title: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high-definition mass spectrometry analysis of constituents in the root of Radix Stemonae and those absorbed in blood after oral administration of the extract of the crude drug.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radix Stemonae, first recorded in the herbal 'Additional Records of Famous Physicians' (Mingyi Bielu), has been widely used as an oral anti-tussive agent in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for thousands of years in China. Current analysis methods are usually time-consuming and inaccurate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to develop a more rapid and sensitive method to detect the active compounds in Radix Stemonae.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rapid, sensitive and selective ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometric (UPLC-HDMS) method with automated data analysis software MetaboLynx(TM) was developed for analysis and identification of the bioactive components and their metabolites in rat plasma following oral administration of Radix Stemonae extract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine compounds in the Radix Stemonae extract and 47 compounds in the rat plasma samples were detected in the MS(E) mode in a single injection within 21 min. Among the compounds detected, 23 were identified in vitro and 42 were identified in rat plasma, either by comparing the retention time and mass spectrometry data with those of reference compounds or by mass spectrometry analysis and retrieving the reference literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that the screening capability of MetaboLynx(TM), together with the utilisation of MS(E) in structural elucidation, can facilitate a rapid and comprehensive detection and effective structural characterisation of Stemona alkaloids in Radix Stemonae extract, which could be applied to other Chinese medicine. The results provide helpful chemical information of Radix Stemonae extract for further pharmacology and active mechanism research.
authors: National TCM Key Laboratory of Serum Pharmacochemistry, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 24, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150040, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Dong
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Wang
authors: Xiangcai
authors: X
authors: Meng
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: Aihua
authors: A
authors: Zhang
authors: Weiming
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Dong
authors: Xijun
authors: X
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D041901:Stemonaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal