Application of UHPLC/ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS to Identify Constituents of Erding Granule and Anti-hyperuricemia Effect

Background: Erding granule (EDG) widely used as an agent with the effect of heat-clearing, detoxifying, eliminating dampness, relieving jaundice and upper respiratory tract disease in clinical application, but the systematic chemical information and anti-hyperuricemia effect of EDG was still unclear. Methods: An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) method was utilized to rapidly identify the chemical constituents of EDG. The anti-hyperuricemia effect of EDG was evaluated based on the effect on xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity (in vitro) and lowering uric acid (in vivo). Results: 198 compounds were tentatively separated and identified or characterized within 30 min by UHPLC/ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS. These compounds were categorized as 22 coumarins, 38 flavones, 67 alkaloids, 36 organic acids, 16 sesquiterpenes, 14 lignans and 5 the others constituents. Meanwhile, EDG significantly decreases the serum urate level of hyperuricemic mice induced by potassium oxonate, while EDG did not significantly decrease the serum urate level of hyperuricemic mice induced by hypoxanthine and activity of xanthine oxidase in vitro. Conclusion: The method developed was rapid and sensitive to characterize the chemical constituents of EDG, and provide a systematic view of chemical information for EDG. Furthermore, we first discovered the anti-hyperuricemia effect of EDG and it would further provide the reference for clarifying the mechanism of EDG on lowering uric acid.