Metabolite profiles of Gansuibanxia decoction in rat plasma and urine by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis.

Gansuibanxia decoction (GSBXD), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula with 2000 years of history, has good efficacies on treating cancerous ascites, pleural effusion, etc. However, little is known about its metabolite profiles owing to the lack of in vivo studies. In this study, we explored the prototypes and metabolites of GSBXD in rat plasma and urine using UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology. A total of 82 GSBXD-related xenobiotic bioactive components (38 prototypes and 44 metabolites) were confirmed or tentatively characterized, including 32 prototypes and 29 metabolites in plasma, and 25 prototypes and 29 metabolites in urine. The results showed that the bioactive components absorbed in vivo mainly contained diterpenoids, triterpenoids, flavonoids and monoterpene glycosides. Both phase I reactions (methylation, reduction, demethylation, hydrolysis, hydroxylation and oxidation) and phase II reactions (glucuronidation and sulfation) were involved in the metabolism of GSBXD in vivo. This study will provide a foundation for the quality control, pharmacological study and clinical application of GSBXD.