SCIENCE ALERT: NMR techniques & methods in botanicals quality control and research (Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis)

Editor's Note

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has proven to be a powerful and useful tool for the investigation of botanical products. The authors of this paper provide an overview of the potential uses of NMR techniques and methodologies in an attempt to further promote their recognition and utilization in the field of botanical health products analysis and quality control. The authors argue that nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics is robust and relatively easy to use, it is far more reproducible, non-destructive, and sample preparation is simpler and quicker to use than some alternate techniques which are currently more commonly employed. Relatively recent advances in the technology have made NMR instrumentation less expensive and more accessible to quality control labs as a routine platform. This article discusses potential NMR applications, resulting in both qualitative and quantitative data, from research and development to quality control of botanical dietary supplements.

September 2021

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114376

NMR technique and methodology in botanical health product analysis and quality control

Abstract

Botanicals have played an important role in maintaining human health and well-being throughout history. During the past few decades in particular, the use of botanical health products has gained more popularity. Whereas, quality, safety and efficacy concerns have continuously been critical issues due to the intrinsic chemical complexity of botanicals. Chemical analytical technologies play an imperative role in addressing these issues. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has proven to be a powerful and useful tool for the investigation of botanical health products. In this review, NMR techniques and methodologies that have been successfully applied to the research and development of botanical health products in all the stages, from plants to products, are discussed and summarized. Furthermore, applications of NMR together with other analytical techniques in a variety of domains of botanical health products investigation, such as plant species differentiation, adulteration detection, and bio-activity evaluation, are discussed and illustrated with typical examples. This article provides an overview of the potential uses of NMR techniques and methodologies in an attempt to further promote their recognition and utilization in the field of botanical health products analysis and quality control.