ABSTRACT
Qi-Yu-San-Long decoction(QYSLD)is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been clinically used in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)for more than 20 years.However,to date,metabolic-related studies on QYSLD have not been performed.In this study,a post-targeted screening strategy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight full infor-mation tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-QTOF-MSE)was developed to identify QYSLD-related xeno-biotics in rat urine.The chemical compound database of QYSLD constituents was established from previous research,and metabolites related to these compounds were predicted in combination with their possible metabolic pathways.The metabolites were identified by extracted ion chromatograms using predicted m/z values as well as retention time,excimer ions,and fragmentation behavior.Overall,85 QYSLD-related xenobiotics(20 prototype compounds and 65 metabolites)were characterized from rat urine.The main metabolic reactions and elimination features of QYSLD included oxidation,reduction,decarboxylation,hydrolysis,demethylation,glucuronidation,sulfation,methylation,deglycosylation,acetylation,and associated combination reactions.Of the identified molecules,14 prototype compounds and 58 metabolites were slowly eliminated,thus accumulating in vivo over an extended period,while five prototypes and two metabolites were present in vivo for a short duration.Furthermore,one pro-totype and five metabolites underwent the process of"appearing-disappearing-reappearing"in vivo.Overall,the metabolic profile and characteristics of QYSLD in rat urine were determined,which is useful in elucidating the active components of the decoction in vivo,thus providing the basis for studying its mechanism of action.
ABSTRACT
Based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF MS/MS),a post targeted screening strategy using high resolution mass spectrometry under data independent acquisition was established,and successfully applied to screen and identify unknown toxicants in food poisoning patients' vomit and feces.After solvent extraction,the samples were separated and analyzed on a reversed-phase C18column using a gradient elution program of 5 mmol/L ammonium formate and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution(A) and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile solution (B).All-ions MS/MS information of samples was obtained using Q-TOF MS(ESI+) in MSE mode,followed by peak recognition and library searching using the UNIFI Scientific Information System,as a result,suspected toxic compound α-solanine was primarily detected.Furthermore,the related chemicals including hydrolysates and metabolites were identified in both samples based on post-targeted screening strategy,such as α-chaconine,β-chaconine,γ-solanine/chaconine and solanidine.The concentration of α-solanine in both samples was approximately 0.1 mg/kg by one-point calibration method,the total amount of solanine analogues in two samples was about 0.5 mg/kg and 0.6 mg/kg respectively through normalization of peak area.The high resolution mass spectrometry screening strategy established here could provide efficient screening method for rapid detection and identification of toxicants in unknown food poisoning.