Journal of Forensic Medicine ›› 2021, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (5): 653-660.DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.301003

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Application of UPLC-QTOF-MS in Analysis of Non-targeted Urine Metabolomics in Rats with Yunaconitine Poisoning

Hui-xia ZHOU1(), Huan LIU2, Xue HAN1, Sheng-jie NIE1, Rong-ping ZHANG3,4, Jian-yun YU1(), Shu-hua LI1()   

  1. 1.School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
    2.Judicial Expertise Center, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
    3.School of Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
    4.School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China
  • Received:2020-10-27 Online:2021-10-25 Published:2021-10-28
  • Contact: Jian-yun YU,Shu-hua LI

Abstract: Objective

To explore the possible mechanism of Yunaconitine poisoning by studying the changes of urine metabolic profile in rats chronically poisoned by Yunaconitine via non-targeted metabolomics.

Methods

A rat model of Yunaconitine poisoning was established, and a metabolomics method based on UPLC-QTOF-MS technology was used to obtain the urine metabolic profile. Principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), variable importance in projection (VIP) value greater than 1, fold change (FC) value greater than 3 or less than 0.33 and P value less than 0.05 were used to screen potential biomarkers related to the toxicity of Yunaconitine. The metabolic pathway analysis was performed through the MetaboAnalyst website and pathological changes of related tissues were observed.

Results

Sixteen potential biomarkers including L-isoleucine were screened, which mainly involved six metabolic pathways including the biosynthesis and degradation of valine, leucine and isoleucine, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and propanoate metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, tyrosine metabolism. Pathological studies showed that rat toxic change in nervous system, liver and cardiac caused by Yunaconitine.

Conclusion

Yunaconitine may cause neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity by affecting amino acid and glucose metabolism.

Key words: forensic toxicology, metabolomics, poisoning, Yunaconitine, ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry, urine, rats

CLC Number: