Discovery of quality markers for Mailuoshutong Pill based on “spider web” mode of “Content-Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacology” network

Mailuoshutong pill (MLSTP) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound preparation used for the treatment of thromboangiitis obliterans. However, component responsible for those effects are not yet identified, nor with their accurate contents and in-vivo movement, which means the quality markers of MLSTP are still unknown. The aim of this study was to discovery quality markers of MLSTP by developing a new multi-dimensional network strategy based on “Content-Pharmacokinetics-Pharmacology”. 40 analytes were determined by UHPLC-MS/MS in 8 min and the average contents in 11 batches of commercial MLSTP samples were used as the content dimension, the pharmacokinetics and pharmacology dimension were evaluated by five variables based on ADME Prediction and Prediction of Activity Spectra. Each dimension of the characteristic network was quantified by multivariate statistical analysis, and a three-dimensional network was constructed. Finally, Liquiritin, Calycosin-7-glucoside and Albiflorin with larger regression area were preferred as quality markers of MLSTP, which had satisfactory comprehensive properties of content, pharmacokinetic properties and pharmacological activity. In summary, the potential quality markers of MLSTP were identified by multi-dimensional characteristic network of content, pharmacokinetics and pharmacology. Also, the new strategy established in this work provided a valuable perspective for the selection of quality control indicators from compound formula.