Effect of Yishenjiangyafang on Plasma Metabolomics in Senile Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

OBJECTIVES: Yishenjiangyafang is a traditional Chinese medicine used to clinically treat hypertension. This study aimed to explore the effect of yishenjiangyafang on plasma metabolomics in senile spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). METHODS: Twelve 50-week-old SHR (6 males and 6 females) were randomly divided into two groups: a treatment group, in which rats were intragastrically administered with yishenjiangyafang (10.08 g kg(−1)·d(−1)), and a model group, in which all SHRs were administered the same volume of saline. Six age- and gender-matched Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as the control group. Treatment was given for 6 days per week and lasted for 8 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the rats were measured with the noninvasive tail artery pressure measurement system. An ultraperformance liquid chromatography quadruple electrostatic field orbit (UPLC-Q-Exactive) was used to determine metabolite changes in the plasma of SHR rats before and after yishenjiangyafang treatment in the treatment group as well as in the model and control groups. RESULTS: After yishenjiangyafang treatment, SHRs had significant lower blood pressure. Using UPLC-Q-Exactive, we identified 26 metabolic targets of yishenjiangyafang in aged SHRs and revealed that yishenjiangyafang targeted four major metabolic pathways, linoleic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. CONCLUSION: Yishenjiangyafang decreases the blood pressure of SHRs at least in part through targeting of four major metabolic pathways. Our study illustrates mechanisms underlying the clinical application of yishenjiangyafang in the treatment of hypertensive patients.