Identification of prototype compounds and their metabolites in rats’ serum from Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS
Xiaoyu Zhang, Zhenzuo Jiang, Lei Zhang, Xue Cheng, Xiafei Feng, Xin Chai, Yuefei Wang
Abstract
Objective: As a classic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine, Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) has been widely used in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In order to unveil the potentially effective compounds, a rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) method was established to identify prototype compounds and their metabolites from XFZYD in rats' serum. Methods: The serum from rats after intragastric administration of XFZYD aqueous extract was analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS method. The prototype compounds and their metabolites were identified by comparison with the reference standards and tentatively characterized by comprehensively analyzing the retention time, MS data, characteristic MS fragmentation pattern and retrieving literatures. Results: were also summarized, including glucuronidation, hydrolyzation, sulfation, demethylation, and hydroxylation, and so on. Conclusion: In this study, a UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technique was developed to analyze prototype compounds and their metabolites from XFZYD in serum, which would provide the evidence for further studying the effective compounds of XFZYD.