Study on the Screening of Functional Substances and Optimization of Extraction Process of Qigui Jiangzhi Formula

OBJECTIVE To optimize the index components and the extraction process of Qigui Jiangzhi Formula by predicting its functional substances.

METHODS By comprehensively applying techniques such as ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS), network pharmacology, and literature review, the functional substances of Qigui Jiangzhi Formula were predicted, and indicator components were optimized. Using the transfer rate of indicator components and extract yield as evaluation indices, the weight coefficients were determined through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)-Entropy Weight Method (EWM) to calculate a comprehensive score. The extraction process parameters were optimized and validated using single-factor experiments combined with response surface methodology.

RESULTS A total of 75 chemical components were identified in Qigui Jiangzhi Formula, and 10 core components for the treatment of hyperlipidemia were screened out. Astragaloside Ⅳ and hesperidin were selected as index components. The optimized extraction process was determined as follows: soaking for 1 h, extracting 3 times, each time with 12 times the amount of water, and extracting for 1 h per cycle.

CONCLUSION The identified and screened components can be used as potential functional substances of Qigui Jiangzhi Formula. The optimized extraction process is stable and feasible, which lays a foundation for the subsequent process research and pharmacodynamic mechanism research of the prescription.