Abstract
Acanthopanax senticosus is extensively used to treat various nervous and cerebrovascular diseases in traditional
medicinal systems in China and Russia. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole
time-of-flight-mass spectrometry coupled with pattern recognition methods was used
to investigate the effects of A. senticosus on the peripheral system in rats. The analysis of possible pathways influenced by
A. senticosus was performed with MetaboAnalyst and Cytoscape software. After treatment with A. senticosus, 21 modulated metabolites in heart tissue, 20 in liver tissue, 14 in spleen tissue,
17 in lung tissue, 16 in kidney tissue, and 12 in a serum sample were identified and
considered potential biomarkers of A. senticosus treatments. The regulation of some endogenous metabolites by A. senticosus could be beneficial for the treatment of several peripheral system diseases, such
as hypertension, cancer, and oxidative stress, etc. However, there were also some
upregulated endogenous metabolites producing potential toxicity to the peripheral
system. A metabonomic analysis revealed that protection and toxicity coexisted in
the effects of A. senticosus on the peripheral system, which may be a practical guide for its safe use and beneficial
to the expansion of its application.
Key words
Acanthopanax senticosus
- Araliaceae - metabonomic analysis - potential intervention targets - peripheral
system
