Abstract
Background: α-mangostin, a typical xanthone, often exists in Garcinia mangostana L. (Clusiaceae). α-mangostin was found to have a wide range of pharmacological properties. However, its specific metabolic route in vivo remains unclear, while these metabolites may accumulate to exert pharmacological effects, too.
Objective: This study aimed to clarify the metabolic pathways of α-mangostin after oral administration to the rats.
Methods: Here, an UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS was used for the detection of potential metabolites formed in vivo. A new strategy for the identification of unknown metabolites based on typical fragmentation routes was implemented.
Results: A total of 42 metabolites were detected, and their structures were tentatively identified in this study. The results showed that major in vivo metabolic pathways of α-mangostin in rats included methylation, demethylation, methoxylation, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, dehydroxylation, glucuronidation, and sulfation.
Conclusions: This study is significant to expand our knowledge of the in vivo metabolism of α-mangostin and to understand the mechanism of action of α-mangostin in rats in vivo.
Keywords: α-mangostin, metabolism, in vivo, UHPLC-Q-exactive orbitrap MS, xanthones, hydrogenation, sulfation.
Graphical Abstract