The chinmedomics method was used to explore the effect of Nanshi capsule on endogenous metabolites of rats with kidney-yang deficiency syndrome, investigate the metabolites and metabolic pathways closely related to kidney-yang deficiency syndrome (KYDS)and identify the therapeutic basis of Nanshi capsule(NPC)as well as its action mechanism for KYDS. The routine biochemical indexes of serum were detected and histomorphology was observed. Based on the chinmedomics technology platform, discriminatory analysis in multivariate modes was conducted for rat blood and urine, thus to investigate the biomarkers of KYDS and the therapeutic effect of NPC against KYDS. Meanwhile, the main constituents of NPC in rat serum were also detected to analyze its correlation between the constituents in vivo and the biomarkers of KYDS, and determine the potential effective compounds for therapeutic effect. Eleven biomarkers of KYDS were identified in the rat models, involving steroid hormone biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism and tyrosine metabolism. It was found that NPC could regulate steroid hormone biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism and tyrosine metabolism; PCMS analysis showed that caffeic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-methoxy-anthraquinone, 1-hydroxy-2-methoxyanthraquinone, ferulic acid glucuronide conjugation, deacetylasperulosidic acid, cynaroside, betaine and umbelliferone were the main effective compounds of NPC for KYDS. In this study, cynaroside, betaine, umbelliferone and other compounds in NPC could integrally regulate the disturbance of metabolic profile in KYDS by improving the hormone synthesis, hormone synthesis pathway, hormone synthesis and release pathway in tyrosine metabolism and linoleic acid synthesis pathway in linoleic acid metabolism. These results indicated that the NPC had the characteristics of multi-pathway, multi-target and overall regulation in the treatment of KYDS. Chinmedomics approach can provide methodology support to discover innovative drug from traditional Chinese medicine.
