A metabolomics study: Reveals the protective effect and mechanism of Terminalia chebula Retz on the cardiotoxicity induced by radix Aconiti kusnezoffii Reichb

To reveal the protective effect of Terminalia chebula Retz (TCR) on cardiotoxicity induced by radix of Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb (AKR). Control, AKR, AKR-TCR 1:3, AKR-TCR 1:1, AKR-TCR 3:1 and TCR-prepared AKR groups were set up. After treatment, the heart tissues were observed by H&E staining and transmission electron microscope. Serum myoglobin (MB) and troponin (cTn) were detected by ELISA. UPLC-Q Exactive/MS analysis was performed to detect the metabolic difference among the groups. ELISA results showed that the MB and cTn values of AKR group were significantly higher than Control group (P<0.05), while those of the other groups were lower than AKR group. TCR-prepared AKR group had similar MB and cTn contents to the Control group. Histopathological examination also indicated better detoxifying effects in the TCR-prepared AKR and AKR-TCR 1:1 group. The serum metabolomics analysis showed obvious distinction between the AKR and Control groups, while AKR-TCR combination reversed the metabolomics changes induced by AKR. Through multivariate statistical analysis, 9 metabolic markers related to energy, nucleic acid and amino acid metabolism were identified. Conclusively, AKR-induced cardiotoxicity may be related to energy, nucleic acid and amino acid metabolism, and TCR can reduce the cardiotoxicity by regulating the relative metabolism pathways.