Rapid analysis of components in Qizhiweitong tablets and plasma after oral administration in rats by UPLC–Q‐TOF–MS/MS based on a self‐developed database

Abstract

Qizhiweitong is a famous traditional Chinese prescription medicine. It has been used to treat various stomach disorders, such as functional dyspepsia, chronic gastritis and intestinal stress syndrome, for a long time and gives favorable therapeutic effects in clinical settings. However, its chemical composition and possible bioactive components are not completely known. In the present study, we used ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) and qualitatively analyzed the chemical composition of Qizhiweitong tablet extract and the absorbed prototype constituents along with corresponding metabolites in rat plasma following oral administration of Qizhiweitong tablet on the basis of our self-developed component database that was established accurately and rapidly. We detected a total of 119 compounds and 61 xenobiotics in the Qizhiweitong tablet, which included 32 prototypes and 28 metabolites. The results of the present study laid a solid foundation for quality marker screening and an integrative pharmacology-based study on the Qizhiweitong tablet. K E Y W O R D S absorption profiles in vivo, chemical profiles in vitro, Qizhiweitong tablet, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS 1 | INTRODUCTION Qizhiweitong tablet (QZWTT) is a popular traditional Chinese medicine. It contains six herbal medicines, namely Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), Cyperi Rhizoma (Xiangfu), Aurantii Fructus (Zhiqiao), Corydalis Rhizoma (Yanhusuo), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao) and Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma (Gancao). The prescription for QZWTT is obtained from the classic prescription Sinisan in the treatise on Febrile Diseases written by the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing. QZWTT is prepared by

Simultaneous Analysis of Thirteen Compounds in Yeokwisan Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Photodiode Array Detection and Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Their Antioxidant Effects

“…The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https:// www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/ph17060727/s1, Figure S1: Chemical structures of the 13 reference standard compounds selected as marker compounds for the quality control of YWS; Figure S2 4), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (5), liquiritin apioside (6), vanillin (7), liquiritin (8), ferulic acid (9), narirutin (10), naringin (11), isoliquiritin (12), ononin (13), neoponcirin (14), liquiritigenin (15), poncirin (16), baicalin (17), wogonoside (18), baicalein (19), isoliquiritigenin (20), wogonin (21), glycyrrhizin (22), and γ-oryzanol (23); 5), ononin (6), baicalin (7), poncirin (8), wogonoside (9), baicalein (10), isoliquiritigenin (11), glycyrrhizin (12), and wogonin (13); Figure S4: Comparison of HPLC-PDA chromatograms according to the column temperatures of the 13 selected marker compounds: 35 • C (A), 40 • C (B), 45 • C (C), and 50 • C (D). Liquiritin apioside (1), liquiritin (2), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (3), narirutin (4), naringin (5), ononin (6), baicalin (7), poncirin (8), wogonoside (9), baicalein (10), isoliquiritigenin (11), glycyrrhizin (12), and wogonin (13); Figure S5: Comparison of HPLC-PDA chromatograms according to the type of acid for the 13 selected marker compounds: 0.1% (v/v)…”

“…Many studies have reported on ways to improve FD symptoms or develop treatments using traditional herbal medicines [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ] or herbal medicine prescriptions [ 6 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Recently, Hwang et al reported the effectiveness of YWS in improving gastric emptying through modulation of the ghrelin pathway in loperamide-induced FD using a mouse model [ 5 ].…”