Elaboration of the comprehensive metabolic profile of Salvianolic acid A in Vivo and in Vitro using UFLC-Q/TOF-MS

Salvianolic acid A (Sal A) has a wide range of pharmacological activities. To date, there has been no systematic and detailed metabolite research data of Sal A after oral administration in vitro and in vivo. In this study, a rapid and systematic method based on ultra fast liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UFLC-Q/TOF-MS) was developed to detect metabolites of Sal A in vitro (human liver microsome, human intestinal microbiota, artificial gastric and intestinal juice) and in vivo (urine, plasma, feces and various organs collected after oral administration of Sal A to normal rats and pseudo-germ-free rats). A total of 26 metabolites of Sal A were characterized. These metabolites were formed through extensive metabolic reactions, such as hydroxylation, hydrogenation, and glucuronidation reactions. This study provides novel possibility for exploring the potential biological mechanism of Sal A, and aids the promotion of clinical application.