An UHPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of ten sex steroid hormones in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis rat and its application in discovery of sex steroid hormones regulatory components of Xian-Ling-Gu-Bao capsule

•An UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantitative analysis of ten sex steroid hormones in rat and mouse serum.•The method was successfully applied in XLGB-intervened OVX rats.•XLGB could not only improve the levels of E2, P, 17OHP and ATI, but also regulate the ratio of P to progestogen and T to androgen.•The molecular docking results showed that psoralen, isopsoralen and sweroside could activate AC on promoting steroid hormones biosynthesis.•It is the first time to evaluate the regulatory effect of kidney-tonifying TCMP on steroid hormones in ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis rat.