Study of the estrogenic-like mechanism of glycosides of cistanche using metabolomics

Abstract

Cistanche deserticola, known as Rou Cong-Rong in China, has been used as a tonic for more than 1800 years, with previous studies demonstrating that glycosides of cistanche (GCs) are a main active component. In this study, a uterotrophic assay and histological analysis were utilized to confirm the estrogenic activity of GCs, and UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics was used to explore the estrogenic-like mechanism of GCs in serum and urine. Seven altered differential metabolites, including citric acid, taurine, proline, betaine, ornithine, pyroglutamic acid, and α-ketoglutaric acid, were of particular interest due to being present in both serum and urine. Moreover, the differential metabolites were categorized into several major pathways, including the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), glutathione metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, and phenylalanine metabolism. The estrogenic-like mechanism of GCs could be concluded as closely related to the TCA cycle and glutathione metabolism due to these pathways being present in both serum and urine. Our results shed light on the estrogenic-like mechanism of GCs, which will be helpful for GC development and utilization.