Effects of Different Administration Cycles of Rhubarb on Fecal Metabolism in Healthy Rats Based on Metabolomics

Abstract

Background: Rhubarb is a common cold-property drug that is commonly used as an effective laxative. It was first recorded in Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic.Purpose: The LC-MS/MS metabolomics technology was used in this study to investigate the possible mechanism by which Rhubarb, a common cold property in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acts on healthy rats during different administration cycles. Discussing the effect of bitter-cold Traditional Chinese Medicine on the intestinal tract, not only guides clinical medicine better but also provides a new way to evaluate the efficacy of bitter-cold Chinese medicine objectively.Materials and Methods: Six groups of rats (n = 6) were randomly divided into the following: the control group was fed a basal diet and given pure water; the Rhubarb group was fed a basal diet and was gavaged with Rhubarb (7.5 g/kg per day). The principal component analysis and the orthogonal partial least squares–discriminant analysis method was used to analyse the endogenous differential metabolites, the metabolite differences between rhubarb and the control group were screened, and the metabolic pathways were analysed by MetaboAnalyst.Results: Compared with the blank control group, 20, 17, and 8 metabolites were identified in the feces of the Rhubarb group on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days, respectively, which involved linoleic acid metabolism, purine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism.Conclusion: Rhubarb’s pharmacological effects on gastrointestinal regulation, and antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties are closely related to its bitter and cold properties and may be generated through porphyrin, purine, tryptophan, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways.

Keywords: Rhubarb; metabolomics; endogenous metabolites; medicinal properties of Chinese herbs; LC-MS/MS