No abstract

In Chinese medicine, the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing stasis could be enhanced after Chuanxiong Rhizoma is processed by wine. However, the relevant mechanism remains unclear. In this manuscript, a rapid and sensitive quantification method employing ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was established and validated to simultaneously determine butylidenephthalide, ligustilide, senkyunolide A and ferulic acid in rat plasma after oral administration of raw Chuanxiong Rhizoma (RCR) and wine-processed Chuanxiong Rhizoma (WCR) respectively. All analytes were extracted from plasma by proteins precipitation with methanol. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Hypersil GOLD C18 column by using a gradient mobile phase system of acetonitrile and water with 0.01% formic acid, the flow rate was 0.3 mL/min. For exact mass detecting, quick switching mode was used, positive and negative ions could be detected in one injection. The pharmacokinetic profiles of four components in the two groups were evaluated and compared. The results showed that, compared to the RCR group, the Vd and AUC0→t values of four active compounds were increased and decreased respectively in WCR group, which revealed the effect of wine processing to Chuanxiong Rhizoma: the stronger the effect, the wider the distribution.

Graphical AbstractThe processing technology of C. officinalis was optimized in terms of its anti-fibrotic activity. Differences in its chemical composition after the preparation were detected by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. These results provide material basis for further exploring the role of C. officinalis in liver and kidney protection.

According to the ancient documents and Chinese herbal medicine processing experience, Chuanxiong Rhizoma was usually processed with yellow rice wine to improve efficacy. However, the relevant mechanisms are still unclear so far. In this study, a validated ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was used to compare the pharmacokinetics of four representative components in middle cerebral artery occlusion rats after oral administration of raw and wine-processed Chuanxiong Rhizoma. The neurobehavioral scores and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining were employed to evaluate the model. Biological samples were prepared by protein precipitation with methanol. All analytes were separated on an ACQUITY BEH C18 column through gradient elution using acetonitrile and 0.01% of formic acid as mobile phase, and the flow rate was 0.3 mL/min. The results showed that the maximum plasma concentrations, the area values under the concentration-time curves of senkyunolide A, and ferulic acid in wine-processed Chuanxiong Rhizoma were all higher than in raw Chuanxiong Rhizoma, which were completely opposite to our previous studies in normal rats. Compared with normal rats, the theory that wine processing could enhance the efficacy of Chuanxiong Rhizoma may be better reflected in model rats.