Urinary metabonomics study of Wu-tou-tang and its co-decoction with Pinelliae Rhizoma in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats

Wu-tou-tang was applied to treat rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic arthritis, and joint pain for thousands of years. Aconiti Radix Cocta is the primary component of Wu-tou-tang, and Aconiti Radix and Pinelliae Rhizoma is one of the famous combination taboos in traditional Chinese medicine. A urinary metabonomics method based on the ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) had been established to quantify the changes of the endogenous metabolites in the urine of adjuvant-induced arthritis rats treated by Wu-tou-tang and Wu-tou-tang and Pinelliae Rhizoma (WP) co-decoctions. There was a clear separation between Wu-tou-tang and WP co-decoction treated groups in the PCA model. 16 potential biomarkers had been identified which correlated with how Pinelliae Rhizoma influenced the therapeutic effect made by Wu-tou-tang. Results showed that it could reduce the therapeutic effects or make some side effects when Pinelliae Rhizoma is added in Wu-tou-tang. This is the first time to use metabonomics to investigate the reason of combination taboo.

Graphical abstractUPLC–MS based metabonomics was used to find the effects of adding Pinelliae Rhizoma to Wu-tou-tang in the treatment of adjuvant-induced arthritis rats, and to further understand the mechanism behind combination taboo.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide