Brain Metabolomics Reveal the Antipyretic Effects of Jinxin Oral Liquid in Young Rats by Using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Pyrexia is considered as a part of host’s defense response to the invasion of microorganisms or inanimate matter recognized as pathogenic or alien, which frequently occurs in children. Jinxin oral liquid (JXOL) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been widely used to treat febrile children in China. Experimental fever was induced by injecting yeast into young male Sprague-Dawley rats (80 ± 20 g) and the rectal temperature subsequently changed. Four hours later, the excessive production of interleukin (IL)-1β and prostaglandin (PG) E2 induced by yeast was regulated to normal by JXOL administration. A rat brain metabolomics investigation of pyrexia of yeast and antipyretic effect of JXOL was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Clear separation was achieved between the model and normal group. Twenty-two significantly altered metabolites were found in pyretic rats as potential biomarkers of fever. Twelve metabolites, significantly adjusted by JXOL to help relieve pyrexia, were selected out as biomarkers of antipyretic mechanism of JXOL, which were involved in glycolysis, purine metabolism, tryptophan mechanism, etc. In conclusion, the brain metabolomics revealed potential biomarkers in the JXOL antipyretic process and the associated pathways, which may aid in advanced understanding of fever and therapeutic mechanism of JXOL.

Metabolomics Deciphers Potential Targets of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction Against Traumatic Brain Injury in Rat

“…Our recent reports of plasma metabolomics indicated that XFZYD exerts neuroprotective effects on the controlled cortical impact (CCI) rats model via multiple pathways (Feng et al, 2017;Fu et al, 2019). However, due to the blood-brain barrier, the metabolic alterations in the biofluid may not be in parallel with that in the injured brain (Qian et al, 2019). In this regard, the analysis of brain samples to provide direct information on metabolism is available (Chen et al, 2019).…”

Screening and Identification of Antipyretic Components in the Postfrost Leaves of Morus alba Based on Multivariable and Continuous-Index Spectrum-Effect Correlation

“…Tryptophan, as an important amino acid, has the function of nourishing nerve and reducing excitotoxicity. When the rats were injected with yeast, the levels of quinolic acid upregulated [18], and quinolic acid produced tryptophan degradation through the kynurenine pathway [19]. The tryptophan content of LMA was increased significantly after frost, which could supplement the degradation of tryptophan and correct the disorder state induced by fever in rats.…”

Metabolomics changes in brain-gut axis after unpredictable chronic mild stress

“…3-Phosphoglyceric acid is a precursor for serine, which is an endogenous ligand of NMDA-R. Serine concentration in mouse cerebellum is very low (Fernandes and Gupta 2019 ); however, no change in serine was found in the hippocampus of UCMS rats in this study. The feasibility of using the precursor 3-phosphoglyceric acid content in the hippocampus instead of its content for testing is unknown, but it is certain that L-serine can protect neuronal cells against oxidative stress–mediated apoptotic cell death by contributing to intracellular antioxidant GSH synthesis and maintaining the mitochondrial fusion-fission balance (Qian et al 2019 ). It can support human cognitive functions, including formation of short-term memory, consolidation of long-term memory, learning and recalling information, and development of language and communication skills.…”

“…Sample preparation for GC-MS analysis was revised according to previous reports (Qian et al 2019 ). Briefly, 20 mg of frozen hippocampus was homogenized in 500 μL of MeOH, and 20 μL of ice methanol containing 1,2- 13 C 2 -myristic acid was added to a final concentration of 10 μg/mL and vortexed for 5 min.…”