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

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 X4 (9,12-heptadecanedenoic acid glyceride), X5 (nonadecanoic acid methyl ester), X6 (glyceryl oleate), X7 (13,16,19-eicosatrienoic acid), X9 (linoleic acid), X10 (9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid glyceride), X12 (hexadecanoic acid), X13 (oleic acid), and X14 (octadecanoic acid), and their anti-hepatic fibrosis activity was tested to verify the results of spectrum-effect relationships. The results showed that X4 , X6 , X7 , and X10 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.