Systematic profiling of chemical components in Tribulus terrestris L. extract and its absorbed parent...

Ischemic stroke (IS) often results in neuronal injury and persistent neurological impairment, underscoring the necessity for effective therapeutic approaches during the recovery phase. Tribulus terrestris L. has a historical application in promoting blood circulation and eliminating blood stasis, showing potential relevance to IS-related pathological processes. This study systematically characterized the chemical constituents of Tribulus terrestris L. extract using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, identifying 67 compounds. In vivo analysis of absorbed prototype constituents and metabolites revealed 73 compounds, comprising 40 prototype constituents and 33 metabolites. Based on these absorbed constituents, network pharmacology analysis predicted that TP53, SRC, AKT1, and PIK3R1 could be key targets associated with IS-related biological processes. Additionally, integrated analysis of the protein-protein interaction network and pathway enrichment indicated that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway might be involved in the potential actions of Tribulus terrestris L. extract. These results systematically elucidated the chemical composition of Tribulus terrestris L. extract and offered a network pharmacology-based prediction of potential mechanisms related to IS, without direct experimental evidence of a therapeutic mechanism. Given the absence of ischemic stroke animal models, pharmacodynamic evaluations, neuroprotection assays, target validations, or pathway validations in this study, the proposed targets and pathways should be considered hypotheses requiring further experimental validation.