Wuling Powder (WLP), as a quintessential traditional Chinese herb compound formulation, has been proven to have definite and remarkable efficacy in treating renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (R-IRI). However, its complex composition in vitro and metabolic distribution characteristics in the R-IRI rat model in vivo still lack systematic profiling, which severely limits its clinical application. Consequently, it is very imperative to elaborate the chemical ingredients of WLP and the distribution patterns of its related metabolites. The intention of this article was to characterize the chemical constituents of WLP in vitro and investigate its metabolic processes in vivo based on R-IRI rat model in order to screen for potential pharmacologically active components in vivo . This study employed Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) to summarize and identify the unknown composition of WLP, establishing their material basis in vitro . Then, twelve male rats weighing between 180-220 g were selected. Prototype compounds were screened from biological samples including rat plasma, urine, bile, and feces. Combining accurate molecular weight, mass error, and biotransformation information, systematic analysis and identification of metabolites derived from these prototype compounds were conducted. Finally, the distribution profiles of these metabolites were elucidated based on MS/MS fragment information in vivo . A total of 101 components were identified in vitro , while 32 parent compounds and 41 metabolites were detected in vivo . These include triterpenes, triterpenic acids, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, and other compound types. Among these, flavonoids, triterpenes, and phenols were the most extensively exposed and actively metabolized components in vivo . Flavonoids, triterpenes, and phenols are the primary active components of WLP. • Chemicalome profiling of Wuling Powder (WLP) was successful identified. • Metabolome profiling of WLP in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury rats was clarified. • Analytical ideas of WLP's chemicalome or metabolome profiling was successful built.
Li et al. (Fri,) studied this question.