A typical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) contains up to a few hundreds of prototype components. Studying their absorption, metabolism, distribution and elimination (ADME) represents great challenges. The objective of this study was to develop a practical approach for investigating ADME of individual prototypes in TCM. An active fraction of Xiao-Xu-Ming Decoction (AF-XXMD) as a model TCM prescription was orally administered to rats. AF-XXMD-related components in plasma, urine, bile and feces were detected using high resolution mass spectrometry and background subtraction, an untargeted data-mining tool, and structurally characterized based on MSn spectral data. Connection of detected AF-XXMD metabolites to their precursor species, either prototypes or upstream metabolites, were determined based on mass spectral similarity and the matching of biotransformation reactions. As a result, 247 AF-XXMD-related components were detected and structurally characterized in rats, 134 of which were metabolites. Among 198 AF-XXMD prototypes dosed, 65 were fully or partially absorbed and 13 prototypes and 34 metabolites were found in the circulation. Glucuronidation, isomerization and deglycosylation followed by biliary and urinary excretions and direct elimination of prototypes via kidney and liver were major clearance pathways of AF-XXMD prototypes. As an example, the ADME profile of H56, the single major AF-XXMD component in rat plasma, was elucidated based on profiles of H56-related components in plasma and excreta. The results demonstrate that the new analytical approach is a useful tool for rapid and comprehensive detection and characterization of TCM components in biological matrix and study of ADME of a TCM prescription in vivo.

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional Portland cement, yet their rheological properties, particularly in concrete mixtures, remain largely underexplored. This study conducted rheological tests to investigate the flow properties and thixotropic behavior of alkali-activated slag (AAS) concrete with varying water-to-binder (w/b) ratios and silicate modulus (Ms). The thixotropy of AAS concrete was assessed using the thixotropic index, breakdown area, and variations in apparent viscosity under different shear rates, revealing correlations between thixotropic behaviors and rheological parameters. Mixtures with lower Ms and w/b ratios showed limited slump values and rapid structural build-up due to increased interparticle connections. As Ms increased, enhanced thixotropic behaviors were observed, attributed to the rapid formation of early hydration products. This led to a significant increase in peak torque values and a slight decrease in equilibrium torque values at various rotational speeds. In turn, AAS concrete with higher Ms demonstrated improved fluidity and workability retention after thixotropic build-up was erased. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the flow and thixotropic behaviors of fresh AAS concretes for practical applications.