ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the serum pharmacochemistry of Gualou Guizhi Decoction (GLGZD) as well as the material basis through analyzing the constituents absorbed in blood. Methods: A high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS) method was developed for the analysis on absorbed components in serum after ig administration of GLGZD to rats. The separation was achieved on a C18 column by gradient elution with acetonitrile-aqueous solution (containing 0.1% formic acid) as mobile phase. The ion acquisition was performed by full scan MS and MS/MS in negative ion mode.The serum after ig administration of GLGZD to rats, blank serum of rats, and GLGZD extracts sample were analyzed by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Results: Forty-two prototype compounds including monoterpene glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic acids, gingerols, triterpenoid saponins, galloylglucoses, and others were confirmed and identified in serum by comparing the retention time and mass spectrometry fragmentation characteristics with reference standards or literatures. Conclusion: The analysis of absorbed components of GLGZD in serum after administration by serum pharmacochemistry method would provide an experimental basis for revealing the real neuroprotective constituents of GLGZD in treating dysfunction after stroke.