Prediction and analysis of Q-markers between crude and vinegar Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus based on multivariate statistical analysis and network pharmacology / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the potential Q-markers between crude Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus (SCF) and vinegar-processed Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus (VSCF) based on multivariate statistical analysis and network pharmacology. Methods: UPLC-Q/TOF-MS was used to analyze the main lignans in SCF and VSCF, and the potential differences of chemical components (Q-markers) between SCF and VSCF were screened out by using multiple statistical methods. Furthermore, through network pharmacology and bioinformatics, the main action targets and pathways related to significantly different components were analyzed to construct the “component-target-pathway” network relationship and predict the potential quality markers between SCF and VSCF. Results: In this study, 40 different constituents of Schisandra chinensis between SCF and VSCF were screened, among which eight chemical markers had significant differences between SCF and VSCF. Five chemical constituents were identified and confirmed, namely 5-HMF, deoxyschizandrin and its isomer, schisandrin B, and schisantherin D. The other three chemical markers were speculated to be lignans by analyzing the first-and second-order mass spectrometry information. The results of network pharmacological analysis showed that the five potential quality markers identified were highly related to the main pharmacological effects of SCF. Finally, schisandrin B and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural were identified as the most representative potential quality markers. Conclusion: The results showed that the chemical composition of SCF had a series of complex changes. It was determined that schisandrin B and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural could be used as representative potential quality markers between SCF and VSCF. It is speculated that lignans may be the basis of the important effect of VSCF on liver protection.