Metabonomic study on the plasma of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with Ge Gen Qin Lian Decoction by ultra high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

• We describe the change of endogenous metabolites in STZ-induced diabetic rats after intervention with GGQLD.
• The administration group presented a distinct return to that of the control group in PCA score, and the corresponding biomarkers were defined.
• Significant changes of dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine, cholylglycine, and pantothenic acid were identified in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
• The metabonomic analysis could be a useful tool to discuss the therapeutic effects and intervention mechanism of action of GGQLD in diabetes mellitus.

Changes in endogenous metabolites in the plasma of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats treated with Ge Gen Qin Lian Decoction (GGQLD) were studied. The endogenous compounds in plasma were detected using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Rats were divided into three groups: control, model, and administration (4.95 g crude drug/kg body weight). After the final administration, plasma samples from the three groups were analyzed using metabonomics. The three sample groups could be clearly distinguished. The administration group exhibited a distinct return to the levels of phytosphingosine and dihydrosphingosine of the control group according to the principal component analysis score, and the corresponding biomarkers were defined. Significant changes in endogenous metabolites, such as dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine, cholylglycine, and pantothenic acid, were identified in STZ-induced diabetic rats. These biochemical changes are associated with the metabolism of sphingolipids, fats, and acetyl coenzyme-A, which could be useful to further investigate the characteristics of STZ-induced diabetes mellitus and the therapeutic mechanism of action of GGQLD. This metabonomic analysis could provide a useful starting point toelucidate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of action of GGQLD in diabetes mellitus.

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