ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the changes of energy metabolism before and after ginger-processing of Coptidis Rhizoma, and elucidate the relationship between the changes of medicinal properties and the energy metabolism. Methods: Crude Coptidis Rhizoma and ginger-processed Coptidis Rhizoma decoctions were prepared and administered to rats once a day for 7 d by gavage. Blood and liver were used to detect the content and activity of key enzymes in three pathways of energy metabolism. The composition analysis analyzed the detection results and screened out the key enzymes for the main changes in energy metabolism before and after processing. Results: Compared with the control group, the activities of HK, PFK, PK and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, II, III and IV in crude Coptidis Rhizoma group were decreased significantly, and the content of CS, ICD and α-KGDH was decreased significantly.The activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes II, III and IV and the activities of PFK and PK in the ginger-processed Coptidis Rhizoma group were significantly decreased. HK and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I was decreased to some extent, but there was no significant difference. The content of α-KGDH was decreased significantly, and the content of CS and ICD was decreased in a certain degree. Compared with the crude Coptidis Rhizoma group, the activities of HK, PFK, PK and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, II, and III in the ginger-processed Coptidis Rhizoma group were increased significantly, and the content of CS, ICD and α-KGDH was increased significantly. There was no significant change in the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV. Two principal components were extracted by principal component analysis. Among them, complex II and complex III had the maximum contribution rate of principal component 2 and principal component 1 of 0.916 and 0.873, respectively. Conclusion: The weakening of cold in nature of Coptis chinensis after ginger-processed treatment may be due to the inhibition of the inhibitory effect of C. chinensis on mitochondria respiratory chain complex II and complex III in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway.