A pharmaco-metabonomic study on the therapeutic basis and metabolic effects of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. on hydrocortisone-induced rat using UPLC-MS.

This paper describes the pharmaco-metabonomic study on Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. treated rats with a pathologic condition similar to the 'kidney deficiency syndromes' in traditional Chinese medicine and its therapeutic basis. UPLC-MS technique was used for the development of chemical profile of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. and endogenous metabolite profiles of rats pre- and post-hydrocortisone interfered and treated with this herbal medicine. The comparison among profiles was performed with a statistical technique, principle component analysis (PCA). Significant difference in endogenous metabolite profiles was observed in the intervention rats and the abnormality of metabolism recovered towards the normal level after administration with Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. extract. Four active constituents of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. were found into the blood circulation of kidney-deficient rats and two of their metabolites in the urine. This work suggests that the metabonomic approach is a potentially powerful tool to explore the therapeutic basis and to clarify the possible action mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine.