Optimization of the Fatty Oil Extraction Process of Sanzi Yangqin Decoction Based on Network Pharmacology and Quantitative LC‐MS/MS Methods

ABSTRACT The fatty oil in Sanzi Yangqin Decoction is a crucial medicinal ingredient found in this renowned traditional Chinese medicine formula for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, a disadvantage of the extraction process using the conventional decoction approach is the poor extraction rate. In this study, we employed network pharmacology to screen for active components for the treatment of COPD, and we optimized the extraction procedure of the fatty oil of Sanzi Yangqin Decoction with the Box–Behnken response surface test. Based on the single‐factor experiment and the Box–Behnken response surface test, the liquid chromatography‐triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method (LC‐MS/MS) to measure these four components has been constructed with the extraction time, extraction temperature, and liquid‐to‐feed ratio as examining factors and the composite scores of the extracted amounts of the four components as examining indexes. According to the results of the study, luteolin, arachidonic acid, sinoacutine, and sinapine thiocyanate have been selected as the analytes for determining the fat oil content of Sanzi Yangqin Decoction. The most effective extraction conditions were 4.1 h, 92°C, and a liquid‐to‐feed ratio of 10:1 mL/g, which achieved a composite score of 85.1. The methodological analysis of the LC‐MS/MS methodology demonstrated that the precision, repeatability, and sample recovery all proved effective, and the linear relationship was good within the range of the four constituents. The optimized Sanzi Yangqin Decoction fatty oil extraction process is reasonable and feasible. And the LC‐MS/MS content determination method is simple, rapid, sensitive, and specific. This work introduces an innovative approach to examining the fatty oils in Sanzi Yangqin Decoction.