Pharmacometabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging approach to reveal the neurochemical mechanisms of Polygala tenuifolia

Qian Li; Jinpeng Bai; Yuxue Ma; Yu Sun; Wenbin Zhou; Zhaoying Wang; Zhi Zhou; Zhonghua Wang; Yanhua Chen; Zeper Abliz

Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis (Jul 2024)

Pharmacometabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging approach to reveal the neurochemical mechanisms of Polygala tenuifolia

Qian Li,
Jinpeng Bai,
Yuxue Ma,
Yu Sun,
Wenbin Zhou,
Zhaoying Wang,
Zhi Zhou,
Zhonghua Wang,
Yanhua Chen,
Zeper Abliz

Affiliations

Qian Li: Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
Jinpeng Bai: Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Center for Imaging and Systems Biology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
Yuxue Ma: Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
Yu Sun: Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Center for Imaging and Systems Biology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
Wenbin Zhou: Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
Zhaoying Wang: Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Center for Imaging and Systems Biology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
Zhi Zhou: Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Center for Imaging and Systems Biology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
Zhonghua Wang: Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Center for Imaging and Systems Biology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China
Yanhua Chen: Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Center for Imaging and Systems Biology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China.
Zeper Abliz: Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Center for Imaging and Systems Biology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China; Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (National Ethnic Affairs Commission), Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 7
p. 100973

Abstract

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Polygala tenuifolia, commonly known as Yuanzhi (YZ) in Chinese, has been shown to possess anti-insomnia properties. However, the material basis and the mechanism underlying its sedative-hypnotic effects remain unclear. Herein, we investigated the active components and neurochemical mechanism of YZ extracts using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based pharmacometabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI)-based spatial resolved metabolomics. According to the results, 17 prototypes out of 101 ingredients in the YZ extract were detected in both the plasma and brain, which might be the major components contributing to the sedative-hypnotic effects. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that these prototypes may exert their effects through neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, serotonergic synapse, dopaminergic synapse, and dopaminergic synapse, among other pathways. LC-MS/MS-based targeted metabolomics and Western blot (WB) revealed that tryptophan-serotonin-melatonin (Trp-5-HT-Mel) and tyrosine-norepinephrine-adrenaline (Tyr-Ne-Ad) are the key regulated pathways. Dopa decarboxylase (DDC) upregulation and phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) downregulation further confirmed these pathways. Furthermore, MSI-based spatially resolved metabolomics revealed notable alterations in 5-HT in the pineal gland (PG), and Ad in the brainstem, including the middle brain (MB), pons (PN), and hypothalamus (HY). In summary, this study illustrates the efficacy of an integrated multidimensional metabolomics approach in unraveling the sedative-hypnotic effects and neurochemical mechanisms of a Chinese herbal medicine, YZ.

Published in Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis

ISSN: 2095-1779 (Print); 2214-0883 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Medicine: Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-pharmaceutical-analysis/

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