Phytochemical profiling and toxicity assessment of Yinaoxin granules

Yinaoxin granules (YNX) is a widely used Chinese herbal preparation composed of six medicinal herbs. YNX has been shown to effectively mitigate both headaches and dizziness. However, systematic investigations into its chemical basis and safety profile remain limited. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of the chemical constituents and toxicological profile of YNX is critical and urgent.

This study aimed to characterize the chemical constituents of YNX and evaluate its toxicological safety through both acute and subacute exposure assessments.

The chemical constituents of YNX were characterized via ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Acute toxicity was assessed in C57BL/6 mice after a single oral dose of 5, 10 or 20 g/kg with 7-day observation. Subchronic toxicity was evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats given daily oral doses of 5, 10 or 20 g/kg for 30 days. Animals were monitored for clinical signs, body weight and food intake. At study end, hematology, serum biochemistry, organ coefficients and histopathology were performed. Targeted assays included brain oxidative-stress markers (CAT, SOD, GSH, MDA) and immunohistochemistry for ZO-1 (intestine), AR (testis), ER-α (ovary) and α-SMA (liver and kidney).

UPLC-MS confirmed multiple bioactive constituents in YNX, including quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, luteolin, chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid and ursolic acid; the analytical method demonstrated satisfactory stability and reproducibility. In the acute study no mortality or treatment-related clinical toxicity was observed up to 20 g/kg. In the 30-day study, YNX-treated rats maintained normal body weight, food intake, organ coefficients, hematological and biochemical parameters, and no treatment-related histopathological lesions were observed. Brain oxidative-stress markers showed no significant treatment-related changes. Immunohistochemistry revealed no alterations in ZO-1, AR, ER-α or α-SMA expression, indicating preserved barrier integrity, reproductive receptor expression and lack of fibrogenic activation.

YNX contains abundant flavonoids and terpenoids and exhibited no detectable acute or subchronic toxicity under the tested conditions. These integrated chemical and toxicological data support the short-term safety of YNX and provide a foundation for dosing guidance and further long-term safety evaluation.