Analytical profiling of bioactive constituents from herbal products, using metabolomics--a review.

Natural products have been the source of many active substances in drug discovery. There are several strategies/approaches in the field of biology, drug discovery, molecular and cell biology for identification of bioactive molecules. Metabolomics involves fewer complexities, is more precise and provides more relevant data compared with other techniques. This approach is based on the application of new technologies and provides real-world end points that complement and help in the interpretation of genomic and proteomic data in drug discovery. It has also been proven to be a valuable analytical tool for the identification of secondary metabolites from medicinal plants, particularly for evidence-based development of new phytotherapeutical agents and nutraceuticals. This review outlines the different analytical techniques used to detect and measure the multiplexed metabolites and biomarkers in the herbal field.