Abstract:Objective Based on UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS and network pharmacology, the material basis, processing principle and molecular mechanism of bile processed Coptidis Rhizoma (BPRC) for reducing excess fire of liver and gallbladder were elucidated. Method The chemical ingredients of BPRC were analyzed by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. Chromatographic separation was achieved with 0.1% formic acid solution (A)-acetonitrile (B) as the mobile phase in gradient elution (0-20 min, 5%-80%B; 20-30 min, 80%-95%B; 30-30.1 min, 95%-5%B; 30.1-35 min, 95%-5%B). The flow rate was 0.2 mL·min-1, electrospray ionization (ESI) was applied and operated in positive and negative ion modes, the acquisition range was m/z 100-1 500. Based on the clinical manifestations and pathogenic factors of excess fire of liver and gallbladder, the potential effective ingredients, targets and functional characteristics of BPRC were predicted and analyzed by online database. Based on the characteristics of the new active ingredients after processing, the processing principle of BPRC was investigated by network pharmacology. Result A total of 19 ingredients in BPRC were identified, six of which were newly added cholic acids after processing. It was determined that the alkaloids, including worenine, epiberberine, jatrorrhizine, coptisine, berberrubine, berberine, palmatine and cholic acids, including glycohyodeoxycholic acid, taurohyodeoxycholic acid, glycochenodeoxycholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid and taurochenodeoxycholic acid, were identified as material basis of BPRC. A total of 66 targets of reducing excess fire of liver and gallbladder of BPRC were screened. There were 16 common targets and multiple same signaling pathways between cholic acids and alkaloids of BPRC, and many lesions of excess fire of liver and gallbladder were target organs of cholic acids. By acting on some targets, including albumin (ALB), Caspase-3 (CASP3), mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and other targets and some signaling pathways, including interleukin (IL)-17, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), MAPK and other pathways, BPRC could reduce excess fire of liver and gallbladder. Conclusion BPRC has the characteristics of multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway on reducing excess fire of liver and gallbladder. Bile and Coptidis Rhizoma have synergistic effect and bile can enhance the intensity of BPRC in lesions, which confirms the processing theory that the effect of BPRC on excess fire of liver and gallbladder enhance after being processed by bile.
