Metabolite profiling and quantification of phytochemicals of Tianma–Gouteng granule in human and rat urine using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

Zhang H, Wang L, Lu B, Qi W, Jiao F, Zhang H, Yuan D · Journal of Separation Science · 2019 July

DOI 10.1002/jssc.201900029

Objective

To investigate the metabolism and urinary excretion kinetics of Tianma-Gouteng granule and its components in humans and rats after oral administration.

Conclusions

This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the metabolism and excretive kinetics of Tianma-Gouteng granule, showing that glucuronidation and sulfation are the main metabolic pathways and urinary excretion is the major elimination route for gastrodin.

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Insights

Tianma-Gouteng granule, used for treating hypertension and stroke, undergoes glucuronidation and sulfation for metabolism, with urinary excretion being the main avenue for elimination from the body.

This study used an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to identify the prototypes and metabolites in human and rat urine following consumption of Tianma-Gouteng granule. This was aimed at understanding how the granule is metabolized in the body, particularly focusing on flavonoids, alkaloids, iridoidic glycosides, anthraquinones, phenols, and stilbenes found in Tianma-Gouteng granule, and the pathways involved in this process. The researchers then used ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry for quantitative analysis of various compounds in rat urine following administration of the Tianma-Gouteng granule. This part of the study aimed at understanding the excretive kinetics of the granule, which saw urinary excretion highlighted as the primary means of eliminating the granule from the body. It also emphasized the significance of gastrodin in relation to this process.