Non-targeted urine metabolomics analysis the protective and therapeutic effects of Citri Reticulatae Chachiensis Pericarpium on high-fat feed induced hyperlipidemia in rats.

In this study, we focused on studying the changes of urine metabolites in hyperlipidemia rats by using ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-fight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and Metabolomics, as well as the effect of Citri Reticulatae Chachiensis Pericarpium (CRCP) on hyperlipidemia. These urine samples were examined by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS to obtain MS data. The MS data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to identify the differential metabolites. CRCP could reduce the levels of the body weight, TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C of hyperlipidemia rats which were significantly raised by high-fat diet. 27 potential biomarkers were identified within complex sample matrix of urine. Thereinto, 14 biomarkers increased in the rats of hyperlipidemia Compared to the normal rats. Meanwhile, 13 biomarkers decreased. The CRCP could reverse the abnormal changes of the biomarkers, including 5-L-Glutamyl-taurine, 5-aminopentanoic acid, cis-4-Octenedioic acid and 2-Octenedioic acid. These biomarkers show that hyperlipidemia is related to the metabolic pathways of Taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, Fatty acid biosynthesis and Arginine and proline metabolism. The CRCP mainly prevents hyperlipidemia by intervening these metabolic pathways.