Chuanxiong Rhizoma (CR), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine originated from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., was effective for treating various vascular diseases. To identify the metabolites of CR in vivo, the drug-containing urine samples of WZS-miniature pigs after orally administrated CR decoction were collected, after sequential column chromatography 17 metabolites (M1-M17) were isolated from the methanol extract of the urine samples. Their structures, including nine phthalides (M1-M9) and eight phenolic acids (M10-M17), were identified by spectroscopic means. Among them, 8 were new ones (M1-M6, M11-M12). On the basis of the structures of identified metabolites, seven original constituents, including 2 phthalides (senkyunolideI/H) and 5 phenolic acids (ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, caffeic acid, 3-hydroxycinnamoyl acid and 4-hydroxybenzonic acid) were deduced to be the major absorbed original constituents of CR in vivo. This is the first study on the metabolites of CR decoction in non-rodent animal (WZS-miniature pig), the results will give an insight into the metabolism profiles of phthalides and phenolic acids in CR decoction in vivo.
Keywords: Ligusticum chuanxiong; Metabolites in vivo; Phenolic acids; Phthalides; WZS-miniature pig.
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