A new method for giving complementary explanation on the blood enriching function and mechanism of unprocessed Angelica sinensis and its 4 kinds of processed products with tissue integrated metabolomics and confirmatory analysis

Angelica sinensis (AS) is a commonly used Traditional Chinese Medicine of tonifying blood in China. Unprocessed AS (UAS) and its 4 kinds of processed products (ASs) are used to treat blood deficiency syndrome (BDS) in Chinese nation. The different tonifying blood mechanism of ASs was still unclear. A novel integrated metabolomics, hematological and biochemical parameters measurement were established to give a complementary explanation on blood supplementation mechanism of ASs. The results revealed different ASs exhibited various blood supplementation effect, and AS parched with alcohol (AAS) had the best effect of blood supplementation. 8 metabolites from the liver tissue and 12 metabolites from the spleen tissue were considered to be the potential biomarkers. These biomarkers were involved in four metabolic pathways. Correlation analysis results showed L-Aspartic acid and L-Alanine (spleen tissue), Linoleic acid and L-Cystathionine (liver tissue) exhibited high positive or negative correlation with the above biochemical indicators. The blood supplementation effect mechanism of ASs were related to 4 metabolic pathways. L-Aspartic acid and L-Alanine (spleen tissue), Linoleic acid and L-Cystathionine (liver tissue) were four key metabolites about the blood supplementation effect of ASs. This study gives a complementary explanation on the blood supplementation effect and mechanism of ASs.