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. 2019 Mar 18;9(16):8926–8933. doi: 10.1039/c8ra09894h

A UPLC-MS-based metabolomics approach to reveal the attenuation mechanism of Caowu compatibility with Yunnan Baiyao†

Jun-ling Ren 1, Hui Sun 1,✉, Hui Dong 1, Le Yang 1, Ai-hua Zhang 1, Ying Han 1, Li Wang 1, Liang Liu 2, Xi-jun Wang 1,2,✉
PMCID: PMC9062013  PMID: 35517678

Abstract

Yunnan Baiyao (YNBY) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine containing Caowu (Aconiti kusnezoffii radix, CW). However, the application of YNBY is limited by the toxicity of CW. Notably, CW is not used alone in YNBY, but is combined with other herbs in a formula for clinical use. In the present study, the compatibility of the protective effects and mechanism of YNBY with the potential toxicity of CW was investigated. After combining with other compatible herbs, the serum metabolic disorder induced by CW can be regulated. Using UPLC-MS-based metabolomics, 63 endogenous serum metabolites were identified as being associated with the potential toxicity of CW, 17 of which were regulated to normal levels when CW was combined with other compatible herbs in YNBY. These regulated metabolites were closely related to glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and primary bile acid biosynthesis metabolic pathways. This study aims to evaluate the attenuation mechanism of CW compatibility with YNBY.

Yunnan Baiyao (YNBY) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine containing Caowu (Aconiti kusnezoffii radix, CW).graphic file with name c8ra09894h-ga.jpg

Introduction

Yunnan Baiyao (YNBY) is a famous formula in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to promote blood clotting and hemostasis through topical or oral administration. YNBY is a class-I protected TCM in China and, except for processed Caowu (Aconiti kusnezoffii radix, dried tuberous root of Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb., CW), the ingredients of YNBY are a trade secret.1–3 Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that CW exerts analgesic,4 anti-inflammatory,5 cardiotonic,6 and anti-tumor effects.5 Furthermore, CW is a widely recognized toxic herb, known for its cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity.7 Accordingly, the potential toxicity of YNBY is being questioned worldwide. TCMs are not usually clinically administered to treat disease as single herbs, but in the form of prescriptions. Therefore, the processing and compatibility of TCMs play crucial roles in ensuring the safe use of potentially toxic herbs.8 To date, most studies have only focused on the effective mechanism of YNBY or toxicity of CW alone. However, the compatibility of CW toxicity with YNBY has yet to be investigated. Research into the toxicity of YNBY is of international interest and urgently needed.

As an emerging “omics” of the post-genome era, metabolomics has become an increasingly indispensable technology in life science research.9,10 This approach has seen broad applications, such as in therapeutic effect evaluation,11–13 biomarker discovery,14,15 medicine quality control,16–18 and toxicity assessment.19–21 The effect of YNBY as a formula on metabolism might be complex and multidimensional. Accordingly, the effect of YNBY system interference on metabolism might be assessed using a metabolomics-based strategy, in agreement with the holistic concept of TCM.22

Herein, a UPLC-MS-based metabolomics platform was established to determine the toxicity attenuation effect resulting from compatibility with YNBY. Serum was collected from healthy rats and metabolic data were used to evaluate the potential toxicity of CW, processed CW (ZCW), YNBY, and YNBY lacking CW (QCW), as well as the possible detoxication mechanism. The information gained from the present study will provide a good foundation for further rational clinical applications of YNBY.

Materials and methods

Chemicals and reagents

Acetonitrile and methanol (HPLC grade) were purchased from Fisher Scientific Corporation (Loughborough, UK). Deionized water was produced using a Milli-Q Ultra-pure water system (Millipore, Billerica, USA). Formic acid (HPLC grade, FA) was provided by Honeywell Company (USA). Drug powders of CW, ZCW, QCW, and YNBY (these powders contain excipients and the same CW contents) were provided by YNBY Group Corporation.

Animals

Male SD rats (n = 60, clean grade, weight = 180–200 g, 8 weeks old) from Liaoning Changsheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Benxi, Liaoning, China) were used in the study. The room temperature was regulated at 21 ± 5 °C with 60 ± 5% humidity. The rats were subjected to a 12 h light–dark cycle and had free access to a standard diet and water. The animals were allowed to acclimatize in metabolism cages for 1 week prior to dosing. After acclimatization, the animals were randomly divided into five treatment groups of 12 rats each, named as follow: control group, CW group, ZCW group, YNBY group, and QCW group. Rats in the drug groups were orally administrated at a dose of 180 mg kg−1 and 1 mL/100 g of rat weight for 15 consecutive days (Fig. 1). Rats in the control group were orally administrated with distilled water of equal dose for 15 consecutive days. The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine and was conducted according to the principles expressed in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Fig. 1. Experimental design.

Fig. 1

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Sample collection and preparation

On day 16, after the rats were orally administrated for 1 h, blood was collected from the hepatic portal vein. After standing at room temperature for 1 h, the blood was centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min at 4 °C. The serum was then collected and frozen at −80 °C until analysis. Before all rats were sacrificed, the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys were quickly removed and fixed in 10% formalin for 24 h, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and then observed by visible light microscopy and photographed.

Thawed serum (100 μL) was mixed with methanol (400 μL) and vortexed for 1 min to achieve protein precipitation, followed by centrifugation at 13 000 rpm for 15 min at 4 °C. Some of the supernatant (350 μL) was dried under nitrogen and redissolved in 50% methanol (100 μL). After vortexing for 1 min and centrifuging at 13 000 rpm for 15 min at 4 °C, the supernatant was transferred to a glass vial for analysis.

Chromatographic conditions

Chromatographic separation was performed using a Waters ACQUITY UPLC system (Waters Corporation, Milford, MA). An 2 μL aliquot of the serum sample solution was injected into an ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm; Waters Corporation, Milford, MA) at 35 °C with a flow rate of 0.4 mL min−1. The optimal mobile phase containing 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile (solvent A) and 0.1% formic acid in water (solvent B) was eluted using a linear gradient elution program, as follows: 0 min at 1% A; 0–2.0 min at 1–30% A; 2.0–3.0 min at 30–40% A; 3.0–4.0 min at 40–50% A; 4.0–5.0 min at 50–60% A; 5.0–6.0 min at 60–65% A; 6.0–7.0 min at 65–70% A; 7.0–10.0 min at 70–99% A; 10.0–12.0 min at 99% A.

Mass spectrometry conditions

High-definition mass spectrometry was performed on Micromass Q-TOF micro Synapt High Definition Mass Spectrometer (Synapt HDMS, Waters, Manchester, UK) equipped with electrospray ionization (ESI) in both positive and negative ion modes. The optimal conditions of analysis were as follows: (i) for ESI+: source temperature, 110 °C; capillary voltage, 3 kV; cone voltage, 30 V; extraction cone voltage, 5.0 V; desolvation temperature, 350 °C; cone gas flow, 50 L h−1; desolvation gas flow, 800 L h−1; (ii) for ESI−: source temperature, 110 °C; capillary voltage, 2.5 kV; cone voltage, 30 V; extraction cone voltage, 5.0 V; desolvation temperature, 350 °C; cone gas flow, 50 L h−1; desolvation gas flow, 800 L h−1. Data were acquired using an external reference (LockSpray) consisting of a 1 ng L−1 solution of leucine enkephalin infused at a flow rate of 5 L min−1via a LockSpray interface, which generated a reference ion for positive ([M + H]+ = 556.2771) and negative ([M − H]− = 554.2615) ion modes to ensure accurate MS analysis.

Data processing and multivariate data analysis

The acquired UPLC-MS data were imported to Progenesis QI for peak picking, alignment, normalized, and were then introduced to EZinfo 2.0 software for principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Student's t-test was performed to identify the metabolic difference between groups and screen the metabolites with variable importance in projection (VIP) values > 1 as the differential metabolites. The MetaboAnalyst platform (http://www.metaboanalyst.ca/) was used to analyze the relative metabolic pathways associated with potential toxicity. In all cases, a p value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Identification of biomarkers

Differential metabolites were compared with theoretical accurate molecular masses and matched with databases, including HMDB, METLIN, and Lipid Maps, with mass tolerances of less than 5 ppm. Potential toxic biomarkers were finally confirmed by MS/MS for the characteristic ions and fragmentation patterns.

Results

Histopathology evaluation

From histopathological observations (Fig. S1†), there was no significant change in the microscopic histology of H&E stained in each organ. The histopathological results showed that no obvious toxicity was found in each administration group within a treatment cycle.

Multivariate statistical analysis of metabolite profiling

Raw data from UPLC-MS were analyzed by Progenesis of QI software and, after peak alignment and detection, the results were exported into EZinfo 2.0 software for multivariate statistical analysis. The data were first analyzed by PCA, which showed no clustering trend between each group. Owing to the prospective metabolomics, PLS-DA was performed to make differences among the groups more obvious, with a clear classification between the clustering of each group identified (Fig. 2). The PLS-DA score plot showed that compared with other groups, CW group was far from the control group, followed by the ZCW and QCW groups, while the YNBY group was closest to the control group. This suggested that CW may have potential toxic effects on normal rats during an administration cycle, and that the potential toxic effect was significantly reduced by compatibility with YNBY.

Fig. 2. PLS-DA of control, CW, ZCW, YNBY, and QCW groups based on the serum metabolic profiles in both positive and negative ion modes.

Fig. 2

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Metabolite identification and metabolic pathway analysis

The VIP of PLS-DA was performed to identify differential ions with larger contributions between the control group and CW group, which were usually regarded as potential biomarkers. Metabolite identification was conducted using high-resolution MS and MS/MS fragments, and website database analyses. Based on the above protocol, a total of 63 ions (in both positive and negative ion modes) were identified, which contributed to classification of the control group and CW group (Table S1†). Furthermore, a heatmap was constructed according to the relative abundance of the above differential metabolites to visualize differences among different treated groups (Fig. 3). Cluster analysis showed that the levels of metabolites in the control group were similar to those in the YNBY group, with almost no similar trends between the CW group and other groups.

Fig. 3. Heatmap visualizing changes in the relative content values of potential toxic biomarkers in the control, CW, ZCW, YNBY, and QCW groups.

Fig. 3

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To further elucidate the possible metabolic pathway affected by CW, the above potential differential metabolites were introduced into MetaboAnalyst software. The related pathway with a higher score is shown in Fig. 4, which contained linoleic acid metabolism, d-arginine and d-ornithine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, purine metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism.

Fig. 4. Metabolic pathways analysis based on potential toxic biomarkers of CW.

Fig. 4

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Locking of core attenuated biomarkers and pathways

To further explore the attenuation effect of CW due to compatibility with YNBY, the relative contents of the potential toxic biomarkers in each group were compared to explicitly determine the core potential toxic biomarkers. Using the contents of potential toxic biomarkers in the control group as reference, the relative contents of potential toxic biomarkers in the CW group showed the largest deviation, while other groups showed contents close to those of the control group. Finally, the attenuation effect of YNBY on CW was found to be mediated by the following 17 metabolites: TG(16:0/22:6/20:4), PC(14:0/20:5), PC(16:0/18:3), PC(16:0/20:4), PC(18:0/22:5), PE(18:0/20:2), PE(P-16:0e/0:0), lysoPE(16:0), lysoPE(18:1), lysoPC(18:0), l-acetylcarnitine, 12-oxo-c-LTB3, heptylmalonic acid, l-γ-glutamyl-l-leucine, gentisate aldehyde, taurochenodeoxycholic acid, and 17-α-estradiol-3-glucuronide (Fig. 5). These biomarkers are closely related to four metabolic pathways, namely, glycerophospholipid metabolism, GPI-anchor biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and primary bile acid biosynthesis (Fig. 6), which were the core metabolic pathways of CW attenuation due to compatibility with YNBY.

Fig. 5. Changes in core potential toxic biomarkers in the control, CW, ZCW, YNBY, and QCW groups.

Fig. 5

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Fig. 6. Core attenuated metabolic pathways based on the core potential toxic biomarkers of CW.

Fig. 6

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Discussion

YNBY is extensively used in traumatology, including to decrease bleeding and clotting times, as an anti-inflammatory, and to heal wounds, for more than a century.23,24 However, owing to the well-known toxicity of CW, which is found in YNBY, the clinical application of YNBY has been controversial. In this study, no toxicity was found in either the CW group or YNBY group within a clinical medication cycle.

In recent years, an increasing number of toxicity studies have adopted an metabolomics approach. Metabolomics is an unbiased analysis of metabolites to detect subtle dynamic changes and potential adverse effects.25–32 Using metabolomics, we determined the potential toxicity in CW group. The PLS-DA results showed that there were significant differences in the serum metabolites between the control group and CW or ZCW groups, which might be due to toxicity (Fig. 2). Meanwhile, the metabolic profile of the YNBY group was most similar to that of the control group, followed by the QCW group. This result showed that, owing to compatibility with other herbs in YNBY, the toxicity of CW was reduced or even disappeared. In the course of preparing the prescription, the quality and quantity of CW and the toxicokinetics might change due to interactions with herbs and the influence of preparation processes. Therefore, the toxicity of CW might decrease or disappear, which might be mainly due to the attenuation effect of prescription compatibility.

The potential toxicity mainly caused disorders in 63 metabolites, including linoleic acid metabolism, and 11 metabolic pathways (Fig. 4). According to the performance of differential metabolites in different treatment groups, core regulated potential toxic biomarkers and attenuated metabolic pathways were locked. As shown in Fig. 6, glycerophospholipid metabolism, GPI-anchor biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and primary bile acid biosynthesis were the key metabolic pathways that played detoxification roles for YNBY compatibility.

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is among the most abundant phospholipids in biological membranes, and forms the cell membrane bilayer structure with other phospholipids, which regulates membrane integrity and fluidity.33 PC has hepatoprotective effects and can resist liver injury caused by alcohol, drugs, and environmental pollutants.34,35 The significant increase in PC content might indicate that PC exerts a protective effect on liver cells against the toxic effects of CW. In a chronic pathophysiological stressed heart, a decreased triacylglycerol (TG) content can buffer potential toxic lipid intermediates in cells, and TG can also directly participate in the regulation of intracellular signaling pathways.36

Taurochenodeoxycholic acid is a main bioactive substance in animal bile acids that shows good anti-inflammatory activity.37 Taurochenodeoxycholic acid might significantly inhibit acute myocardial infarction and chronic inflammation by activating protease cascades to induce apoptosis.38,39 In this study, taurochenodeoxycholic acid was significantly increased in the CW group. After processing and compatibility, the content tended to be normal, suggesting that the potential inflammation was inhibited by processing and compatibility. Therefore, the attenuation effect of CW based on YNBY compatibility probably inhibited inflammation. Furthermore, as the downstream product of arachidonic acid, 12-oxo-c-LTB3 also participates in the inflammatory response.40 The increased level of 12-oxo-c-LTB3 also indicated that inflammation might be the key biological effect of detoxification in YNBY.

Gentisate aldehyde is the substrate in aldehyde oxidase 1, leucine and isoleucine degradation, tyrosine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide metabolism. Disorders of amino acid metabolism exist in various diseases, such as fungus,41 cancers,42,43 and diabetes,44 and have been regarded as potential targets for disease treatment. Amino acid metabolism disturbance is mainly manifested in the function of digestion and absorption of host cells, the biosynthesis of non-essential amino acids in the liver, and the oxidative decomposition of amino acids in tissues. The increased level of gentisate aldehyde suggested that CW had a potential effect on the liver.

17-α-Estradiol-3-glucosidate is the metabolite of 17-α-estradiol produced by UDP glucosyltransferase in the liver. Glutaraldehyde acidification helps discharge toxic substances, drugs, or other substances that cannot be used as body energy sources.45 Glucuronic acid is linked to other substances by glycosidic bonds, and the resulting glucuronides are much more water-soluble than the original substances, facilitating kidney excretion.46 Compared with the control group, the 17-α-estradiol-3-glucuronide content in the CW group was significantly lower, and gradually recovered after processing and compatibility with YNBY, indicating that glutaraldehyde acidification gradually became normal during these processes, which might help excrete toxic substances.

The present study also has limitations. Healthy rats were used as research objects, but future studies should be conducted using corresponding animal models to obtain better explanations. Other techniques, such as gas chromatography mass spectrometry, should be employed together with UPLC-MS to characterize more metabolites and clearly elucidate the mechanism.

Conclusions

This study showed, for the first time, that CW toxicity is attenuated by compatibility with YNBY using a UPLC-MS-based metabolomics platform. A total of 63 potential toxicity biomarkers and 12 related pathways were identified. Consequently, 17 core toxicity biomarkers and 4 core attenuated metabolic pathways were identified. PLS-DA analysis and core toxicity biomarkers both indicated that the YNBY prescription had a minimal effect on metabolites. As a possible mechanism, YNBY might exert its attenuation effects through inflammatory inhibition. The study provides information to improve the safety and rationality of clinical medication using YNBY.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Abbreviations

CW

Caowu

ESI

Electrospray ionization

GPI

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol

H&E

Hematoxylin and eosin

PLS-DA

Partial least squares discriminant analysis

PC

Phosphatidylcholine

PCA

Principal components analysis

QCW

Yunnan Baiyao without Caowu

TCM

Traditional Chinese medicine

TG

Triacylglycerol

VIP

Variable importance in projection

YNBY

Yunnan Baiyao

ZCW

Processed Caowu

Supplementary Material

RA-009-C8RA09894H-s001

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Key Program of Natural Science Foundation of State (Grant No. 81830110, 81430093, 81373930, 81673586, 81703685, 81302905, 81503386), National Key Subject of Drug Innovation (Grant No. 2015ZX09101043-005, 2015ZX09101043-011), TCM State Administration Subject of Public Welfare (Grant No. 2015468004), Major Projects of Application Technology Research and Development Plan in Heilongjiang Province (GX16C003), Young Talent Lift Engineering Project of China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine (QNRC2-B06), Outstanding Talents Foundation of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine (2018jc01), Doctoral Innovation Fund of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine (2018bs02), University Nursing Program for Young Scholars with Creative Talents in Heilongjiang Province (UNPYSCT-2015118, UNPYSCT-2016213, UNPYSCT-2016212), Application Technology and Development of Youth Talents Project in Harbin (2014RFQXJ116), Chinese Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2017M621319b), Returned Oversea Scholars Program of Heilongjiang Province (2017QD0025), and Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China (QC2018117).

†

Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c8ra09894h

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