Metabolic fate analysis of Huang–Lian–Jie–Du Decoction in rat urine and feces by LC–IT-MS combining with LC–FT-ICR-MS: a feasible strategy for the metabolism study of Chinese medical formula

Huanglian Jiedu Wan intervened with "Shi-Re Shanghuo" syndrome through regulating immune balance mediated by biomarker succinate

With increasing stress in daily life and work, subhealth conditions induced by "Shi-Re Shanghuo" syndrome was gradually universal. "Huanglian Jiedu Wan" (HLJDW) was the first new syndrome Chinese medicine approved for the treatment of "Shi-Re Shanghuo" with promising clinical efficacy. Preliminary small-sample clinical studies have identified some notable biomarkers (succinate, 4-hydroxynonenal, etc.). However, the correlation and underlying mechanism between these biomarkers of HLJDW intervention on "Shi-Re Shanghuo" syndrome remained ambiguous. Therefore, this study was designed as a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trial, employing integrated analysis techniques such as non-targeted and targeted metabolomics, salivary microbiota, proteomics, parallel peaction monitoring, molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The results of the correlation analysis indicated that HLJDW could mediate the balance between inflammation and immunity through succinate produced via host and microbial source to intervene "Shi-Re Shanghuo" syndrome. Further through the HIF1α/MMP9 pathway, succinate regulated downstream arachidonic acid metabolism, particularly the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal. Finally, an animal model of recurrent oral ulcers induced by "Shi-Re Shang Huo" was established and HLJDW was used for intervention, key essential indicators (succinate, glutamine, 4-hydroxynonenal, arachidonic acid metabolism) essential in the potential pathway HIF1α/MMP9 discovered in clinical practice were validated. The results were found to be consistent with our clinical findings. Taken together, succinate was observed as an important signal that triggered immune responses, which might serve as a key regulatory metabolic switch or marker of "Shi-Re Shanghuo" syndrome treated with HLJDW.

Combination of UHPLC-Q Exactive-Orbitrap MS, Bioinformatics and Molecular Docking to Reveal the Mechanism of Huan-Lian-Jie-Du Decoction in the Treatment of Diabetic Encephalopathy

Diabetic encephalopathy (DE) is a serious complication of diabetes, which affects patients' quality of life. We aimed to explore HLJDD in the treatment of DE by LC/MS and bioinformatics. UPLC-Q Exactive-Orbitrap MS was employed to clarify the compounds. The modules and hub targets of DE were gained from WGCNA. Subsequently, an Herb-Compound-Target network was constructed and enrichment analysis was used. In addition, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and molecular docking was used to verify the above analysis. As result, 138 compounds and 10 prototypes in brain were identified. In network pharmacology, 8 modules and 5692 hub targets were obtained from WGCNA. An Herb-Compound-Target network was constructed by 4 herbs, 10 compounds and 56 targets. The enrichment analysis showed that the treatment of DE with HLJDD involve oxidative stress and neuroprotection. Beside, SRC, JUN, STAT3, MAPK1 and PIK3R1 were identified and as hub targets of HLJDD in treating DE. Moreover, Molecular docking showed that five hub targets had strong affinity with the corresponding alkaloids. Therefore, we explored the underlying mechanisms of HLJDD in the treatment of DE and to provide the theoretical and scientific basis for subsequent experimental studies and clinical applications.

Ancient Chinese Herbal Recipe Huanglian Jie Du Decoction for Ischemic Stroke: An Overview of Current Evidence

Ischemic stroke is a major cause of mortality and neurological morbidity worldwide. The underlying pathophysiology of ischemic stroke is highly complicated and correlates with various pathological processes, including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress injury, altered cell apoptosis and autophagy, excitotoxicity, and acidosis. The current treatment for ischemic stroke is limited to thrombolytic therapy such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. However, tissue plasminogen activator is limited by a very narrow therapeutic time window (<4.5 hours), selective efficacy, and hemorrhagic complication. Hence, the development of novel therapies to prevent ischemic damage to the brain is urgent. Chinese herbal medicine has a long history in treating stroke and its sequela. In the past decades, extensive studies have focused on the neuroprotective effects of Huanglian Jie Du decoction (HLJDD), an ancient and classical Chinese herbal formula that can treat a wide spectrum of disorders including ischemic stroke. In this review, the current evidence of HLJDD and its bioactive components for ischemic stroke is comprehensively reviewed, and their potential application directions in ischemic stroke management are discussed.

Rapid Profiling of Metabolites Combined with Network Pharmacology to Explore the Potential Mechanism of Sanguisorba officinalis L. against Thrombocytopenia

Sanguisorba officinalis L. (SO), a well-known herbal medicine, has been proven to show effect against thrombocytopenia. However, metabolites of SO in vivo are still unclear, and the underlying mechanism of SO against thrombocytopenia from the aspect of metabolites have not been well elucidated. In this study, an improved analytical method combined with UHPLC-QTOF MS and a molecular network was developed for the rapid characterization of metabolites in vivo based on fragmentation patterns. Then, network pharmacology (NP) was used to elucidate the potential mechanism of SO against thrombocytopenia. As a result, a total of 1678 exogenous metabolites were detected in urine, feces, plasma, and bone marrow, in which 104 metabolites were tentatively characterized. These characterized metabolites that originated from plasma, urine, and feces were then imported to the NP analysis. The results showed that the metabolites from plasma, urine, and feces could be responsible for the pharmacological activity against thrombocytopenia by regulating the PI3K-Akt, MAPK, JAK-STAT, VEGF, chemokine, actin cytoskeleton, HIF-1, and pluripotency of stem cells. This study provides a rapid method for metabolite characterization and a new perspective of underlying mechanism study from the aspect of active metabolites in vivo.

Deciphering the chemical constituents of Shengjiang Xiexin decoction by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry and the impact of 20 characteristic components on multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 in the vesicular transport assay

Shengjiang Xiexin decoction, a traditional Chinese medical formula, has been utilized to alleviate the delayed-onset diarrhea induced by irinotecan. However, the chemical constituents of this formula and the activities of its constituents remain unclear. In this study, an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed to comprehensively analyze the chemical constituents of Shengjiang Xiexin decoction. A total of 270 components including flavonoids, coumarins, triterpenoids, alkaloids, diarylheptanoids and others were identified or characterized. The multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 is an efflux transporter responsible for regulating drug absorption. A total of 20 characteristic components from the formula were selected to evaluate their effects on the function of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 using the vesicular transport assay. Glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid were identified as potential multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 inhibitors, while 9 flavonoid aglycones increased the uptake of the substrate [³ H]-estradiol 17-β-glucuronide in the vesicles. This was the first systematical investigation on the chemical constituents from Shengjiang Xiexin decoction and the effect of its characteristic components on the transporter. The results offered a basis for further exploring the detoxification mechanisms of this formula and its interactions with other drugs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

UHPLC With On-Line Coupled Biochemical Detection for High Throughput Screening of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors in Coptidis Rhizoma and Cortex Phellodendri

We developed a new on-line method of ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with biochemical detection (UHPLC-BCD) to screen acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors in complex matrixes. Chromatography separation was performed using an Xtimate UHPLC C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) and a gradient elution with methanol-0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.08 mL/min. The BCD was based on a colorimetric method using Ellman's reagent, and the detection wavelength was at 405 nm. Galanthamine was used as a positive reference to validate the methodology. The detection and quantitation limits of the UHPLC-BCD method were 0.018 and 0.060 μg, respectively. A functional equation was generated in terms of the negative peak area (X) and galanthamine concentration (Y, μg/mL). The regression equation was Y = 0.0028X2 + 0.4574X + 50.7776, R2 = 0.9993. UHPLC-fourier-transform mass spectrometry detection results revealed that five alkaloids showed obvious AChE inhibitory activities including coptisin, epiberberine, jatrorrhizine, berberine and palmatine. The relative AChE inhibitory activities of jatrorrhizine, berberine and palmatine in the Coptidis Rhizoma sample were equal to that of 257.0, 2355 and 283.9 μg/mL of galanthamine, respectively. This work demonstrated that the UHPLC-BCD method was convenient and feasible, and could be widely used for the screening and activity evaluation of the bioactive components in the complex extracts.

Promoting Human Nutrition and Health through Plant Metabolomics: Current Status and Challenges

Simple Summary

This review summarizes the status, applications, and challenges of plant metabolomics in the context of crop breeding, food quality and safety, and human nutrition and health. It also highlights the importance of plant metabolomics in elucidating biochemical and genetic bases of traits associated with nutritive and healthy beneficial foods and other plant products to secure food supply, to ensure food quality, to protect humans from malnutrition and other diseases. Meanwhile, this review calls for comprehensive collaborations to accelerate relevant researches and applications in the context of human nutrition and health.

Abstract

Plant metabolomics plays important roles in both basic and applied studies regarding all aspects of plant development and stress responses. With the improvement of living standards, people need high quality and safe food supplies. Thus, understanding the pathways involved in the biosynthesis of nutritionally and healthily associated metabolites in plants and the responses to plant-derived biohazards in humans is of equal importance to meet people’s needs. For each, metabolomics has a vital role to play, which is discussed in detail in this review. In addition, the core elements of plant metabolomics are highlighted, researches on metabolomics-based crop improvement for nutrition and safety are summarized, metabolomics studies on plant natural products including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for health promotion are briefly presented. Challenges are discussed and future perspectives of metabolomics as one of the most important tools to promote human nutrition and health are proposed.

Rapid characterization of the chemical constituents of Duzhong Jiangya tablet by HPLC coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Duzhong Jiangya tablet is a hypotensive drug. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography-Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry technology was used to quickly identify its chemical composition. SinoChrom ODS-BP column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) was used. The mobile phase was acetonitrile(A)-0.1% formic acid solution(B). The flow rate was 1 mL/min. Extracted ion chromatogram was used to analyze the samples in positive and negative ion modes. Based on the accurate mass spectrometry information (such as quasi-molecular ions and fragment ions) obtained from the instrument, combined with reference compounds and literature, the chemical composition of Duzhong Jiangya Tablets was identified. A total of 131 compounds were identified, including four types of penylpropanoids, six types of phenylethanoid glycosides, 10 types of organic acids, 14 types of iridoids, 12 types of lignans, 18 types of alkaloids, seven types of coumarins, and 60 kinds of flavonoids. This established method can quickly and efficiently identify chemical constituents in Duzhong Jiangya tablet, lay a foundation for the research on the efficacy and quality of this traditional Chinese medicine, and provide a reference for the characterization of the chemical constituents of other traditional Chinese medicine preparations.

Metabolic profile of alkaloids in Rhizoma Coptidis in rat plasma, urine and feces after oral administration using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Rhizoma Coptidis (RC) has been used to treat diabetes, pertussis, bacillary dysentery, sore throat, eczema, and aphtha for thousands of years. Alkaloids are the major components in RC, and its curative effect is achieved by oral administration. However, information on its composition in vivo is weak.

METHODS

In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/QTOF-MS) was used to analyze the major active components and their metabolites in rat plasma, urine and feces after oral administration of RC extract.

RESULTS

A total of 96 compounds including 8 prototype compounds and 88 metabolites were identified, and hydroxylation, reduction, demethylenation, demethylation, dehydrogenation, sulfation, glucuronidation and methylation were the major metabolic pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

This study analyzed metabolic processes of the major active components in RC in vivo, which provided important information for its active composition and in vivo mechanism research. Meanwhile, metabolic profile studies on representative compounds provided valuable reference materials to elucidate the full-scale metabolites of RC.

Effects of Huang-Lian-Jie-Du Decoction on Oxidative Stress and AMPK-SIRT1 Pathway in Alzheimer's Disease Rat

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du Decoction (HLJDD), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is proven to have ameliorative effects on learning and memory deficits of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The current study aims to reveal the underlying mechanism of HLJDD in the treatment of AD by simultaneous determination on the regulation of HLJDD on oxidative stress, neurotransmitters, and AMPK-SIRT1 pathway in AD. AD model rat was successfully established by injection of D-galactose and Aβ_25-35-ibotenic acid. Morris Water Maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate the success of AD modelling. On this basis, an advanced technique with UPLC-QqQ MS/MS was built up and applied to determine the levels of 8 neurotransmitters in rat plasma. Significant alternation in methionine, glutamine, and tryptophan was observed in AD rats' plasma after the administration of HLJDD, relative to the model group. Meanwhile, HLJDD could upregulate the levels of SOD, GSH-Px, AMPK, and SIRT1 and downregulate the content of MDA in the peripheral system of the AD rats. The underlying therapeutic mechanism of HLJDD for the treatment of AD was associated with alleviating oxidation stress, inflammation, neurotransmitters, and energy metabolism. These data provide solid foundation for the potential use of HLJDD to treat AD.

Huang-Lian Jie-Du decoction: a review on phytochemical, pharmacological and pharmacokinetic investigations

Huang-Lian Jie-Du decoction (HLJDD), a famous traditional Chinese prescription constituted by Rhizoma Coptidis, Radix Scutellariae, Cortex Phellodendri and Fructus Gradeniae, has notable characteristics of dissipating heat and detoxification, interfering with tumors, hepatic diseases, metabolic disorders, inflammatory or allergic processes, cerebral diseases and microbial infections. Based on the wide clinical applications, accumulating investigations about HLJDD focused on several aspects: (1) chemical analysis to explore the underlying substrates responsible for the therapeutic effects; (2) further determination of pharmacological actions and the possible mechanisms of the whole prescription and of those representative ingredients to provide scientific evidence for traditional clinical applications and to demonstrate the intriguing molecular targets for specific pathological processes; (3) pharmacokinetic feature studies of single or all components of HLJDD to reveal the chemical basis and synergistic actions contributing to the pharmacological and clinically therapeutic effects. In this review, we summarized the main achievements of phytochemical, pharmacological and pharmacokinetic profiles of HLJDD and its herbal or pharmacologically active chemicals, as well as our understanding which further reveals the significance of HLJDD clinically.

Use of UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS with combination of in silico approach for distributions and metabolites profile of flavonoids after oral administration of Niuhuang Shangqing tablets in rats

Niuhuang Shangqing tablet (NHSQT), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine preparation, has been used as an over- the- counter drug for the treatment of headache, dizziness in China. The flavonoids are the main active components in NHSQT, however, there have no reports about their distribution and metabolic fate in vivo after oral administration of NHSQTs so far. An novel UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS method combined with in silico approach was applied to identify the flavonoids and metabolites profiling in biological samples following oral administration NHSQTs for the first time. As a result, 127 compounds including 34 original compounds of flavonoids and 93 metabolites were identified. There were 20 flavones, 9 flavonols, 4 flavanones and 1 flavan-3, 4-diol found in biological samples. Rutin, wogonoside, apigenin, baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A, quercetin and acacetin were considered as the potential flavonoids in NHSQT against brain diseases. The docking-based metabolism models were established and applied to propose the sites of hydroxylation of flavonoids, which indicated baicalin was engaged in dihydroxylation at C2', C3', tilianin was engaged in hydroxylation at C3, wogonin and wogonside were engaged in dihydroxylation at C3', C4'. Some novel metabolic pathways were discovered for oroxylin A, acacetin, diosmetin, tilianin. The metabolic spots and pathways of flavonoids vary as much between flavones, flavonols and flavanones. The results presented here would be helpful for the further study of pharmacokinetics and quality control of NHSQT.

Metabolic profile of Rhizoma coptidis in human plasma determined using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Rhizoma coptidis extract and its alkaloids show various pharmacological activities, but its metabolic profile in human plasma has not been thoroughly investigated. In the present research, the metabolism of Rhizoma coptidis at a clinical dose (5 g/60 kg/day) was systematically analyzed to determine its biotransformation processes in human plasma.

METHODS

In this research, the metabolites of Rhizoma coptidis in human plasma after oral administration of Rhizoma coptidis extract at a clinical dose were investigated using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with high-resolution LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The structural elucidation of the constituents was confirmed by comparing their retention times (t_R ) and MSⁿ fragments with those of standards and literature reports.

RESULTS

In total, two prototypes and twelve metabolites were detected in human plasma. The two prototypes were confidently identified using reference standards. Of the compounds detected, M7 (berberrubinen-9-O-glucuronide) was the most abundant based on its peak area, which indicates that this compound might be a pharmacokinetic marker for Rhizoma coptidis alkaloids in humans. Based on the metabolites detected in human plasma, a possible metabolic pathway for Rhizoma coptidis in vivo was proposed.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that the alkaloids in Rhizoma coptidis were extensively biotransformed in vivo mainly via conjugation with glucuronic acid (GluA) or sulfuric acid (SulA) to form phase II metabolites, and the GluA metabolites are likely the dominant form in human plasma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in vivo evaluation of the metabolic profile of the whole Rhizoma coptidis extract in human plasma, which is essential for determining the chemicals responsible for the pharmacological activities of Rhizoma coptidis in vivo. Moreover, it would be beneficial for us to further systematically study the pharmacokinetic behavior of Rhizoma coptidis in humans.

Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Analysis on Inflammation Rat Model after Oral Administration of Huang Lian Jie Du Decoction

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du Decoction (HLJDD) is a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula with heat-dissipating and detoxifying effects. It is used to treat inflammation-associated diseases. However, no systematic pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) data concerning the activity of HLJDD under inflammatory conditions is available to date. In the present study, the concentration-time profiles and the hepatic clearance rates (HCR) of 41 major components in rat plasma in response to the oral administration of a clinical dose of HLJDD were investigated by LC-QqQ-MS using a dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (DMRM) method. Additionally, the levels of 7 cytokines (CKs) in the plasma and the body temperature of rats were analyzed. Furthermore, a PK-PD model was established to describe the time course of the hemodynamic and anti-inflammatory effects of HLJDD. As one of the three major active constituents in HLJDD, iridoids were absorbed and eliminated more easily and quickly than alkaloids and flavonoids. Compared with the normal controls, the flavonoids, alkaloids and iridoids in inflamed rats exhibited consistently changing trends of PK behaviors, such as higher bioavailability, slower elimination, delays in reaching the maximum concentration (T_max) and longer substantivity. The HCR of iridoids was different from that of alkaloids and flavonoids in inflamed rats. Furthermore, excellent pharmacodynamic effects of HLJDD were observed in inflamed rats. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, IL-10, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and body temperature significantly decreased after the administration of HLJDD. Based on PK-PD modeling with the three-phase synchronous characterization of time-concentration-effect, flavonoids exhibited one mechanism of action in the anti-inflammatory process, while iridoids and alkaloids showed another mechanism of action. Taken together, the results demonstrated that HLJDD may restrain inflammation synergistically via its major constituents (alkaloids, flavonoids and iridoids). A correlation between the exposure concentration of different types of compounds and their anti-inflammatory effects in the body was shown. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the anti-inflammatory activity of HLJDD.

An Integrated Approach for Studying Exposure, Metabolism, and Disposition of Multiple Component Herbal Medicines Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Multiple Data Processing Tools

A typical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) contains up to a few hundred prototype components. Studying their absorption, metabolism, distribution, and elimination (ADME) presents great challenges. The objective of this study was to develop a practical approach for investigating ADME of individual prototypes in TCM. An active fraction of Xiao-Xu-Ming decoction (AF-XXMD) as a model TCM prescription was orally administered to rats. AF-XXMD-related components in plasma, urine, bile, and feces were detected using high-resolution mass spectrometry and background subtraction, an untargeted data-mining tool. Components were then structurally characterized on the basis of MS(n) spectral data. Connection of detected AF-XXMD metabolites to their precursor species, either prototypes or upstream metabolites, were determined on the basis of mass spectral similarity and the matching of biotransformation reactions. As a result, 247 AF-XXMD-related components were detected and structurally characterized in rats, 134 of which were metabolites. Among 198 AF-XXMD prototypes dosed, 65 were fully or partially absorbed and 13 prototypes and 34 metabolites were found in the circulation. Glucuronidation, isomerization, and deglycosylation followed by biliary and urinary excretions and direct elimination of prototypes via kidney and liver were the major clearance pathways of AF-XXMD prototypes. As an example, the ADME profile of H56, the single major AF-XXMD component in rat plasma, was elucidated on the basis of profiles of H56-related components in plasma and excreta. The results demonstrate that the new analytical approach is a useful tool for rapid and comprehensive detection and characterization of TCM components in biologic matrix in a TCM ADME study.

UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS combined with serum pharmacochemistry for bioactive compounds discovery of Zhi-Zi-Da-Huang-decoction against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

In this study, a comprehensive strategy based on UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS and serum pharmacochemistry was developed to reveal the bioactive constituents of Zhi-Zi-Da-Huang decoction against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats after oral administration.

Development of a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method based on high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry to analyze in vivo exposure profiles of complex herbal components independent of standards

Exposure profiles of herbal componentsin vivoplay pivotal roles in pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic evaluation. The proposed MRM method has enabled profile exposure components, time and relative levels accurately.

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du decoction treated sepsis via regulating ERK and SRC/STAT3 pathways and ameliorating metabolic status

LPS disturbed the metabolomic profiles and activated the ERK and SRC/STAT3 signaling pathways of mice, and HLJDD exerted therapeutic effects on sepsis induced by LPS.