Identification of anti–hepatic fibrosis components in Periplaneta americana based on spectrum–effect relationship and chemical component separation

Abstract Periplaneta americana (PA) is used as a traditional medicine for hepatic diseases such as hepatic fibrosis in China. However, the relationship between the corresponding therapeutic effect and the chemical composition is still unclear. In this study, spectrum–effect relationship and chemical component separation were used to discover the potential of anti–hepatic fibrosis components of PA. The fingerprints of 10 batches of samples were established using HPLC, and the anti–hepatic fibrosis effect was determined using HSC‐T6 cells. The spectrum–effect relationship between common peaks and efficacy values was established using partial least squares analysis. Partial peaks in the fingerprints were identified, including X 4 (9,12‐heptadecanedenoic acid glyceride), X 5 (nonadecanoic acid methyl ester), X 6 (glyceryl oleate), X 7 (13,16,19‐eicosatrienoic acid), X 9 (linoleic acid), X 10 (9,12,15‐octadecatrienoic acid glyceride), X 12 (hexadecanoic acid), X 13 (oleic acid), and X 14 (octadecanoic acid), and their anti–hepatic fibrosis activity was tested to verify the results of spectrum–effect relationships. The results showed that X 4 , X 6 , X 7 , and X 10 were the active ingredients of PA. This work successfully identified the partial anti–hepatic fibrosis components of PA, which can be used to explain the material basis for the PA anti–hepatic fibrosis effect.