ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Chem.
Sec. Analytical Chemistry
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fchem.2025.1630159
Deciphering Structure-Composition-Efficacy Transformation in Processed Fuzi: An Integrated SEM, XRD, Metabolomics, and Pharmacodynamics Approach
Provisionally accepted
Yang Yang1
Xuemei Wei1Shuya Zhang2
Yun Li1Jiazhen Wu1Suhua Cai1Biren Wang1Zhiming Yang1E Yang1Junling Cao1
Qinhua Chen1*Guihong Chen1*- 1Key Laboratory of TCM Clinical Pharmacy, Shenzhen Baoan Authentic TCM Therapy Hospital, Shenzhen,Guangdong, China
- 2Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital,Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
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Abstract Background Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi), a vital yet toxic herbal medicine, faces significant challenges in standardization due to varied processing methods that undermine detoxification efficacy and hinder therapeutic optimization. Methods An integrative analytical approach combining scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), metabolomics, and pharmacodynamic evaluation was employed to investigate the structural, compositional, and functional transformations during Fuzi processing. Results SEM imaging and XRD data revealed that the morphological breakdown of starch granules varied according to processing technique. Metabolomics analysis based on mass spectrum identified 57 diterpenoid alkaloids, including 12 bioactive components, whose levels fluctuated across nine processing variants.Pharmacodynamic profiling revealed distinct efficacy-safety trade-offs across these variants, underscoring the pivotal role of processing methods in determining clinical risk profiles and therapeutic indices. Conclusion This study elucidated the structure-composition-efficacy correlations in Fuzi processing, highlighting the relationship between starch reorganization, alkaloid modification, and therapeutic outcomes. These insights offer a mechanistic basis for refining traditional processing protocols, optimizing detoxification and therapeutic retention, and advancing standardization in herbal medicine.
Keywords: Fuzi, TCM processing standardization, Starch ultrastructure, Metabolomics, Efficacy-safety balance
Received: 17 May 2025; Accepted: 18 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Yang, Wei, Zhang, Li, Wu, Cai, Wang, Yang, Yang, Cao, Chen and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Qinhua Chen, Key Laboratory of TCM Clinical Pharmacy, Shenzhen Baoan Authentic TCM Therapy Hospital, Shenzhen,Guangdong, China
Guihong Chen, Key Laboratory of TCM Clinical Pharmacy, Shenzhen Baoan Authentic TCM Therapy Hospital, Shenzhen,Guangdong, China
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