GuaLou GuiZhi decoction inhibits LPS-induced microglial cell motility through the MAPK signaling pathway

Wheat Bran Polyphenols Ameliorate DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice by Suppressing MAPK/NF-κB Inflammasome Pathways and Regulating Intestinal Microbiota

Wheat bran (WB) is the primary by-product of wheat processing and contains a high concentration of bioactive substances such as polyphenols. This study analyzed the qualitative and quantitative components of polyphenols in wheat bran and their effects on ulcerative colitis (UC) using the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model in mice. The potential mechanism of wheat bran polyphenols (WBP) was also examined. Our findings indicate that the main polyphenol constituents of WBP were phenolic acids, including vanillic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and protocatechuic acid. Furthermore, WBP exerted remarkable protective effects against experimental colitis. This was achieved by reducing the severity of colitis and improving colon morphology. Additionally, WBP suppressed colonic inflammation via upregulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) in colon tissues. Mechanistically, WBP ameliorated DSS-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting activation of the MAPK/NF-κB pathway. In addition, microbiome analysis results suggested that WBP modulated the alteration of gut microbiota caused by DSS, with an enhancement in the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and adjustments in the number of Helicobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group at the genus level. To conclude, the findings showed that WBP has excellent prospects in reducing colonic inflammation in UC mice.

Gualou Guizhi Granule Suppresses LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response of Microglia and Protects against Microglia-Mediated Neurotoxicity in HT-22 via Akt/NF-κB Signaling Pathways

Neuroinflammation plays a crucial part in the commencement and advancement of ischemic stroke. Gualou Guizhi granule (GLGZG) is known to well exhibit neuroprotective effect, but it is not known whether GLGZG can regulate the inflammatory process at the cellular level in BV2 microglia cells and protect against microglia-mediated neurotoxicity in neurons. Herein, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of GLGZG on BV2 microglia cells and protection against microglia-mediated neurotoxicity in neurons. Methods. The cell model of neuroinflammation was constructed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to observe the effect of GLGZG in the presence or absence of GLGZG. The production of nitric oxide (NO), inflammatory mediators, was detected. Moreover, potential mechanisms associated with the anti-inflammatory effect, such as inhibition of microglial activation and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), were also investigated. In addition, to prove whether GLGZG protects against microglia-mediated neurotoxicity, neuronal HT-22 cells were cultured in the conditioned medium. And cell survivability and neuronal apoptosis of HT-22 were evaluated. Results. It was found that a main regulator of inflammation, NO, is suppressed by GLGZG in BV2 microglial cells. Moreover, GLGZG dose dependently decreased the mRNA and protein levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Additionally, GLGZG inhibited the expression and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in BV2 microglial cells. Also, GLGZG inhibited LPS-activated nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) in BV2 microglial cells at the intracellular level. GLGZG significantly affected Akt phosphorylation: phosphorylated forms of Akt increased. To check whether GLGZG protects against microglia-mediated neurotoxicity, neuronal HT-22 cells were incubated in the conditioned medium. GLGZG showed a neuroprotective effect by promoting cell survivability and suppressing neuronal apoptosis. Conclusions. GLGZG exerted its potential effects on suppressing inflammatory responses in LPS-induced BV2 cells by regulating NF-κB and Akt pathways. In addition, GLGZG could protect against microglia-mediated neurotoxicity in HT-22.

Sesamin protects against DSS-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of sesamin (SES) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis in mice.

METHODS

SES (50, 100, and 200 mg kg-1) were orally administered to C57BL/6 male mice after DSS instillation. The anti-inflammatory effect of SES on colonic damage was assessed by clinical, macroscopic, microscopic, and inflammatory signaling pathways.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

It could be found that bodyweight and colon length of mice treated with DSS was significantly decreased while that were increased by SES treatment. SES treatment reduced the DAI values and improved the histopathology of the colon in the DSS-treated mice. SES also reduced TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 production caused by DSS. We also measured the expression of the phosphorylation of p65, IκB, p38, ERK and JNK protein and found that SES can alleviate colon damage via the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. The findings of this study suggested that SES had anti-inflammatory effects on intestinal inflammation and can be used as a new therapeutic candidate for inflammatory bowel disease.

Role of the neurovascular unit in the process of cerebral ischemic injury

Cerebral ischemic injury exhibits both high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Traditional research of the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemic injury has focused on separate analyses of the involved cell types. In recent years, the neurovascular unit (NVU) mechanism of cerebral ischemic injury has been proposed in modern medicine. Hence, more effective strategies for the treatment of cerebral ischemic injury may be provided through comprehensive analysis of brain cells and the extracellular matrix. However, recent studies that have investigated the function of the NVU in cerebral ischemic injury have been insufficient. In addition, the metabolism and energy conversion of the NVU depend on interactions among multiple cell types, which make it difficult to identify the unique contribution of each cell type. Therefore, in the present review, we comprehensively summarize the regulatory effects and recovery mechanisms of four major cell types (i.e., astrocytes, microglia, brain-microvascular endothelial cells, and neurons) in the NVU under cerebral ischemic injury, as well as discuss the interactions among these cell types in the NVU. Furthermore, we discuss the common signaling pathways and signaling factors that mediate cerebral ischemic injury in the NVU, which may help to provide a theoretical basis for the comprehensive elucidation of cerebral ischemic injury.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Migratory Activities of Isoquinoline-1-Carboxamide Derivatives in LPS-Treated BV2 Microglial Cells via Inhibition of MAPKs/NF-κB Pathway

Eleven novel isoquinoline-1-carboxamides (HSR1101~1111) were synthesized and evaluated for their effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cell migration in BV2 microglial cells. Three compounds (HSR1101~1103) exhibited the most potent suppression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and nitric oxide (NO), without significant cytotoxicity. Among them, only N-(2-hydroxyphenyl) isoquinoline-1-carboxamide (HSR1101) was found to reverse LPS-suppressed anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, so it was selected for further characterization. HSR1101 attenuated LPS-induced expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Particularly, HSR1101 abated LPS-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB through inhibition of IκB phosphorylation. Furthermore, HSR1101 inhibited LPS-induced cell migration and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK. The specific MAPK inhibitors, U0126, SP600125, and SB203580, suppressed LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory mediators, cell migration, and NF-κB nuclear translocation, indicating that MAPKs may be the upstream kinase of NF-κB signaling. Collectively, these results demonstrate that HSR1101 is a potent and promising compound suppressing LPS-induced inflammation and cell migration in BV2 microglial cells, and that inhibition of the MAPKs/NF-κB pathway mediates its anti-inflammatory and anti-migratory effects. Based on our findings, HSR1101 may have beneficial impacts on various neurodegenerative disorders associated with neuroinflammation and microglial activation.

Inhibition of inflammatory mediators and cell migration by 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells via suppression of NF-κB and JNK pathway

Novel 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives with N-alkanoyl, N-benzoyl, or chlorobenzoyl substituents were designed and synthesized to inhibit nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) known to be involved in the regulation of many immune and inflammatory responses. These compounds have been previously reported to inhibit NF-κB transcriptional activity in Raw 267.4 macrophage cells and exhibit cytotoxicities to several human cancer cell lines (Jo et al., ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 7 (2016) 385-390). Accumulating evidence indicated that NF-κB is also involved in neuroinflammation implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the present study investigated effects of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives on LPS-stimulated inflammatory mediators and cell migration using BV2 microglial cells as a model. We found that seven compounds tested in this study inhibited LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nitric oxide in concentration-dependent manners. Among these compounds, ELC-D-2 exhibited the most potent inhibition without showing significant cytotoxicity. We also found that ELC-D-2 attenuated levels of LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. Moreover, ELC-D-2 inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-κB by suppressing inhibitor of kappa Bα phosphorylation. Furthermore, ELC-D-2 inhibited LPS-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), which was associated with suppression of inflammatory mediators and migration of LPS-treated BV2 cells. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that ELC-D-2 inhibits LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators and cell migration by suppressing NF-κB translocation and JNK phosphorylation in BV2 microglial cells. These results suggest that ELC-D-2 might have a beneficial impact on various brain disorders in which neuroinflammation involving microglial activation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Add-On Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Treatment for post-stroke spasticity (PSS) remains a major challenge in clinical practice. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is often administered to assist in routine care (RC) in the treatment of PSS, with increasing numbers of clinical research and preclinical studies suggesting that it has potential benefits. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the add-on effects and safety of CHM for PSS. Methods: Five English and four Chinese databases were searched from their respective inception to 28 February 2018. We included randomized controlled trials that evaluated the add-on effects of CHM for PSS, based on changes in the scores of the (Modified) Ashworth Scale (AS or MAS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Sensorimotor Recovery (FMA), and Barthel Index (BI). Results: Thirty-five trials involving 2,457 patients were included. For upper-limb AS or MAS, the estimated add-on effects of CHM to RC were significantly better when using oral (SMD -1.79, 95% CI: -3.00 to -0.57) or topical CHM (SMD -1.06, 95% CI: -1.40 to -0.72). For lower-limb AS or MAS, significant add-on benefits to RC were also detected (SMD -1.01, 95% CI: -1.43 to -0.59 and SMD -1.16, 95% CI: -1.83 to -0.49) using oral and topical CHM, respectively. For FMA and BI, better results were detected when adding CHM to RC, except for the subgroup of oral CHM for upper-limb FMA. Ten of the 35 included studies reported safety information, with two of them mentioning two mild adverse events. Conclusions: Noting the quality concerns of the included trials, this review suggests that CHM appears to be a well-tolerated therapy for patients with PSS, and the potential add-on effects of CHM in reducing spasticity and improving the daily activities of patients with PSS require further rigorous assessment.

Simultaneous Determination of 11 Compounds in Gualou Guizhi Granule and Pharmacokinetics Study by UPLC-MS/MS

A rapid and sensitive ultrafast performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of 11 compounds in Gualou Guizhi Granule (GLGZG), including liquiritin, isoliquiritin, liquirtin apioside, isoliquiritin apioside, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, and paeoniflorin sulfonate in rat plasma. UPLC-MS/MS assay with negative ion mode was performed on a Waters CORTECS C18 (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.6 μm) with the mobile phase consisting of 0.1% aqueous formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B) in gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.25 mL·min^-1. The method was linear for all analytes within the detection range (r ≥ 0.9597). The inter- and intraday precision (RSD) were 2.21-6.41% and 1.67-6.18%; the inter- and intraday accuracy (recover) were 92.48-114.03% and 90.23-112.04%. And the recovery rate ranged from 81.30% to 108.22%. The matrix effect values obtained for analytes ranged from 88.91% to 113.32%. This validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetics study in rats after oral administration of GLGZG.

Protective effect of TM6 on LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an acute failure of the respiratory system for which effective treatment is urgently necessary. Previous studies found that several peptides potently inhibited the production of cytokines induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, we synthetized a cell-permeable TIR domain-derived decoy peptide (TM6) and examined its substance for the ability to inhibit TLR signaling in the model of ALI induced by LPS. We demonstrated that TM6 (2.5, 5 and 10 nmol/g) alleviated the histological changes in the lung tissues as well as myeloperoxtidase (MPO) activity, lung W/D ratio, the production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 induced by LPS. Furthermore, the numbers of total cells, neutrophils and macrophages in the BALF were suppressed by TM6. In vitro, TM6 (5, 10 and 20 µM) inhibited the production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated alveolar macrophages. Moreover, the activation of Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and Mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathways induced by LPS were also inhibited by TM6. Collectively, our results suggested that TM6 was an effective inhibitor of ALI induced by LPS, and this peptide may very well serve as a future treatment for ALI.

Suppressive effects of Gua Lou Gui Zhi decoction on MCAO-induced NO and PGE2 production are dependent on the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways

The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects, and underlying mechanisms, of Gua Lou Gui Zhi decoction (GLGZD) in a rat model of neuroinflammation. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with GLGZD following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Neurological function and infarct volume were evaluated to confirm successful generation of the rat model. Subsequently, brain tissues and blood samples were collected for further analysis. Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were evaluated in peripheral blood samples using the Griess reagent assay and an ELISA, respectively. The relative expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cylooxygenase‑2 (COX‑2) were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. The associated pathways, including nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) and mitogen‑activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathways, were detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and western blotting. The results demonstrated that treatment with GLGZD significantly inhibited MCAO-induced inflammation; GLGZD suppressed the production of NO and PGE2, and the expression of iNOS and COX‑2, by inhibiting NF‑κB activation and MAPK phosphorylation. These findings suggest that GLGZD, a potential agent for post‑stroke treatment, may exert anti‑inflammatory effects, thus providing neuroprotection.

Geijigajakyak decoction inhibits the motility and tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer cells

Background

Recent studies report that inflammatory diseases of the large intestine are associated with colorectal cancer. Geijigajakyak Decoction (GJD) has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, in light of the connection between chronic bowel inflammation and colorectal cancer (CRC), we asked whether GJD inhibits colorectal tumorigenesis.

Methods

The effects of GJD on the viability and proliferation of CRC cells were evaluated using MTT and BrdU assays, respectively. The motility of CRC cells was examined by a Transwell migration/invasion assay and immunoblot analysis was used to examine the signaling pathways associated with migration. A syngeneic Balb/c mice allograft model, in which CT26 cells were injected into the dorsum, was used to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of GJD in vivo.

Results

GJD had no cytotoxic effects against HCT116 CRC cells, although it did inhibit their proliferation. GJD inhibited the migration of HCT116 cells, and suppressed the invasion of HCT116, Caco2, and CSC221 CRC cells. In addition, GJD downregulated the expression of p-JNK and p-p38 MAPK, which are downstream signaling molecules associated with invasiveness. Furthermore, oral administration of GJD (333 mg/kg, twice a day) inhibited tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model.

Conclusions

GJD inhibited the motility of human CRC cells and suppressed tumorigenesis in a mouse model. These results suggest that GJD warrants further study as a potential adjuvant anti-cancer therapy.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1281-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Obtaining Human Ischemic Stroke Gene Expression Biomarkers from Animal Models: A Cross-species Validation Study

Recent studies have revealed the systematic altering of gene expression in human peripheral blood during the early stages of ischemic stroke, which suggests a new potential approach for the rapid diagnosis or prediction of stroke onset. Nevertheless, due to the difficulties of collecting human samples during proper disease stages, related studies are rather restricted. Many studies have instead been performed on manipulated animal models for investigating the regulation patterns of biomarkers during different stroke stages. An important inquiry is how well the findings of animal models can be replicated in human cases. Here, a method is proposed based on PageRank scores of miRNA-mRNA interaction network to select ischemic stroke biomarkers derived from rat brain samples, and biomarkers are validated with two human peripheral blood gene expression datasets. Hierarchical clustering results revealed that the achieved biomarkers clearly separate the blood gene expression of stroke patients and healthy people. Literature searches and functional analyses further validated the biological significance of these biomarkers. Compared to the traditional methods, such as differential expression, the proposed approach is more stable and accurate in detecting cross-species biomarkers with biological relevance, thereby suggesting an efficient approach of re-using gene biomarkers obtained from animal-model studies for human diseases.

Blood-brain barrier permeability of Gualou Guizhi granules and neuroprotective effects in ischemia/reperfusion injury

The present study aimed to estimate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of Gualou Guizhi granules (GLGZG) in normal rats and in rat models of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, and to examine the neuroprotective effects of GLGZG. A sensitive high‑performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry analytical method was developed to determinate the components of GLGZG in the plasma and brain tissue. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats served as a model of in vivo I/R. Citrulline, gallic acid, albiflorin, peoniflorin, liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, isoliquiritin apioside, isoliquiritin, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin and glycyrrhizinic acid rapidly passed into the bloodstream. Citrulline, albiflorin, peoniflorin, liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin and glycyrrhizinic acid also passed the BBB and reached the brain tissue of MCAO rats, while isoliquiritigenin and glycyrrhizinic acid were not detected in the brain tissue of the normal rats. The potential neuroprotective effect of GLGZG was determined in MCAO rats. The intragastric administration of GLGZG following reperfusion of rats for 2 h decreased the neurological defects and infarction volume, attenuated pathological changes of brain tissue and exerted a significant protective effect in cerebral ischemia injury. In conclusion, certain components of GLGZG passed through the BBB, particularly following cerebral ischemia injury, and this may be therapeutically effective for the treatment of cerebral ischemia injury in the human brain.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Gualou Guizhi decoction in transient focal cerebral ischemic brains. [Corrected]

The aim of the present study was to explore the neuroprotective effects of Gualou Guizhi decoction (GLGZD) in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: Sham (no MCAO), MCAO (MCAO with no GLGZD treatment) and GLGZD (MCAO with GLGZD treatment). Rats in the MCAO and GLGZD groups were subjected to permanent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery. Neurological function and infarct volume were measured. Microglial activation and inflammatory cell accumulation were measured using immunohistochemistry. mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory mediators were examined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of proteins associated with the nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB) inflammation signaling pathway was analyzed using western blotting. The results of the present study suggested that infarct size was significantly reduced and neurological behavior function was improved in rats with MCAO treated with GLGZD compared with rats in the MCAO group. Amoeboid microglial expansion and inflammatory cell migration were observed in the infarcted areas of rats in the GLGZD group and were not identified in those of the MCAO group. Target mRNA and protein levels, and inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly reduced in the GLGZD group compared with the MCAO model group. Notably, GLGZD treatment induced neuroprotective effects, reducing inflammation and inhibiting NF-κB signaling compared with the MCAO group. Therefore, GLGZD may exhibit anti-inflammatory effects against ischemia-reperfusion brain injury and may be a therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.

Time-dependent variation of pathways and networks in a 24-hour window after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

Background

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury may simultaneously result in functional variation of multiple genes/pathways. However, most prior time-sequence studies on its pathomechanism only focused on a single gene or pathway. Our study aimed to systematically analyze the time-dependent variation in the expression of multiple pathways and networks within 24 h after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Results

By uploading 374 ischemia-related genes into the MetaCore software, the variation in the expression of multiple pathways and networks in 3 h, 12 h, and 24 h after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury had been analyzed. The conserved TNFR1-signaling pathway, among the top 10 pathways, was consistently enriched in 3 h, 12 h, and 24 h groups. Three overlapping pathways were found between 3 h and 12 h groups; 2 between 12 h and 24 h groups; and 1 between 3 h and 24 h groups. Five, 4, and 6 non-overlapping pathways were observed in 3 h, 12 h, and 24 h groups, respectively. Apart from pathways reported by earlier studies, we identified a novel pathway related to the time-dependent development of cerebral ischemia pathogenesis. The process of apoptosis stimulation by external signals, among the top 10 processes, was consistently enriched in 3 h, 12 h, and 24 h groups; 2, 1, and 2 processes overlapped between 3 h and 12 h groups, 12 h and 24 h groups, and 3 h and 24 h groups, respectively. Four, 5, and 5 non-overlapping processes were found in 3 h, 12 h and 24 h groups, respectively. The presence of apoptotic processes was observed in all the 3 groups; while anti-apoptotic processes only existed in 3 h and 12 h groups. Additionally, according to node degree, network comparison identified 1, 8,and 5 important genes or proteins (e.g. Pyk2, PKC, E2F1, and VEGF-A) in 3 h, 12 h, and 24 h groups, respectively. The Jaccard similarity index revealed a higher level of similarity between 12 h and 24 h groups than that between 3 h and 12 h groups.

Conclusion

Time-dependent treatment can be utilized to reduce apoptosis, which may activate anti-apoptotic pathways within 12 h after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Pathway and network analyses may help identify novel pathways and genes implicated in disease pathogenesis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12918-015-0152-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Chemical profiling and quantification of Gua-Lou-Gui-Zhi decoction by high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and ultra-performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Gua-Lou-Gui-Zhi decoction (GLGZD) is a classical formula of traditional Chinese medicine, which has been commonly used to treat dysfunction after stroke, epilepsy and spinal cord injury. In this study, a systematic method was established for chemical profiling and quantification analysis of the major constituents in GLGZD. For qualitative analysis, a method of high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS) was developed. 106 compounds, including monoterpene glycosides, galloyl glucoses, phenolic acids, flavonoids, gingerols and triterpene saponins were identified or tentatively presumed by comparison with reference standards or literature data. According to the qualitative results, a new quantitative analysis method of ultra-performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQ-MS) was established. 24 representative compounds were simultaneously detected in 10 batches of GLGZD samples in 7.5 min. The calibration curves for all analytes showed good linearity (r>0.9959) within the test ranges. The LODs and the LOQs were less than 30.6 and 70.9 ng/mL, respectively. The RSDs of intra- and inter-day precision, repeatability and stability were below 3.64%, 4.85%, 4.84% and 3.87%, respectively. The overall recoveries ranged from 94.94% to 103.66%, with the RSDs within 5.12%. This study established a high sensitive and efficient method for the integrating quality control, including identification and quantification of Chinese medicinal preparation.