RESUMO
Objective To explore the overall change of chemical components of Bupleuri Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba herb pair before and after compatibility. Methods The change of chemical constituents of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba before and after compatibility were analyzed based on UPLC-MS background subtraction and metabonomics. Chemical constituents of eight batches in Bupleuri Radix, Paeoniae Radix Alba, and Bupleuri Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba were analyzed by UPLC-MS. Mass spectrometry data of the extracts of Paeoniae Radix Alba and Bupleuri Radix were respectively subtracted from mass spectrum data of the extracts of Bupleuri Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba herb pair by mass spectrometry background subtraction method, finally mass spectrum data of chemical constituents of Bupleuri Radix and Paeoniae Radix Alba after compatibility were obtained. The chemical components of Bupleuri Radix, Paeoniae Radix Alba before and after compatibility were analyzed by PCA and OPLS-DA separately. Results A total of 57 constituents of Bupleuri Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba herb pair, Bupleuri Radix, and Paeoniae Radix Alba were detected by UPLC-MS, and 32 of them were identified by the literature. Multivariate statistics showed that there were six ingredients which had significant changes in Bupleuri Radix before and after compatibility and three of them were identified. There were three components which were significantly changed in Paeoniae Radix Alba and two of them were identified. The saikosaponin a, 3’-O-acetylation of saikosaponin a, and 4’’-O-acetylation of saikosaponin A decreased after compatibility in Bupleuri Radix, and paeoniflorin, gallic acidpaeoniflorin or their isomers increased after compatibility in Paeoniae Radix Alba. Conclusion The overall differences of chemical composition in Bupleuri Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba before and after compatibility were compared, which laid the foundation for the explanation of its compatibility mechanism.