Serum metabolomics research of the anti-hypertensive effects of Tengfu Jiangya tablet on spontaneously hypertensive rats

• Tengfu Jiangya Tablet has antihypertensive effect as traditional Chinese medicine.
• Metabonomics could explain the hypotensive mechanism of Tengfu Jiangya Tablet.
• Tengfu Jiangya Tablet could restore impaired NO production.
• Tengfu Jiangya Tablet could inhibit inflammatory state.
• Tengfu Jiangya Tablet could affect the function of VSMCs.

A HPLC/TOF-MS-based metabolomic study was conducted to investigate the holistic therapeutic effects of Tengfu Jiangya Tablet (TJT) on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The SHRs were divided into valsartan (VST) group, TJT group and model group, in addition, the Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were taken as normal control. Serum samples were separated and identified by HPLC/TOF-MS, while the obtained data was further processed by partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). A clear cluster among the four groups was observed, and we identified thirteen biomarkers involved involved in sphingolipid metabolism (sphinganine, lysosphingomyelin, ceramide), glycerophospholipid metabolism (phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylcholines), arginine and proline metabolism (l-proline, citrulline), tryptophan metabolism (xanthuiulrenic acid, l-kynurenine, l-tryptophan), arachidonic acid metabolism(leukotriene D4), and linoleic acid metabolism (gamma-linolenic acid). Altered metabolic pathways involved in impaired NO production, inflammation and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) apoptosis and proliferation, which suggesting the possible pathological state in SHRs. TJT as well as VST altered the metabolic state, suggesting a possible anti-hypertension role by improving NO production, and an extra cardiovascular protection role possibly by amelioration of inflammatory state and vascular remodeling.