Difference of Chemical Compositions in Fu Zheng Fang with Different Dosage Forms Based on HPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS Combined with Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Background: Fu Zheng Fang (FZF) is an important Chinese medicine prescription for tumor treatment in hospitals, which has two different types, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction pieces and TCM formula granules. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effective composition of the drug FZF. Methods: In this research, FZF decoction pieces and FZF formula granules were collected and their composition, determined by HPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS, and multivariate statistical analysis, was applied to distinguish differential metabolite patterns between two groups. Results: A clear cut difference in the composition of the two groups was observed. 124 differential chemical compositions could be identified in the positive mode, while 59 differential chemical compositions could be identified in the negative mode. The differential chemical compositions were mainly concentrated in flavonoids, organic acids, fatty acids, amino acid compounds, and presenting different change rules, mainly involved in two metabolic pathways; the flavonoid biosynthesis, and flavone and flavonol biosynthesis. Conclusion: This study provides basic information that may be of use in the formulation of the drug in different dosages and in the examination of their efficacy.