Safety of high-dose Puerariae Lobatae Radix in adolescent rats based on metabolomics

Determination of Isoflavones in Radix puerariae from Different Origins by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Based on Optimal Pretreatment Method

A new method for simultaneous determination of puerarin, daidzin, daidzein and genistein in Radix puerariae by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography was established. The target analytes were extracted from Radix puerariae by 70% ethylene glycol with the assistance of ultrasonication, purified by the absorption of N-propyl ethylenediamine (PSA), and separated on a Supersil ODS column (4.6 mm × 250 mm × 2.5 μm). Gradient elution in 12 min was performed with the mobile phase 0.1% formic acid(A)-acetonitrile(B). The column temperature was 25 °C and the flow rate was 1 mL/min. The detection wavelength of the four target analytes was 250 nm. The limits of detection (LODs) of puerarin, daidzin, daidzein and genistein were 0.086 mg/L, 0.020 mg/L, 0.027 mg/L and 0.037 mg/L, respectively, and limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 0.29 mg/L, 0.065 mg/L, 0.090 mg/L and 0.12 mg/L, respectively. The recovery of the four substances ranged from 90.5% to 109.6%, and the relative standard deviation (n = 6) was less than 7.7%. With the established methods, puerarin, daidzin, daidzein and genistein in Radix puerariae from 11 origins were determined. The contents of the four compounds varied with the origin and variety. It provides basic data and technical means for quality control and regulation of Radix puerariae.

Puerariae lobatae Radix Alleviates Pre-Eclampsia by Remodeling Gut Microbiota and Protecting the Gut and Placental Barriers

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a serious pregnancy complication, and gut dysbiosis is an important cause of it. Puerariae lobatae Radix (PLR) is a medicine and food homologous species; however, its effect on PE is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of PLR in alleviating PE and its mechanisms. We used an NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced PE mouse model to examine the efficacy of preventive and therapeutic PLR supplementation. The results showed that both PLR interventions alleviated hypertension and proteinuria, increased fetal and placental weights, and elevated the levels of VEGF and PlGF. Moreover, PLR protected the placenta from oxidative stress via activating the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway and mitigated placental damage by increasing intestinal barrier markers (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1) expression and reducing lipopolysaccharide leakage. Notably, preventive PLR administration corrected gut dysbiosis in PE mice, as evidenced by the increased abundance and positive interactions of beneficial bacteria including Bifidobacterium, Blautia, and Turicibacter. Fecal microbiota transplantation confirmed that the gut microbiota partially mediated the beneficial effects of PLR on PE. Our findings revealed that modulating the gut microbiota is an effective strategy for the treatment of PE and highlighted that PLR might be used as an intestinal nutrient supplement in PE patients.

Metabolomics study of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels on the abnormal uterine bleeding rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis

The objective of this study was to explore the effects and underlying intervention mechanisms of Angelica water extract (AWE) on abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) based on serum metabolomics. Firstly, the concentration of main active substances in AWE was determined and the chemical components were identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS/MS. A drug-induced abortion model was established by mifepristone and misoprostol. After administration AWE (2.16 g/kg) for 7 days, the coagulation function, serum hormone levels, H&E staining, and immunohistochemistry observation of uterus were detected. In addition, serum metabolites profiles were performed on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The contents of ferulic acid, senkyunolide A, and ligustilide in AWE were 0.7276, 0.0868, and 1.9908 mg/g, respectively. Twenty-six compounds were identified in AWE. It was found that AWE was effective in regulation of coagulation function and promoting endometrial recovery. Meanwhile, the levels of E2, Pg, and HCG and the expression of ERα, Erβ, and PR were down-regulated in AUB model and up-regulated by the treatment of AWE. Twenty-one potential biomarkers were eventually identified by multivariate statistical analysis. Study indicated that glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, amino acids, retinol metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis were the main related metabolic pathways involved for the treatment of AUB by AWE. The results showed that AWE has potential therapeutic effect on AUB by altering the metabolic aberrations.

The effect of curculigo orchioides (Xianmao) on kidney energy metabolism and the related mechanism in rats based on metabolomics

The Chinese materia medica Xianmao (XM) is widely used in Chinese clinics and the traditional Chinese medicine diets. Although XM is often used to study its kidney-yang effect, the research on its effect on kidney energy metabolism and its mechanism is still relatively lacking. In this study, rats were given different doses of XM water extract for 4 weeks. Biochemical method was used to detect the content of serum biochemical indexes of liver and kidney function and blood lipid indicators, and HE staining method was used to observe the histopathological of liver and kidney in rats. The kidney Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase, SDH (succinate dehydrogenase) enzyme activity, and the content of ATP in rats were measured. Metabolomics technology was used to analyze the potential biomarkers related to the effects of XM on kidney energy metabolism, and then, the metabolic pathways were analyzed. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Ampk, Sirt1, Ppar-α, and Pgc-1α mRNA in kidney of rats. The results showed, compared with the blank control group, there was no significant effect on liver and kidney function in XMH, XMM, and XML groups. These significantly increased the kidney Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase, SDH enzyme activity, and ATP content in XMH, XMM, and XML groups. Mitochondrial metabolic rate was inhibited in XMH group, but it was significantly increased in XMM and XML groups. The number of mitochondria was increased in XMH, XMM, and XML groups. Overall, these effects may be mediated by TCA cycle metabolism, butanoate metabolism, propanoate metabolism, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, retinol metabolism, purine metabolism, pentose phosphate metabolism, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis, and degradation metabolism pathways, as well as by increasing expression of upstream genes Ampk, Sirt1, Ppar-α, and Pgc-1α mRNA.