Characterization of the chemical constituents of Jie-Geng-Tang and the metabolites in the serums and lungs of mice after oral administration by LC-Q-TOF-MS
Authors: Yin-Ning Liu
Yi Wang
Jing Qian
Shu-Fang Wang
Meng-Ting Hu
Journal: Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (2021)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Constituents; Jie-Geng-Tang; LC-Q-TOF-MS; Lung; Metabolite

Abstract:  Jie-Geng-Tang (JGT), a traditional formula, is employed in the treatment of sore throat and cough and comprises Platycodonis Radix and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in the ratio 1 : 2. Our previous study demonstrated that JGT protected mice from S. aureus-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Five constituents of JGT showed antibacterial activities against S. aureus in vitro. However, the potential effective constituents of JGT in vivo were still unclear. In this study, the chemical constituents of JGT were identified by liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS). A total of 96 constituents were identified or assumed, including seven organic acids, 45 flavonoids, 36 triterpene saponins, and eight compounds of other types. The structures of 31 of the constituents were confirmed by comparing them with corresponding authentic standards. Moreover, 15 prototypes and 49 metabolites were deduced in the serums of mice, 24 prototypes and 47 metabolites were deduced in the lungs of mice after the oral administration of JGT. Three types of constituents, namely organic acids, flavonoids, and triterpene saponins, could be absorbed into the blood. Moreover, flavonoids and triterpene saponins were more likely distributed in the lung than in the blood. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the systematic metabolites profile of JGT in vivo. The results reported were beneficial to the elucidation of the effective material basis of JGT. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 The authors somehow seem to be convinced that the work of C. Zhao and colleagues is about extracting phytochemicals from herbs, when it is in fact about predigesting waste foliage for better biofuel extraction.  Presoaking is helpful for the extraction of chemical constituents of the plant [9, 10] - [9] Qiao X, Zhao C, Shao Q, et al. **Structural characterization of corn stover lignin after hydrogen peroxide presoaking prior to ammonia fiber expansion pretreatment** [J]. Energ Fuel, 2018, 32(5): 6022-6030. - [10] Zhao C, Qiao X, Cao Y, et al. **Application of hydrogen peroxide presoaking prior to ammonia fiber expansion pretreatment of energy crops** [J]. Fuel, 2017, 205: 184-191. , 
 #1 Dear Hoya, thanks for your question. As to your question, we respond as follows. Literature [9] was about the effect of presoaking on the extraction of chemical constituents (lignin constituents), the biofuel, from corn stover (a plant), and then the structure of lignin was characterized. Literature [10] was about the effect of presoaking on the extraction of chemical constituents (sugar constituents) from crops (plants). Presoaking is an important procedure for the extraction of chemical constituents from plants. We cited these literatures just to explain the significance of presoaking to the extraction of chemical constituents from herbs. ,