Metabolic profiling of the Traditional Chinese formula Fang Feng Tong Sheng San by GC-MS

Traditional Chinese Medicines include a large number of component herbs. Each of the herbal constituents contains many compounds that may even with low concentrations be relevant to the medicinal activity. Some plants are rich in volatile ingredients. Fang Feng Tong Sheng San (FFTSS) consists of 17 components [1]. This reputed TCM formulation is recommended for all wind/heat that is showing signs of internal heat so as not to let pathogens penetrate deeper. This study is carried out to determine the major volatile compounds and their possible role in the effectiveness of FFTSS. The hexane extract of the grinded powder of FFTSS was analyzed by GC-MS with a capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 µm film thickness). In this study an analytical procedure was developed for optimization and rapid analysis of the major volatile constituents in FFTSS. Optimal analytical conditions: initial temperature 60 °C (held for 1 min), increased to 280 °C at 4 °C min^-1, final temperature was held for 15 min.; carrier gas helium at a constant flow rate of 1.2 mL min^-1.The temperatures of the interface, ion source and quadrupole were 280, 230 and 150 °C, respectively. Over 50 compounds have been identified ranging from alkanes, ketones to sterols. Seven compounds were considered as the most essential constituents in the FFTSS preparation (menthol, pulegone, butylidene phthalide, ligustilide, methyl linoleate, anthracenedione, isolongifolol). The proposed analytical method and the identified volatile compounds can contribute to the quality control of the FFTSS formula modernization and internationalization of this important preparation.

Financial support from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy, and the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences is gratefully acknowledged.

[1] Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, 10th edition, vol. 1, Chemical Industry Press, 2015