Material Base of in vivo Invigorating Qi and Enriching Blood of Bazhen Decoction by HPLC-ESI-MS

Objective To identify the in vivo metabolized chemical constituents in Bazhen Decoction (BZD) and to study the relationship between Siwu Decoction (SWD) and Sijunzi Decoction (SJZD) with BZD. Methods Analysis and comparison were carried out by HPLC-ESI-MS. Serum samples after ig administration of preparations such as SWD, SJZD, and BZD, with different ingredients were collected for analysis. Results Twenty-two components were detected after ig administration of BZD, and six of them were metabolites and others were original form of the components contained in BZD. The prototype constituents were atractylenolide I, 5-hydroxymethyl-furoic acid (5-HMFA), oxypaeoniflorin, atractylenolide III, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, ferulic acid, ligustilide, and ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1. The metabolized constituents were paeonimetabolin I, glycyrrhetic acid mono- glucuronide, glycyrrhetinic acid, and ginsenosides Rh1 and Rd. Conclusion The results also show that 5-HMFA, oxypaeoniflorin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, ferulic acid, and ligustilide are common components absorbed into blood existing in both BZD and SWD, which are material base of enriching blood; Atractylenolide I, atractylenolide III, and liquiritin are common ingredients absorbed into blood existing in both BZD and SJZD, and they are material base of invigorating Qi. The results provide basic data for the further studies on the effective components, the effecting mechanism, and the quality control of BZD.