To investigate the metabolism of quercitrin in rat intestinal flora and possible biological pathways, laying the foundation for the metabolic mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine glycosides ingredients. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method was established to detect the quercitrin and its metabolites with 0.1% formic acid solution(A)-0.1% formic acid acetonitrile(B) as the mobile phase for gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL•min⁻¹. Electrospray negative ion mode was applied to analyze the metabolites of quercitrin in rat intestinal flora. Metabolite ToolsTM, mass defect filter(MDF) and other technologies were used to screen, analyze the metabolites and infer the chemical formula of the metabolites. The results showed that quercitrin would have degalactoside, deoxygenation and acetylation reactions, and the aglycone quercetin resulted from degalactoside would have further reactions such as hydroxylation, deoxygenation, reduction, and ring opening to achieve deoxygenation metabolite kaempferol, C2-C3 double bonds hydrogenation and reduction product taxifolin, and degalactoside product quercetin. The research results showed that quercitrin can be metabolized by rat intestinal flora, which could increase their hydrophobicity and chemical diversity.
Keywords: UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS; intestinal flora; metabolism; quercitrin.
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