Identification of the absorbed constituents and metabolites of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction (HGWWD) is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation for the treatment of ischemic stroke and diabetes peripheral neuropathy. However, the material basis for the efficacy of HGWWD remains unclear. In this study, a rapid, sensitive and selective ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) method was developed to separate and identify the absorbed components and metabolites of HGWWD in rat plasma after oral administration for the first time. By comparing the retention time, high-resolution mass spectrometry primary and secondary mass spectrometry data of blank plasma and drug-containing plasma, a total of 42 constituents, including 24 prototype compounds and 18 metabolites, were identified or tentatively characterized. The results indicated that monoterpenes, flavonoids, organic acids, amino acids, gingerols and alkaloids were main prototype compounds in rat plasma, and flavonoid-related metabolites, organic acid-related metabolites and gingerol-related metabolites were major metabolites. It is concluded the developed UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS method with high sensitivity and resolution is suitable for identifying and characterizing the absorbed components and metabolites of HGWWD, and the results will provide important data for further study on the relationship between the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of HGWWD.