Studies on chemical profiling and pharmacokinetics of traditional Chinese medicine Formula Kang Shuai Lao Pian

Kang Shuai Lao Pian (KSLP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation used to delay aging. However, due to the lack of research on the chemical composition and pharmacokinetic behavior of KSLP, its material basis and in vivo components with high exposure remain ambiguous. The UPLC/Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS was performed to identify the preliminary chemical profile of KSLP. A total of 138 compounds, including ginsenosides, phenylethanol glycosides, iridoids, alkaloids, ionones and others, were identified in accordance with their retention times, accurate masses and characteristic MS/MS fragment patterns. Moreover, considering the active components and characteristic components of KSLP, the extraction process of KSLP was optimized, and the quantitative analysis by UPLC/QQQ-MS/MS of 13 compounds in KSLP was established. The method was stable and sensitive, and could be used for the quality control of KSLP. Then, the pharmacokinetic study was carried out by further refining the components of KSLP. Besides, quantitative method for 6 compounds in rat plasma was validated and developed by UPLC/QQQ-MS/MS. The established approach was successfully applied to characterize the pharmacokinetic features of components in KSLP and it was found that the absorption and elimination of ginsenosides in KSLP was slow. Altogether, this study laid a solid foundation and provided theoretical guidance for further clarification of bioactive components of KSLP.