The effect of anti‐alcoholic gastric ulcer before and after vinegar‐processed Yuanhu Zhitong prescription based on spectral‐effect relationship

The aim of this study was to screen out the active ingredients of Yuanhu Zhitong prescription (YZP) before and after vinegar processing to play an anti-alcoholic gastric ulcer role through spectrum-effect relationship. First, the fingerprint of 16 batches of YZP was studied using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry detector analysis (UPLC-QDA) method. Second, gastric lesion was induced by anhydrous ethanol. The degree of gastric mucosa injury was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the contents of malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor α and superoxide dismutase were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Sixteen batches of YZP were analyzed using the spectrum-effect relationship method. Finally, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) was used to evaluate the bioavailability of potential compounds. The results showed that the UPLC-QDA method could successfully establish the fingerprint of YZP. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and biochemical indicators showed that YZP had obvious anti-alcoholic gastric ulcer action. Coptisine chloride, corydaline, berberine chloride, palmatine, imperatorin, and phellopterin were screened out using the spectrum-effect method, and all of them possessed good bioavailability. The results of this study suggest that YZP plays an anti-ulcer role by exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through six main active components.