This study analyzed the quality markers(Q-markers) of Yuquan Capsules(YQC) based on serum pharmacochemistry of Chinese medicine and detected the components and metabolites of YQC absorbed into the blood by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and UNIFI systems. As a result, 32 components of YQC were detected, including 17 prototype components and 15 metabolized components. Among them, 12 prototype components(ginsenoside Rh_2, genistein, formononetin, puerarin, daidzein, schizandrin A, schizandrin B, schizandrin C, schizandrol A, schizandrol B, gomisin D, and ononin) and 12 metabolized components(ginsenoside Rg_1, ginsenoside Rg_2, ginsenoside Rg_3, ginsenoside Ro, 3'-methoxypuerarin, daidzin, astragaloside Ⅱ, astragaloside Ⅳ, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritin, and verbascoside) showed inhibitory effects and pharmacological activities against diabetes, and these 24 blood-entering components against diabetes were identified as Q-markers of YQC.
Keywords: UPLC-Q-TOF-MS; Yuquan Capsules; quality markers(Q-markers); serum pharmacochemistry of Chinese medicine.