Identification of chemical constituents of Qingjin Yiqi granules and comparative study on pharmacokinetics of 23 main bioactive components in normal and Lung-Qi deficiency rats by UPLC-MS/MS method

• Published in: Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences, 2023-07, Vol.1226, p.123802-123802, Article 123802
• Main Authors: Li, Guotong, Wang, Xinrui, Luo, Lifei, Zhang, Han, Song, Xinbo, Zhang, Jingze, Liu, Dailin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal models; baicalin; Chemical composition; chemical species; cold; comparative study; COVID-19 infection; ginsenosides; glycyrrhizin; heat; hesperidin; hospitals; liquid chromatography; Lung-qi deficiency; mass spectrometry; naringin; oral administration; Pharmacokinetics; Qingjin Yiqi Granules; spleen; UPLC-MS/MS
• ISSN: 1570-0232; 1873-376X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2023.123802

•A total of 110 compounds were identified from QJYQ granules.•A rat model of lung-qi deficiency was established.•A UPLC-MS/MS analytical method was built and applied to the pharmacokinetic parameters detection of 23 main bioactive components.•To provide a basis for elucidating QJYQ granules effect substances, and provide data support for its clinical application. Qingjin Yiqi granules (QJYQ granules) are hospital preparations derived from ancient prescriptions under the guidance of academician Zhang Boli; they have the effect of invigorating qi and nourishing yin, strengthening the spleen and harmonizing the middle, clearing heat, and drying dampness, and are mainly used for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the recovery period. However, their chemical constituents and pharmacokinetic characteristics in vivo have not been systematically investigated. In this study, 110 chemical constituents of QJYQ granules were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), and a fast and sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the target analytes. A rat model of lung-qi deficiency was established by subjecting mice to passive smoking combined with cold baths, and 23 main bioactive components of QJYQ granules were analyzed in normal and model rats after oral administration. The results showed that, compared to the normal group, there were significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of baicalin, schisandrin, ginsenoside Rb1, naringin, hesperidin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, glycyrrhizic acid, and hastatoside in the model rats (P