Metabonomics: a developing platform for better understanding Chinese herbal teas as a complementary therapy

Development of na HPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 from 'Shenmai' Injection in beagle dogs after single and multiple doses and application in pharmacokinetics

Shenmai Injection (SMI), which tonifies Qi and prevents exhaustion, nourishes Yin and generates body fluid, is usually used in the treatment of shock with deficiency of Qi and Yin, coronary artery disease, viral myocarditis, granulocytopenia and chronic pulmonary heart disease clinically. Ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 are the main active ingredients of SMI. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry methods for quantification of Rb1 and Rg1 in beagle dogs were developed and validated according to international regulatory guidelines. The methods were applied to measure the pharmacokinetics parameters of the two ginsenoside after intravenous administration. The linear ranges of the analytes were 3.9-1,000 ng/ml for Rg1 and Rb1. After injection of single and multiple doses of SMI (1 ml/kg), the plasma concentration-time profiles of Rg1 and Rb1 met the characteristics of one-compartment and typical two-compartment intravenous injection.

LC-MS based metabolic and metabonomic studies of Panax ginseng

INTRODUCTION

Panax ginseng has received much attention as a valuable health supplement with medicinal potential. Its chemical diversity and multiple pharmacological properties call for comprehensive methods to better understand the effects of ginseng and ginsenosides. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based metabonomic approaches just fit the purpose.

OBJECTIVE

Aims to give a review of recent progress on LC-MS based pharmacokinetic, metabolic, and phytochemical metabolomic studies of ginseng, and metabonomic studies of ginseng intervention effects.

METHODS

The review has four sections: the first section discusses metabolic studies of ginsenosides based on LC-MS, the second focuses on ginsenoside-drug interactions and pharmacokinetic interaction between herb compounds based on LC-MS, the third is phytochemical metabolomic studies of ginseng based on LC-MS, and the fourth deals with metabonomic studies of ginseng intervention effects based on LC-MS.

RESULTS

LC-MS based metabonomic research on ginseng include analysis of single ginsenoside and total ginsenosides. The theory of multi-components and multi-targeted mechanisms helps to explain ginseng effects.

CONCLUSION

LC-MS based metabonomics is a promising way to comprehensively assess ginseng. It is valuable for quality control and mechanism studies of ginseng.