Analysis of Chemical Constituents and Blood-Absorbed Ingredients of Heihuang Chizhu Granules by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS

OBJECTIVE To analyze the chemical constituents of Heihuang Chizhu Granules and the blood composition of rats after administration by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

METHODS A Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column (3×100 mm, 1.8 μm) was eluted with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid as mobile phase, and the data were collected in electrospray ion source positive and negative ion mode and then identified with the reference retention time, precise molecular weight, secondary fragment ions, and references to relevant literature.

RESULTS A total of 104 chemical components were identified from Heihuang Chizhu Granules, including 26 flavonoids, 24 organic acids, 14 triterpenoids, 8 terpenoids, 7 phenylpropanoids, 11 monoglycosides, and 14 other components (phenols, alkaloids, etc.). On this basis, 39 blood-entering components were identified in the plasma of rats administered via gavage, including 28 prototypes and 11 metabolites.

CONCLUSION The chemical constituents of Heihuang Chizhu Granules and the components entering the blood of rats are analyzed and identified for the first time in this study, and the results provide a scientific basis for the basic research of Heihuang Chizhu Granules and the establishment of process quality control standards.