Multicomponent qualitative and quantitative analysis of Farfarae Flos in serum using UHPLC-Q TOF-MS

J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2024 Jun 1:1240:124145. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2024.124145. Epub 2024 May 4.

Abstract

Farfarae Flos is a traditional herb widely employed for treating coughs, bronchitis, and asthmatic disorders. In the current study, we utilized SWATH and IDA data acquisition modes in combination with multiple data processing techniques to identify Farfarae Flos metabolites in mice serum. A total of 56 compounds were characterized, including 31 phenolic acids, 13 flavonoids, 11 sesquiterpenoids and 1 alkaloid. Further quantitative analysis was conducted on 12 absorbed metabolites, utilizing a newly developed and rigorously validated analytical method. Our approach demonstrated an acceptable level of specificity, accuracy, precision, and stability. When applied to compare the serum of mice treated with FF, all 12 metabolites showed the highest concentration at 0.5 h. Overall, this study presented a novel strategy for unraveling the active compounds of FF via serum pharmacochemistry analysis, which made a foundation for exploring the pharmacodynamic material basis of FF.

Keywords: Farfarae Flos; IDA mode; SWATH mode; Serum pharmacochemistry analysis.

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / blood
  • Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Alkaloids / pharmacokinetics
  • Animals
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / chemistry
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / pharmacokinetics
  • Flavonoids / blood
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / pharmacokinetics
  • Flowers / chemistry
  • Hydroxybenzoates / blood
  • Hydroxybenzoates / chemistry
  • Limit of Detection
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Mice
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Flavonoids
  • Hydroxybenzoates
  • Alkaloids