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. 2025 Mar:213:107650.
doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2025.107650. Epub 2025 Feb 12.

Quality and composition control of complex TCM preparations through a novel "Herbs-in vivo Compounds-Targets-Pathways" network methodology: The case of Lianhuaqingwen capsules

Simian Chen  1 , Hui Qi  2 , Chunyan Zhu  1 , Yiheng Zhao  3 , Bo Jiao  3 , Yun Tan  3 , Yuexin Yang  1 , Tongxing Wang  4 , Yunlong Hou  4 , Binxin Dai  1 , Dandan Zhang  1 , Hairong Zhang  1 , Junyu Zhang  1 , Xiaojuan Jiang  1 , Xiaodan Guo  1 , Xiaoyu Qian  1 , Caixia Yuan  1 , Xue Bai  1 , Jiayun Chen  1 , Suping Wang  1 , Yu Cai  1 , Jiarou Zhong  1 , Yunqi Li  3 , Qianqian Zhang  3 , Zhenhua Jia  5 , Caisheng Wu  6
Affiliations

Quality and composition control of complex TCM preparations through a novel "Herbs-in vivo Compounds-Targets-Pathways" network methodology: The case of Lianhuaqingwen capsules

Simian Chen et al. Pharmacol Res. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Lianhuaqingwen (LHQW) capsules, a Chinese patent medicine composed of 13 herbal ingredients, are widely used for respiratory diseases. However, the complex composition of LHQW poses challenges in assessing its quality and consistency. In this study, a comprehensive network of LHQW was constructed by integrating Digital RNA with pertUrbation of Genes (DRUG)-seq, RNA sequencing, and pharmacodynamic data. This approach enables rapid and systematic screening of compounds in LHQW that exhibit high-exposure in vivo and significant activity potential, serving as potential quality control markers. Specifically, DRUG-seq was employed to evaluate gene expression alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from healthy volunteers. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) identified 505 compounds in LHQW-treated rats. Additionally, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) profiles were plotted for 27 primary components of LHQW. Furthermore, an HPLC-MS/MS method quantified 46 compounds from LHQW, with 15 of them identified as potential quality markers with high exposure levels. These markers exhibited significant inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pneumonia in mice, with mechanisms predicted by RNA-seq and verified by RT-qPCR. In summary, this study successfully constructed an "Herbs- in vivo Compounds-targets-pathways" network, offering novel insights into the mechanisms of LHQW and establishing a foundation for enhancing quality control measures.

Keywords: Digital RNA with pertUrbation of Genes; Lianhuaqingwen; Pharmacokinetics; Quality control markers; RNA-seq.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest Prof. Zhenhua Jia reports affiliated to Hebei Yiling Hospital, a non-profit medical institution, which is two completely independent legal entities with Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. Prof Jia is the spouse of Ms. Rui Wu, who holds shares and serves as a director of Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co., LTD. He has fully disclosed these interests to the research committee and have developed an approved plan to manage any potential conflicts that may arise from such an arrangement and ensured the scientificity, objectivity and authority of the research results.

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