Title:Recent Advances in the Methodology and Application for the Metabolism of Phytochemical Compounds-An Update Covering the Period of 2009-2014
VOLUME: 15 ISSUE: 10
Author(s):Wan Cao, Ling Yi, Jun Cao, Shuai-Shuai Hu and Ping Li
Affiliation:College of Material Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China.
Keywords:Detection techniques, medicinal plants, methodology of metabolism, phytochemicals, sample preparation.
Abstract:The research of drug metabolism is essential for successful drug discovery. Phytochemicals, particularly those from herbal
medicines, have the potential to affect diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, etc., showing great advantages
in disease prevention and personalized treatment. In the past decade, phytochemical metabolism played a major role in the discovery
of valuable leading compounds of new drugs. However, the metabolic studies of phytochemical compounds are extremely challenging
due to numerous analogs with similar structures, complex endogenous matrices with multi-components in biofluids and cell or
tissue extracts. For the feasibility of monitoring phytochemical metabolism, suitable bioanalytical tools and strategies have to be developed
and validated. Here we critically review the literature from 2009 to 2014, and present generalized strategy for phytochemical metabolism
in biological matrices, including the methodology of metabolism, sample preparation methods and detection techniques. In addition,
the present paper covers the diverse aspects of metabolism studies on phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthraquinones, alkaloids, terpenoids,
coumarins, lignans and steroids in medicinal plants. Finally, prospects for further research are also considered.
