Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 May 23;272:113917. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113917. Epub 2021 Feb 17.
Qingxin Lianzi Yin Decoction (QXLZY), a Chinese classical formula, has been widely used in the treatment of various chronic kidney diseases over 1,000 years. However, the current studies on QXLZY were mostly focused on its clinical efficacy, lacking systematic material basis research on constituents.
This work aims to elucidate and quantify the chemical constituents, clarify the blood-absorbed components and excretion pathways, predict major bioactive constituents and discover potential therapeutic targets.
UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap HRMS was employed to clarify the chemical constituents and metabolites of QXLZY. The extraction of diagnostic ion and neutral loss fragment was aimed for searching specific type of constituents. The plasma, urine, bile and feces samples of rats after oral administration of QXLZY were systematically studied. UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS was employed to simultaneously detect different types of constitutes. Based on the analysis of ingredients in vivo, the bioactive constituents and potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN) was investigated by using network pharmacological analysis.
Totally, 220 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap HRMS. Among them, 59 compounds were confirmed by reference standards. Meanwhile, 21 representative components were simultaneously determined within 15 min by UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. 123 components (74 prototypes as well as 49 metabolites) were identified or tentatively characterized. By using network pharmacological analysis, baicalein, liquiritigenin, succinic acid, formononetin, wogonin might be the major effective constituents in QXLZY during the treatment of DN.
Flavonoids, saponins and organic acids were the major chemical ingredients of QXLZY. Flavonoids were the main components absorbed into blood, followed by organic acids. Phase II conjugation reaction was the major metabolic type. The pathways that QXLZY in the treatment of DN were probably related to glucose and lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammation.
清心莲子饮（QXLZY）是一种经典的中药方剂，已有 1000 多年的历史，广泛用于治疗各种慢性肾脏疾病。然而，目前对 QXLZY 的研究大多集中在其临床疗效上，缺乏对成分的系统物质基础研究。
本研究旨在阐明和量化其化学成分，阐明血吸收成分和排泄途径，预测主要生物活性成分，发现潜在的治疗靶点。
采用 UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap HRMS 阐明 QXLZY 的化学成分和代谢产物。旨在通过提取诊断离子和中性丢失片段来搜索特定类型的成分。系统研究了大鼠口服 QXLZY 后的血浆、尿液、胆汁和粪便样本。采用 UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS 同时检测不同类型的组成。基于体内成分分析，采用网络药理学分析方法研究治疗糖尿病肾病（DN）的生物活性成分和潜在治疗靶点。
采用 UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap HRMS 共鉴定或推测出 220 种化合物。其中，59 种化合物通过对照品得到确认。同时，采用 UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS 在 15 分钟内同时测定 21 种代表性成分。共鉴定或推测出 123 种成分（74 种原型及 49 种代谢产物）。通过网络药理学分析，黄芩素、甘草素、琥珀酸、芒柄花素、汉黄芩素可能是 QXLZY 治疗 DN 的主要有效成分。
黄酮类、皂苷类和有机酸类是 QXLZY 的主要化学成分。黄酮类是主要的入血成分，其次是有机酸类。Ⅱ相结合反应是主要的代谢类型。QXLZY 治疗 DN 的途径可能与葡萄糖和脂质代谢、氧化应激和炎症有关。
