Filtration and qualification for target biomarkers of traditional Chinese medicine formula "fuzi lizhong decoction" acting on stomach ulcer by UPLC/Q-TOF MS.

This study aimed to illustrate the curative effect of Fuzi Lizhong Decoction, which is composed of Aconitum carmichaeli Debeaux, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.), Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. and contained components such as benzoyl aconitine, benzoyl aconitine, atractyl lactone I, atractylenolide II, ginsenoside, emodin, glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizin, 8-gingerol and 10-gingerol, on stomach ulcer based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry metabolomics analysis. Rats urine samples of three groups were detected by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Then, stomach ulcer biomarkers were filtered out by EZinfo 2.0 software. After that, analysis of variance was used for picking up significantly retroved biomarkers in treated group. Compounds were identified based on MS/MS spectrum, accurate mass weight and retention time. Twelve metabolites including 2-Methylhippuic acid, Kynurenic acid, 2-Indolecarboxylic acid, Pyrocatechol, Caproic acid, 2,3-Dihydrobenzofuran, 4-Ethylphenol, Lanthionine ketimine, Traumatic acid, Indole-3-carboxilic acid-O-sulphate, Vanillic acid 4-sulfate, 6-Mecaptopurine ribonudeoside 5'-diphosphate were identified as stomach ulcer biomarkers. Among them, ten ones except for 2-Methylhippuic acid and 2-Indolecarboxylic acid retrieved. Pathways involved tryptophan metabolism, benzoate degradation, bisphenol degradation and α-linolenic acid metabolism. In conclusion, Fuzi Lizhong Decoction may cure stomach ulcer by improving tryptophan metabolism, benzoate degradation, bisphenol degradation and α-linolenic acid metabolism.