Metabolic profiling of quercetin in rats using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Abstract

Quercetin, a kind of major flavonoid found in many traditional chinese medicines, is an effective substance for treatments such as lowering blood lipids. However, the studies on quercetin have been mainly focused on its pharmacological effect; the treatment of diseases on a material basis, particularly the metabolites derived from quercetin in vivo, has not been evaluated. In this study, we determined the levels, distributions and types of quercetin's metabolites in plasma, urine, feces and bile of rats after a single oral administration of quercetin at a dose of 80 mg/kg, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). A total of 36 metabolites of quercetin were identified, including 11 metabolites in plasma, 34 metabolites in urine, 12 metabolites in feces and 21 metabolites in bile. The results showed that phase I metabolites were reduction metabolites and phase II metabolites mainly included glucuronidation, sulfation and methylation metabolites. These results provide important information on the metabolism of quercetin, which will be helpful for its further development and utilization.

A Complete Study of Farrerol Metabolites Produced In Vivo and In Vitro

“…M5 (retention time = 12.84 min) afforded a deprotonated ion with m/z 331.0821 and had an elemental composition of C 17 H 16 O 7 (error = 1.8 ppm), which corresponded to the addition of two oxygens to farrerol. The ESI-MS 2 spectrum of M5 featured two dominant product ions with m/z 313.0818 and 287.0920, generated through the loss of H 2 O and CO 2 , respectively [29]. Moreover, typical product ions of the RDA reaction were observed at m/z 211.0307 and 119.0489 [29].…”

“…The ESI-MS 2 spectrum of M5 featured two dominant product ions with m/z 313.0818 and 287.0920, generated through the loss of H 2 O and CO 2 , respectively [29]. Moreover, typical product ions of the RDA reaction were observed at m/z 211.0307 and 119.0489 [29]. The ion with m/z 211.0307 had Δ = 32 Da (2O), which indicated that both oxidation sites were on ring B.…”

“…Prominent ions with m/z 267.1822 and 239.1296 were produced by successive loss of H 2 O and CO [23]. Two key product ions with m/z 165.0200 (Δ = −14 Da (CH 2 )) and 119.0511 were produced through RDA cleavage [29]. Based on the above, M13 and M14 were concluded to be products of demethylation and were identified as 8-demethylated farrerol and 6-demethylated farrerol, respectively.…”

“…The ESI-MS 2 spectra of M17 and M18 featured deprotonated ions with m/z 329.0658 and 329.0662 (Δ = 30 Da), respectively, as well as ions with m/z 311.0566 and 283.2634 formed by successive loss of H 2 O and CO [29]. The presence of RDA reaction–produced ions with m/z 209.0093 and 119.0484 indicated that M17 and M18 were de-methylated to carboxylic acid metabolites.…”

Rapid characterization of the absorbed chemical constituents of Tangzhiqing formula following oral administration using UHPLC–Q‐TOF‐MS

“…In other words, it was necessary to detect the chemical constituents and metabolites so as to clarify the effective ingredients and the possible metabolic pathways of TZQ‐F in vivo. In addition, the in vivo components of the two major herbs (Lotus leaf and Mulberry leaf) were also investigated in previous studies, and 15 and 36 metabolites were identified, respectively . These experiences were helpful for this experiment.…”