Chemical Characterization and Metabolic Profiling of the Compounds in the Chinese Herbal Formula Li Chang Decoction by UPLC-QTOF/MS

Baofu Lin; Shaoju Guo; Xinxin Hong; Xiaoyan Jiang; Haiwen Li; Jingwei Li; Linglong Guo; Mianli Li; Jianping Chen; Bin Huang; Yifei Xu

doi:10.1155/2022/1322751

Chemical Characterization and Metabolic Profiling of the Compounds in the Chinese Herbal Formula Li Chang Decoction by UPLC-QTOF/MS

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Apr 13:2022:1322751. doi: 10.1155/2022/1322751. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Baofu Lin¹, Shaoju Guo¹, Xinxin Hong¹, Xiaoyan Jiang¹, Haiwen Li¹, Jingwei Li¹, Linglong Guo¹, Mianli Li¹, Jianping Chen¹, Bin Huang¹, Yifei Xu¹

Affiliation

¹ Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen 518033, China.

Abstract

Background: Li Chang decoction (LCD), a Chinese medicine formula, is commonly used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) in clinics.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the major components in LCD and its prototype and metabolic components in rat biological samples.

Methods: The chemical constituents in LCD were identified by establishing a reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) method. Afterwards, the rats were orally administered with LCD, and the biological samples (plasma, urine, and feces) were collected for further analyzing the effective compounds in the treatment of UC.

Result: A total of 104 compounds were discriminated in LCD, including 26 flavonoids, 20 organic acids, 20 saponins, 8 amino acids, 5 oligosaccharides, 5 tannins, 3 lignans, 2 alkaloids, and 15 others (nucleosides, glycosides, esters, etc.). About 50 prototype and 94 metabolic components of LCD were identified in biological samples. In total, 29 prototype components and 22 metabolic types were detected in plasma. About 27 prototypes and 96 metabolites were discriminated in urine, and 34 prototypes and 18 metabolites were identified in feces.

Conclusion: The flavonoids, organic acids, and saponins were the major compounds of LCD, and this study promotes the further pharmacokinetic and pharmacological evaluation of LCD.