Serum metabolomics study of anti‐aging mechanisms of different processed Schisandra chinensis fructus products

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the anti‐aging mechanism of raw and various processed Schisandrae chinensis fructus (SF) products by examining differences in serum metabolites in D‐galactose (D‐gal)‐induced aging rats. The study provides a metabolomic basis for SF as a tonic. The ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐Q‐time of flight‐tandem mass spectrometry technique was employed for serum metabolomic analysis of the anti‐aging effects of differently processed SF products. Multivariate statistical analysis, MetaboAnalyst, and Human Metabolome Database were utilized for pattern recognition and identification of characteristic metabolites. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay results revealed significant differences between the aging model group and the blank group ( p < 0.01). Treatment with various processed SF products significantly improved related indicators in aging rats ( p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Arginine and seven other metabolites exhibited direct effects on aging. Wine‐processed Schisandrae (WS) treatment adjusted these biomarkers in aging rats to normal levels. WS significantly delayed D‐gal‐induced aging in rats by modulating endogenous biomarkers in relevant metabolic pathways, providing a scientific basis for its enhanced suitability as a tonic from a metabolomic perspective.