Application of NMR-Based Metabolomics in Assessment of Botanicals

Metabolomics is increasingly being used in a broad range of sciences including systems biology, drug discovery, molecular and cell biology and other medical and agricultural sciences [1,2]. The metabolomic analyses of Hoodia (Hoodia gordonii), Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) and Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), as well as their products, were performed using 1H-NMR spectroscopy and multivariate statistical analysis. The different extraction conditions for sample preparation were investigated. This study demonstrated that the NMR-based metabolomics is a useful tool for the characterization, classification and authentication of botanicals. Acknowledgements: This work was funded by the FDA/CFSAN grant entitled “Science Based Authentication of Dietary Supplements” Number 2 U01 FD 002071-07. References: [1] Lindon JC, et al. (2006), Pharm Res, 23(6): 1075–1088. [2] Hollywood K, et al. (2006), Proteomics, 6: 4716–4723.