Asari Radix et Rhizoma (ARR) is an important traditional Chinese medicine. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the main active constituents of ARR. Research on the metabolite profile of VOCs and the difference of absorbed constituents in vivo after an administration of ARR decoction and powder will be helpful to understand the pharmacological activity and safety of ARR. In this study, headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was applied to profile the VOCs from ARR in rats in vivo. A total of 153 VOCs were tentatively identified; 101 were original constituents of ARR (98 in the powder-treated group and 43 in the decoction-treated group) and 15 were metabolites, and their metabolic reactions were mainly oxidation and reduction, with only two cases of methylation and esterification, and 37 unclassified compounds were identified only in the ARR-treated group. Of the 153 VOCs identified, 131 were reported in rats after oral administration of ARR for the first time, containing 79 original constituents, 15 metabolites, and 37 unclassified compounds. In the powder-treated group, methyleugenol, safrole, 3,5-dimethoxytoluene (3,5-DMT), 2,3,5-trimethoxytoluene (2,3,5-TMT), and 3,4,5-trimethoxytoluene (3,4,5-TMT) were the main absorbed constituents, the relative contents of which were significantly higher compared to the decoction-treated group, especially methyleugenol, safrole, and 3,5-DMT. In the decoction-treated group, 3,4,5-TMT, 2,3,5-TMT, kakuol, and eugenol were the main constituents with a higher content and wider distribution. The results of this study provide a reference for evaluating the efficacy and safety of ARR.
Keywords: Asari Radix et Rhizoma; HS–SPME–GC–MS; distribution; metabolite profile; volatile compounds.