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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Mass Spectrometry-Guided Genome Mining as a Tool to Uncover Novel Natural Products
Published on: March 12, 2020
Application of Metabolomics in the Study of Natural Products
Qi Zhao1,2, Jia-Le Zhang3, Fei Li4
1State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
LC-MS-based metabolomics could have a major impact in the study of natural products, especially in its metabolism, toxicity and activity. This review highlights recent applications of metabolomics approach in the study of metabolites and toxicity of natural products, and the understanding of their effects on various diseases. Metabolomics has been employed to study the in vitro and in vivo metabolism of natural compounds, such as osthole, dehydrodiisoeugenol, and myrislignan. The pharmacological effects of natural compounds and extracts were determined using metabolomics technology combined with diseases models in animal, including osthole and nutmeg extracts. It has been demonstrated that metabolomics is a powerful technology for the investigation of xenobiotics-induced toxicity. The metabolism of triptolide and its hepatotoxicity were discussed. LC-MS-based metabolomics has a great potential in the druggability of natural products. The application of metabolomics should be broadened in the field of natural products in the future.
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