An assessment of the antihyperlipidemic ingredients of Qi Ge Decoction based on metabolomics combined with serum pharmacochemistry

Abstract

This study aims to explore the pharmacological substance basis of Qi Ge Decoction (QG) in antihyperlipidemia through a combination of metabolomics and serum pharmacochemistry. We used ultra‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight/MS (UPLC Q‐TOF/MS) to analyze and identify the chemical constituents of QG in vitro and in blood chemical components. The metabolomics technology was used to analyze serum biomarkers of QG in preventing and treating hyperlipidemia. We constructed a mathematical model of the relationship between constituents absorbed into the blood and endogenous biomarkers and explored the potential therapeutic application of QG for the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia. Compared with the model group, the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride in the QG group were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). A total of 12 chemical components absorbed into the blood were identified, and 48 biomarkers of the hyperlipidemia model were obtained from serum metabolomic analysis, of which 15 metabolites were backregulated after QG intervention. Puerarin, hesperetin, puerarin xyloside, calycosin, and monohydroxy‐tetramethoxyflavone had a high correlation with the biomarkers regulated by QG. This study elucidated the material basis of QG in the intervention of hyperlipidemia, thereby facilitating future research aimed at further revealing the pharmacodynamic material basis of QG's antihyperlipidemic effects.