Integrated adrenal and testicular metabolomics revealed the protective effects of Guilingji on the Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome rats

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Guilingji (GLJ) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription for the treatment of Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome (KYDS). Aim of the study This study aimed to address the protective effects of GLJ against KYDS in rats with pharmacodynamic indicators and target tissues (adrenal gland and testis) metabolomics. Materials and methods The rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p) hydrocortisone to simulate KYDS and administered orally of GLJ for 30 days. Traditional pharmacodynamic indicators (body weight, behavioral indicators, biochemical parameters and histological examination) were performed to evaluate the efficacy of GLJ. Furthermore, adrenal gland and testis metabolic profiles obtained by UHPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap-MS coupled with multivariate analysis were conducted to explore the metabolic regulation mechanism of GLJ. Results After administration of GLJ, the weight, levels of behavioral indicators and biochemical parameters of rats were increased compared with those of the model group, and the abnormalities of morphology in adrenal and testicular tissues were improved. Furthermore, GLJ had recovering effects via the adjustment of vitamins metabolism, which was accompanied by lipids metabolism, amino acid metabolism and nucleotides metabolism. Conclusions The study firstly integrated the target tissues metabolic profiles, which were complementary, and GLJ had protective effects on KYDS rats via the regulation of steroid hormone biosynthesis, oxidant-antioxidant balance and energy acquisition.