Abstract：
Herba Epimedii, known for its rich array of bioactive ingredients and widespread use in ethnopharmacological practices, still lacks a comprehensive understanding of its gastrointestinal biotransformation. In this study, we qualitatively explored the dynamic changes in Epimedium sagittatum components during in vitro simulated digestions, with a quantitative focus on its five major flavonoids. Notably, significant metabolism of E. sagittatum constituents occurred in the simulated small intestinal fluid and colonic fermentation stages, yielding various low molecular weight metabolites. Flavonoids like kaempferol glycosides were fully metabolized in the simulated intestinal fluid, while hyperoside digestion occurred during simulated colon digestion. Colonic fermentation led to the production of two known bioactive isoflavones, genistein, and daidzein. The content and bioaccessibility of the five major epimedium flavonoids-icariin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, and baohuoside I-significantly increased after intestinal digestion. During colon fermentation, these components gradually decreased but remained incompletely metabolized after 72 h. Faecal samples after E. sagittatum fermentation exhibited shift towards dominance by Lactobacillus (Firmicutes), Bifidobacterium (Actinobacteria), Streptococcus (Firmicutes), and Dialister (Firmicutes). These findings enhance our comprehension of diverse stages of Herba Epimedii constituents in the gut, suggesting that the primary constituents become bioaccessible in the colon, where new bioactive compounds may emerge.
摘要：
淫羊藿,以其丰富的生物活性成分和广泛用于民族药理学实践而闻名，对其胃肠道生物转化还缺乏全面的了解。在这项研究中,我们定性地探索了体外模拟消化过程中淫羊藿成分的动态变化，定量关注其五大类黄酮。值得注意的是,在模拟小肠液和结肠发酵阶段，产生各种低分子量代谢物。山奈酚苷等黄酮类化合物在模拟肠液中完全代谢，而金丝桃苷消化发生在模拟结肠消化过程中。结肠发酵导致生产两种已知的生物活性异黄酮，Genistein,还有Daidzein.五种主要淫羊藿黄酮-淫羊藿苷的含量和生物可及性，epimedinA,EpimedinB,epimedinC,保火苷I-在肠道消化后显著增加。在结肠发酵过程中,Thesecomponentsgraduallydecreasedbutremainsincompletelymetaborizedafter72h.FautysamplesafterE.sagitatumferencingexhibitedtoworganizedmovingtoworingdominancebyLactobacillus(Firmicutes),双歧杆菌（放线菌），链球菌(Firmicutes),和Dialister（Firmicutes）。这些发现增强了我们对肠道内淫羊藿成分不同阶段的理解，表明主要成分在结肠中变得可生物利用，可能会出现新的生物活性化合物。
