plus aspirin at a dose of 100 mg/d for 90 days) or to placebo plus aspirin in a ratio of 1:1. Platelet function, the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were evaluated. A good outcome was defined as NIHSS scores decrease ≥5 or mRS scores decrease ≥2. Results showed that arachidonic acid induced maximum platelet aggregation rate (AA-MAR) and mean platelet volume (MPV) of the GDLI-aspirin group were much lower than that of the aspirin group (p = 0.013 and p = 0.034, respectively) after the 14-day therapy. The combination of GDLI and aspirin was superior to aspirin alone, and had significant impact on the good outcome at day 90 (ORadj 7.21 [95%CI, 1.03-50.68], p = 0.047). In summary, GDLI has antiplatelet effect and can improve the prognosis of AIS patients.

Inhibition of the Glycolysis Prevents the Cerebral Infarction Progression Through Decreasing the Lactylation Levels of LCP1

Cerebral infarction (CI), also known as ischemic stroke, has a high incidence rate and mortality rate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential effect and mechanism of Lymphocyte cytosolic protein 1 (LCP1) in the CI progression. The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) treated rats and oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) stimulated PC12 cells were used to establish CI model in vivo and in vitro. The cell proliferation and apoptosis was determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Immunoprecipitation and western blot was performed to test the lactylation levels of LCP1. The cells were treated with cycloheximide to determined the protein stability of LCP1. The glucose uptake and lactate production was determined with commercial kits. The extracellular acidification rate were evaluated by Seahorse. The results showed that LCP1 was upregulated in the MCAO rats and OGD/R stimulated PC12 cells. LCP1 knockdown dramatically decreased the neurological score, infarct volume and the brain water content of MCAO rats. Besides, LCP1 knockdown promoted the cell viability while decreased the apoptosis rate of the OGD/R stimulated PC12 cells. Additionally, the global lactylation and lactylation levels of LCP1 was prominently enhanced in vivo and in vitro in cerebral infarction. 2-DG treatment prominently decreased it. In conclusion, inhibiting the glycolysis decreased the lactylation levels of LCP1 and resulted in the degradation of LCP1, which eventually relieved the CI progression.

Deciphering the Underlying Mechanisms of Formula Le-Cao-Shi Against Liver Injuries by Integrating Network Pharmacology, Metabonomics, and Experimental Validation

Le-Cao-Shi (LCS) has long been used as a folk traditional Chinese medicine formula against liver injuries, whereas its pharmacological mechanisms remain elusive. Our study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism of LCS in treating liver injuries via integrated network pharmacology, metabonomics, and experimental validation. By network pharmacology, 57 compounds were screened as candidate compounds based on ADME parameters from the LCS compound bank (213 compounds collected from the literature of three single herbs). According to online compound–target databases, the aforementioned candidate compounds were predicted to target 87 potential targets related to liver injuries. More than 15 pathways connected with these potential targets were considered vital pathways in collectively modulating liver injuries, which were found to be relevant to cancer, xenobiotic metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes, bile secretion, inflammation, and antioxidation. Metabonomics analysis by using the supernatant of the rat liver homogenate with UPLC-Q-TOF/MS demonstrated that 18 potential biomarkers could be regulated by LCS, which was closely related to linoleic acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways. Linoleic acid metabolism and glutathione metabolism pathways were two key common pathways in both network pharmacology and metabonomics analysis. In ELISA experiments with the CCl₄-induced rat liver injury model, LCS was found to significantly reduce the levels of inflammatory parameters, decrease liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and enhance the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes, which validated that LCS could inhibit liver injuries through anti-inflammatory property and by suppressing lipid peroxidation and improving the antioxidant defense system. Our work could provide new insights into the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of LCS against liver injuries, which is beneficial for its further investigation and modernization.

Ineffectiveness of Skin Tests in Predicting Allergic Reactions Induced by Chinese Herbal Injections

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether skin tests are suitable to predict the allergy reactions induced by Chinese herbal injections (CHIs).

METHODS

The skin tests including skin prick tests (SPT), intradermal tests (IDT) and provocation tests including subcutaneous tests and intravenous tests were administered to 249 healthy subjects and 180 allergic patients for 3 CHIs, including ginkgolide injection, diterpene ginkgolide meglumine injection and Salvianolate lyophilized injection. The results of the provocation tests were used as the "gold standard" to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the skin tests.

RESULTS

The results did not show any significant differences between the healthy and allergy groups in both skin tests and provocation tests (P>0.05). The specificities of SPT and IDT were 0.976 and 0.797, respectively, and the sensitivities of both SPT and IDT were 0.

CONCLUSION

Skin tests are insufficient to predict the likelihood of allergic reactions resulting from CHIs. (ChiCTR-CPC-15006921).

Metabolic Reprogramming: Strategy for Ischemic Stroke Treatment by Ischemic Preconditioning

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and permanent disability worldwide. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is an endogenous protective strategy, which has been reported to exhibit a significant neuroprotective effect in reducing the incidence of ischemic stroke. However, the underlying neuroprotective mechanisms of IPC remain elusive. An increased understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of stroke and IPC serves to highlight the importance of metabolic reprogramming. In this review, we summarize the metabolic disorder and metabolic plasticity in the incidence and progression of ischemic stroke. We also elaborate how IPC fully mobilizes the metabolic reprogramming to maintain brain metabolic homeostasis, especially for energy and redox homeostasis, and finally protects brain function in the event of an ischemic stroke.

Neuroprotective Phytochemicals in Experimental Ischemic Stroke: Mechanisms and Potential Clinical Applications

Ischemic stroke is a challenging disease with high mortality and disability rates, causing a great economic and social burden worldwide. During ischemic stroke, ionic imbalance and excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation are developed in a relatively certain order, which then activate the cell death pathways directly or indirectly via the promotion of organelle dysfunction. Neuroprotection, a therapy that is aimed at inhibiting this damaging cascade, is therefore an important therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke. Notably, phytochemicals showed great neuroprotective potential in preclinical research via various strategies including modulation of calcium levels and antiexcitotoxicity, antioxidation, anti-inflammation and BBB protection, mitochondrial protection and antiapoptosis, autophagy/mitophagy regulation, and regulation of neurotrophin release. In this review, we summarize the research works that report the neuroprotective activity of phytochemicals in the past 10 years and discuss the neuroprotective mechanisms and potential clinical applications of 148 phytochemicals that belong to the categories of flavonoids, stilbenoids, other phenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Among them, scutellarin, pinocembrin, puerarin, hydroxysafflor yellow A, salvianolic acids, rosmarinic acid, borneol, bilobalide, ginkgolides, ginsenoside Rd, and vinpocetine show great potential in clinical ischemic stroke treatment. This review will serve as a powerful reference for the screening of phytochemicals with potential clinical applications in ischemic stroke or the synthesis of new neuroprotective agents that take phytochemicals as leading compounds.

Chip-based serum proteomics approach to reveal the potential protein markers in the sub-acute stroke patients receiving the treatment of Ginkgo Diterpene Lactone Meglumine Injection

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ginkgo biloba L. is a kind of traditional Chinese medicinal material with a long history. Its main active ingredients, ginkgolides, can be used for the treatment of stroke and other cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Ginkgo Diterpene Lactone Meglumine Injection (GDLI), a modernized TCM, has attracted much attention because of its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To uncover the effects of GDLI on ischemic stroke patients, as well as the underlying biomarkers involved in sub-acute stroke.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used a state-of-the-art targeted proteomics chip to investigate the association between numerous serum proteins (1101 proteins) and the sub-acute phase post-ischemic stroke. Then, the relative proteins of anti-apoptosis, anticoagulant, and neuroprotection of GDLI were verified in animal models.

RESULTS

Compared with the serum from healthy volunteers, we identified 15 up-regulated proteins and 26 down-regulated proteins (FC ≥ 1.5) involved in inflammatory response, immune response, and nervous system development in the sub-acute ischemic stroke. The pro-inflammatory proteins, such as IL17, MSP-R, G-CSF-R, TLR3, MIP-3β, TNFRSF19, and TNFRSF12, were significantly increased in serum, illustrating that the chronic inflammatory state was evident in the sub-acute stage of ischemic stroke. However, the common pro-inflammatory proteins, such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10, known to be up-regulated in acute stroke, had close or lightly lower levels than healthy humans (FC ≥ 1.5, P > 0.05). And some cytokines (IL3, CCL13, TNFRSF3, IL10 R beta, HLA-A, IL-1 F8/FIL1 eta, TNFRSF8, CCL18) were also markedly down-regulated in the sub-acute phase of stroke. These proteins are highly associated with the onset of stroke-induced immunosuppression and post-stroke infection. Moreover, we noticed that Ginkgo Diterpene Lactone Meglumine Injection (GDLI) treatment for 14 days was helpful to the recovery of patients in the subacute period. After the treatment of GDLI, it was observed that several inflammatory cytokines (i.e. IL-17 and IL-28A), chemokine (i.e. CCL14), and Coagulation Factor III were reduced. Meanwhile, the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 R alpha, GREMLIN, and Activin C) and neurotrophic factors (Neurturin and IGFBP2) were found to be up-regulated in stroke patients through self-control observation. Finally, we identified the IGFBP2 as a novel marker in the animal models.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the potential markers in sub-acute stroke patients were highly different from known protein markers in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. The serum protein IGFBP2 could be novel biomarkers for the treatment of GDLI in sub-acute stroke patients. Our present findings provide an innovative insight into the novel treatment of GDLI in ischemic stroke therapy.

The effect of intravenous ginkgolide on clinical improvement of patients with acute ischemic stroke

Aims: To compare the efficacy of ginkgolide in the treatment of Chinese patients with ischemic stroke between pre-marketing and post-marketing studies.Methods: This is a re-analysis of a pre-marketing (phase II/III, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-controlled; February 2005 to September 2005) and post-marketing (phase IV, multicenter, open, single-arm registration; April 2013 to June 2014) studies. The intervention groups received intravenous ginkgolide (10 mL daily, 14 days). Primary outcome was an improvement of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores after 14 days.Results: In pre- and post-marketing studies, NIHSS and mRS scores all improved, compared to that of baseline (P < 0.001) in acute phase. Those factors significantly associated with △NIHSS after 14 days of therapy with ginkgolide were grouping (pre-marketing vs. post-marketing; OR 2.169, 95%CI = 1.462-3.216, P < 0.001), male (OR = 1.532, 95%CI = 1.152-2.037, P = 0.003), enrollment within 30 days after onset (OR = 1.915, 95%CI = 1.452-2.526, P < 0.001) and NIHSS score more than 8 points at baseline (OR = 15.140, 95%CI = 11.436-20.045, P < 0.001) after adjustment. Ginkgolide had a greater effect on patients in a relatively acute phase (time of onset to enrollment ≤30 days) and moderate-severe stroke (baseline NIHSS>8 points). Incidences of adverse reactions in the pre-marketing and post-marketing studies were 0.46% and 5.28%, respectively (P < 0.001).Conclusion: Intravenous ginkgolide may improve the outcome of acute ischemic stroke. Differences in effect between pre-marketing and post-marketing studies may be associated with gender, time of onset to enrollment and severity of stroke.

Investigating the Protective Effect of Gross Saponins of Tribulus terrestris Fruit against Ischemic Stroke in Rat Using Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability worldwide. Gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris fruit (GSTTF) has been used for neuroprotective therapy on convalescents of ischemic stroke. But the related therapeutic mechanisms have not yet been well investigated. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of GSTTF on ischemic stroke using metabolomics coupled with network pharmacology analysis. The rat urine sample was collected and profiled by an LC-MS-based metabolomics approach. The pathway analysis was performed based on the highlighted biomarkers, then the network pharmacology approach was applied to screen the potential therapeutic targets of GSTTF. Metabolomics analysis showed that a series of metabolic perturbations occurred in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group compared with the sham group. Gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris fruit can change the MCAO-induced urine metabolic deviations in a reverse manner via regulating multiple metabolic pathways. Two proteins, inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3B), were highlighted by the network pharmacology analysis, which may be the potential therapeutic targets for the GSTTF against ischemic stroke. This study provides an overview of the mechanism of MCAO-induced ischemic stroke and investigates the efficacy of GSTTF in the treatment of ischemic stroke. Further study is needed to reveal its underlying mechanisms more clearly.

Orally Administered Crocin Protects Against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Through the Metabolic Transformation of Crocetin by Gut Microbiota

Our pilot study suggested that orally administered crocin was hardly absorbed into circulatory system, but it was effective against cerebral ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The pharmacologically active component and targeting site of crocin remain elusive. In this study, the cerebral-protective effect of crocin was evaluated on a rat transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Our data showed that oral administration of crocin had better effectiveness in cerebral protection than an intravenous injection. Neither crocin nor its metabolite crocetin were determined in the brain of cerebral I/R rats, indicating a target site of periphery. Abundant crocetin was detected in plasma after oral administration instead of intravenous injection of crocin. Meanwhile, orally administered crocetin showed similar cerebral protection to that of crocin, but this exciting effect was not clearly observed by intravenous administration of crocetin, indicating the importance of crocetin in gut. Moreover, orally administered crocin showed less cerebral-protective effect in pseudo germ-free (pGF) MCAO rats. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that crocin could be deglycosylated to crocetin in gut content of normal rats, rather than that of pGF rats, indicating that gut microbiota facilitated the transformation of crocin into crocetin, which played a key role in the activation of the pharmacological effect. Metabolomic study revealed that microbial-host co-metabolic molecules were significantly perturbed after oral administration of crocin, indicating a regulation on intestinal ecosystem. It was further suggested that gut microbiota may be the potential target of the cerebral-protective effect of crocin.

GC-MS-Based Metabolomics to Reveal the Protective Effect of Gross Saponins of Tribulus terrestris Fruit against Ischemic Stroke in Rat

Stroke is one of the most common neurological disorders and seriously threatens human life. Gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris fruit (GSTTF) are used for neuroprotective treatment on convalescents of ischemic stroke. However, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms have not yet well understood, especially from the metabolic perspective. In this study, the protective effect of GSTTF on ischemic stroke in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model was investigated by the GC-MS-based metabolomics approach. 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining of brain tissues showed that GSTTF significantly reduced the infarct area after MCAO surgery. Metabolomic profiling showed a series of metabolic perturbation occurs in ischemic stroke compared with sham group. GSTTF can reverse the MCAO-induced serum metabolic deviations by regulating multiple metabolic pathways including fatty acids metabolism, amino acids metabolism, and carbohydrates metabolism. The current study provided a useful approach for understanding the mechanism of MCAO-induced ischemic stroke and a reliable basis for evaluating the efficacy of GSTTF in the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Structure-Based Gastro-Retentive and Controlled-Release Drug Delivery with Novel 3D Printing

In the present contribution, the aim is to explore and establish a way in which 3D printing and gastro-retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDSs) are combined (focusing on inner structure innovation) to achieve extended and stable gastro-retention and controlled-release of drug. Three digital models diverse in construction were designed and substantialized by a pressure-assisted microsyringe (PAM) 3D printer. Preparations were characterized by means of DSC, XRD, FTIR, and SEM. In vitro buoyancy study and in vivo gamma scintigraphy method were conducted to validate gastro-retention property of these innovative preparations in vitro/in vivo respectively. Release kinetic model was established and release mechanism was discussed. Tablets manufactured under certain range of parameters (intersecting angle, full filling gap) were tight and accurate in shape. Tablets printed with specific parameters (full filling gap, 50%; nozzle extrusion speed, 0.006 mm/s; layer height, 0.4 mm; compensation value, 0.25; quantity of layers, 15; outline printing value, 2) exhibited satisfactory in vitro (10-12 h)/in vivo (8-10 h) retention ability and possessed stable 10-12 h controlled-release quality. In general, 3D printing has tremendous advantage over conventional fabrication technique in intricate drug delivery systems and will be widely employed in pharmacy.

Metabolomic Profiling Reveals That Reprogramming of Cerebral Glucose Metabolism Is Involved in Ischemic Preconditioning-Induced Neuroprotection in a Rodent Model of Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic tolerance renders the brain resistant to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury as a result of the activation of endogenous adaptive responses triggered by various types of preconditioning. The complex underlying metabolic mechanisms responsible for the neuroprotection of cerebral ischemic preconditioning (IPC) remain elusive. Herein, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique was applied to delineate the dynamic changes of brain metabolome in a rodent model of ischemic stroke (transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, tMCAO), alone or after pretreatment with nonlethal ischemic tolerance induction (transient occlusion of the bilateral common carotid arteries, tBCCAO). Metabolomic analysis showed that accumulation of glucose (concentration increased more than 4 fold) and glycolytic intermediates is the prominent feature of brain I/R-induced metabolic disturbance. IPC attenuated brain I/R damage by subduing postischemic hyperglycolysis, increasing the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) flux and promoting the utilization of β-hydroxybutyrate. The expression analysis of pivotal genes and proteins involved in relevant metabolic pathways revealed that the downregulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-mediated glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase-3 (PFKFB3) and reduced mRNA levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) subunits were associated with IPC-induced metabolic flexibility, which allows the brain to be more capable of withstanding severe I/R insults. The present study provided mechanistic insights into the metabolic signature of IPC and indicated that adaptively modulating brain glucose metabolism could be an effective approach for the therapeutic intervention of ischemic stroke.

Ginkgo biloba extract and its diterpene ginkgolide constituents ameliorate the metabolic disturbances caused by recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in rat prefrontal cortex

INTRODUCTION

Although recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is a widely used therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke, rtPA-induced toxicity or its adverse effects have been reported in our previous studies. However, Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) may provide neuroprotective effects against rtPA-induced toxicity. Thus, in the present study, we investigated whether a single administration of rtPA caused neurotoxicity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of rats and determined whether GBE or its diterpene ginkgolide (DG) constituents were neuroprotective against any rtPA-induced toxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We randomly divided adult Sprague-Dawley rats into four groups that were intravenously administered saline, rtPA, rtPA+DG, or rtPA+GBE. The rats were sacrificed 24 hours later and the whole brain removed. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomic approach was used to detect molecular changes in the PFC among the groups. Multivariate statistical and pathway analyses were used to determine the relevant metabolites as well as their functions and pathways.

RESULTS

We found 32 metabolites differentially altered in the four groups that were primarily involved in neurotransmitter, amino acid, energy, lipid, and nucleotide metabolism. Our results indicated that a single rtPA administration caused metabolic disturbances in the PFC. Both GBE and DG effectively ameliorated these rtPA-induced disturbances, although DG better controlled the rtPA-induced glutamate and aspartate excitotoxicity and the activation of NMDA receptor.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide important novel mechanistic insights into the adverse effects of rtPA and offer directions for future exploration on the thrombolytic effects of rtPA combined with the administration of DG or GBE for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in humans.

Rapid characterization of chemical markers for discrimination of Moutan Cortex and its processed products by direct injection-based mass spectrometry profiling and metabolomic method

BACKGROUND

Processing of herbal medicines is a characteristic pharmaceutical technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which can reduce toxicity and side effect, improve the flavor and efficacy, and even change the pharmacological action entirely. It is significant and crucial to perform a method to find chemical markers for differentiating herbal medicines in different processed degrees.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to perform a rapid and reasonable method to discriminate Moutan Cortex and its processed products, and to reveal the characteristics of chemical components depend on chemical markers.

METHODS

Thirty batches of Moutan Cortex and its processed products, including 11 batches of Raw Moutan Cortex (RMC), 9 batches of Moutan Cortex Tostus (MCT) and 10 batches of Moutan Cortex Carbonisatus (MCC), were directly injected in electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF MS) for rapid analysis in positive and negative mode. Without chromatographic separation, each run was completed within 3 min. The raw MS data were automatically extracted by background deduction and molecular feature (MF) extraction algorithm. In negative mode, a total of 452 MFs were obtained and then pretreated by data filtration and differential analysis. After that, the filtered 85 MFs were treated by principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensions. Subsequently, a partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) model was constructed for differentiation and chemical markers detection of Moutan Cortex in different processed degrees. The positive mode data were treated as same as those in negative mode.

RESULTS

RMC, MCT and MCC were successfully classified. Moreover, 14 and 3 chemical markers from negative and positive mode respectively, were screened by the combination of their relative peak areas and the parameter variable importance in the projection (VIP) values in PLS-DA model. The content changes of these chemical markers were employed in order to illustrate chemical changes of Moutan Cortex after processed.

CONCLUSION

These results showed that the proposed method which combined non-targeted metabolomics analysis with multivariate statistics analysis is reasonable and effective. It could not only be applied to discriminate herbal medicines and their processing products, but also to reveal the characteristics of chemical components during processing.