Impact of targeted UPLC-MS/MS metabolomics on chemical and biochemical characterisation of MAPs

Analysis of natural product pattern (metabolites; metabolomics) and its formation (pathway; biosynthesis) in plants, especially in non-model or crop plants such as medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), is a research field with significant potential for breeders, growers and consumers. There is an increasing importance for constant and sustainable quality of MAPs final products. Polyphenols are one of the most important compounds for the antioxidant properties of MAPs and are often, if not identified as active principle, used as lead compounds in quality assessment of herbal drugs and related preparation (herbal tea, alcoholic extracts etc.). Therefore, offering an efficient, robust and reliable fast tool to determine these quality features of MAPs will guarantee the growers, industrial users and the consumers from possible frauds.