A Systematic Review of Different Analytical Methods for the Quantification of Natural Bioactives

Area of Science:

• Natural Product Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Natural bioactive compounds offer therapeutic potential but require efficient analytical methods for development.
• Existing reviews lack comprehensive evaluation of analytical approaches for these compounds.
• This systematic review addresses extraction, structural determination, quantification, and validation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively evaluate current methods for analyzing natural bioactive compounds.
• To assess techniques for extraction, structural elucidation, quantification, and validation.
• To guide researchers in selecting optimal strategies for drug development from natural sources.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search (2000-2024) on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar.
• Focused on extraction, structural elucidation, analytical validation, and pharmacological investigation of plant-derived compounds.
• Synthesized information on 40 bioactive compounds and their analytical mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Soxhlet extraction, MAE, and maceration are common extraction techniques.
• NMR, MS, FTIR, UV-Vis, and X-ray crystallography are key for structural analysis.
• Validation shows high linearity (R² > 0.99), specificity, and accuracy (%RSD < 2); potent compounds have IC50 < 50 µM.
• Drawbacks include matrix interference, high equipment costs, and lack of standardization.

Conclusions:

• Modern spectroscopy and chromatography offer high accuracy but face standardization and cost challenges.
• Integrating extraction, validation, and spectroscopy is crucial for precise characterization.
• The review stresses standardizing techniques, using green solvents, and cost-effective approaches.