Untargeted metabolomics reveals alterations in metabolites of lipid metabolism and immune pathways in serum of rats after long term oral administration of Amalaki rasayana

Amalaki rasayana (AR), a traditional preparation is widely used by Ayurvedic physicians for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and for rejuvenating aged people. Metabolic alterations induced by Amalaki rasayana intervention are unknown. We aimed to investigate modulations in serum metabolomic profiles following long term oral Amalaki rasayana administration in Wistar rats. A global metabolic profiling was performed of the serum of rats administered with Amalaki rasayana or ghee+honey (GH) for 18 months and control animals which were left untreated. Amalaki rasayana components were identified from AR extract using HR-LCMS analysis. Significant reductions in prostaglandin J2, 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 and higher levels of reduced glutathione and glycitein metabolites were observed in serum of AR administered rats compared to the control groups. Pathway analysis suggest that altered metabolites in AR administered rats are those associated with different biochemical pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, leukotriene metabolism, G-protein mediated events, phospholipid metabolism and the immune system. Our study identifies the AR components that induce alterations in lipid metabolism and immune pathways in animals which consume AR for a long period.