In Vivo Metabolic Profiles of Panax notoginseng Saponins Mediated by Gut Microbiota in Rats

Abstract

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are the major health-beneficial components of P. notoginseng with very low oral bioavailability, which could be bio-transformed by gut microbiota in vitro. However, in vivo biotransformation of PNS mediated by gut microbiota is not well-known. This study aimed to characterize the in vivo metabolic profiles of PNS mediated by gut microbiota. The saponins and yielded metabolites in rat feces were identified and relatively quantified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Seventy-three PNS metabolites had been identified in normal control group, but only eleven PNS metabolites were determined in pseudo germ-free (GF) group. In addition, the main biotransformation pathway of PNS metabolism was hydrolytic and dehydration reactions. The results indicated that significant metabolic difference was observed between normal control group and pseudo GF group, while gut microbiota played a profound role on the biotransformation of PNS in vivo.