Identification and Quantitation of Cardiac Hypertrophy Inhibitory Components in Trichosanthis Pericarpium Injection Based on UHPLC‐QE‐MS and Spectrum–Effect Relationships

Trichosanthis Pericarpium injection (TPI) is a Chinese patent medicine for coronary heart disease and stable angina pectoris. This study aimed to integrate UHPLC-QE-MS with fingerprint-effect relationships, chemometrics, and spectrum-effect relationship analyses to accurately screen active components and quantify quality markers in TPI. First, the impact of TPI on Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was assessed in vitro, confirming its inhibitory effects on cardiac hypertrophy for the first time. Next, 57 compounds were identified using UHPLC-QE-MS. Twelve batches of TPI were characterized by UPLC-UV, and these fingerprint spectra were correlated with their inhibitory effects on cardiac hypertrophy using Pearson correlation analysis and PLSR methods. Five key compounds were identified: trigonelline, adenine, adenosine, guanosine, and vanillic acid. Among them, except for adenosine, the four compounds showed significant anti-hypertrophy activity. Finally, a rapid UHPLC-QQQ-MS/MS quantification method revealed that trigonelline and guanosine had high content, minimal variation, and significant inhibitory effects, establishing them as suitable quality control indicators for TPI. This study provides valuable support for the pharmacodynamic material basis and quality control of Trichosanthis Pericarpium and TPI and for the quality evaluation of complex chemical ingredient products.