Objective

2

To study the effect of combined decoction and single decoction of Houpu Wenzhongtang on rats with deficiency-cold of spleen and stomach from the perspective of metabonomics

to find out the relevant potential biomarkers and metabolic pathways

and to explore the similarities and differences between the combined decoction and single decoction

so as to provide reference for the feasibility analysis of replacing traditional decoction with single dispensing granule of this formula.

Method

2

SD rats were randomly divided into normal group

model group

Houpu Wenzhongtang combined decoction group and simgle decoction group. Rats in the normal group were given distilled water by intragastric administration

rats in the other three groups were given cold vinegar at 4 ℃ in the morning and refined lard in the afternoon for 10 days (the dosage of 10 mL·kg

-1

). After the model was successfully established

rats in the combined decoction group and the single decoction group were given corresponding decoction with dosage of 1.8 g·kg

-1

(according to the amount of crude drugs)

once a day for 7 days. Ultra-high liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technique was used to analyze the small molecular endogenous metabolites in urine. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to compare the changes of differential metabolites among the normal group

model group

Houpu Wenzhongtang combined decoction group and single decoction group

and the differential metabolites were introduced into Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) for metabolic pathway analysis.

Result

2

Compared with the model group

the Houpu Wenzhongtang combined decoction group and single decoction group jointly regulated 13 potential biomarkers

including phosphatidylcholine(PC)

lysophosphatidic acid(LysoPA) and cholic acid

etc. They played a role in treating deficiency-cold of spleen and stomach by influencing metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism

glycerolipid metabolism

phosphatidylinositol signaling system and so on. The combined decoction and single decoction of Houpu Wenzhongtang could obviously restore the body weight

motilin and gastrin contents of rats with deficiency-cold of spleen and stomach to normal levels.

Conclusion

2

According to biochemical indexes

there is no obvious difference between combined decoction and single decoction of Houpu Wenzhongtang

but according to metabonomics

the combined decoction may be slightly better than the single decoction. The research shows that it is feasible to replace traditional decoction with single dispensing granule of Houpu Wenzhongtang in clinical application.