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.