Identification of the chemical components and metabolites of tripterygium glycoside tablets in mice by HPLC-Q/TOF MS

Abstract Tripterygium glycosides tablets (TGT) contain the main extract of tripterygium and are widely used clinically to treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and nephrotic syndrome. However, TGT can lead to liver and renal failure in clinic. The exposed components and their metabolites of TGT in vivo were rarely researched. In this study, the components and metabolites of TGT in mice liver, kidney and plasma were profiled by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q/TOFMS) after TGT was orally administered to mice. The components and metabolites were detected and identified based on their retention time, accurate mass data of quasi-molecular ion, characteristic fragment ions, and the fragmentation rules. Finally, 48 prototype components, including 25 diterpenoids, 11 triterpenoids and 12 alkaloids, were detected in mice, as well as 99 metabolites, undergoing hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, ester bond hydrolysis of Phase I metabolism, and glutathione, glucuronic acid binding of Phase II metabolism. The components and metabolites in mice were compared between single- and multiple- low dose groups and between high and low dose groups. Furthermore, a total of 21 components and 35 metabolites were predicted to have potential toxic risk by software. The results would provide material basis to clarify the clinical efficacy and toxicity of TGT.