Innovative Analytical Approaches for Natural Products and Pharmaceuticals in Complex Matrices

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pharmaceuticals and natural bioactive products, including those of plant, microbial, or marine origin, play a crucial role in health, agriculture, and biotechnology. However, their presence, as therapeutic agents, dietary supplements, or unintended environmental contaminants, requires accurate and sensitive analytical approaches for their identification, quantification, and monitoring in complex matrices.

Emerging contaminants (ECs), such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and transformation by-products, are increasingly detected in environmental, food, and biological systems. The analytical characterization of ECs presents significant challenges due to the complexity of matrices, the chemical diversity of target compounds, and the need for high sensitivity and selectivity.

Natural products with therapeutic activity also require advanced analytical methods to verify their composition, effectiveness, and safety, particularly in nutraceuticals, herbal products, and functional food matrices.

This Topic, "Innovative Analytical Approaches for Natural Products and Pharmaceuticals in Complex Matrices", aims to highlight recent advances in the development and implementation of analytical techniques for the investigation of both synthetic pharmaceuticals and naturally derived bioactive compounds. Contributions may include advances in separation techniques (e.g., LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, UHPLC, CE), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and electrochemical detection methods.

We also welcome studies focused on green sample preparation, metabolomics and untargeted screening, and the role of analytical methods in elucidating degradation pathways, bioavailability, and risk assessment. Emphasis will be placed on real-world applications across environmental, food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical fields.

Dr. Rosanna Ciriello
Dr. Filomena Lelario
Dr. Carmen Tesoro
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Analytica analytica	3.6	7.2	2020	19 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Biosensors biosensors	5.6	12.1	2011	20.6 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
Chemosensors chemosensors	3.7	8.1	2013	19.1 Days	CHF 2000	Submit
Environments environments	3.7	5.7	2014	19.2 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Foods foods	5.1	10.3	2012	15 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Molecules molecules	4.6	10.3	1996	15.1 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Pharmaceuticals pharmaceuticals	4.8	9.0	2004	16 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Separations separations	2.7	6.4	2014	16 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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All Analytica Biosensors Foods Molecules Pharmaceuticals Separations Environments Chemosensors

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13 pages, 9377 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Direct Analysis of Silk Dyes from the Murong Zhi Tomb from the Tang Dynasty Using Desorption Electrospray Ionization High-Resolution Mass-Spectrometry Imaging (DESI-MSI)

by Qian Yu, Feng Zhang, Wenchao Lv, Yan Wang, Lei Zhong, Wenting Gu, Junmei Liu, Xinyan Liu, Donghui Xu, Guangyang Liu, Guoke Chen and Nasi Ai

Separations 2026, 13(5), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations13050145 - 9 May 2026

Viewed by 497

Abstract

The identification of dyes in ancient textiles is crucial for provenance research and scientific conservation. However, the extremely significant value of these cultural relics necessitates the use of non-destructive analytical techniques. To establish a non-destructive, in-situ, accurate, and rapid method for identifying natural [...] Read more.

The identification of dyes in ancient textiles is crucial for provenance research and scientific conservation. However, the extremely significant value of these cultural relics necessitates the use of non-destructive analytical techniques. To establish a non-destructive, in-situ, accurate, and rapid method for identifying natural dyes in ancient silk fabric samples, we employed desorption electrospray ionization high-resolution mass-spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI). By optimizing key instrumental parameters—including sample pretreatment method, DESI spray solvent composition, and DESI heated transfer line (HTL) temperature—we determined the optimal mass-spectrometry imaging conditions. The optimal conditions for achieving the highest mass-spectrometry ion peak signal intensity and the best imaging quality were as follows: employing sample pretreatment using double-sided adhesive tape; a spray solvent composed of methanol (100%, v/v) with 0.1% formic acid and 0.1 μg/mL of leucine enkephalin; and an HTL temperature of 400 °C. The characteristic compound in the G42 silk fabric sample was successfully separated. Based on the characteristic mass-to-charge ratio of the major component, the compound was preliminarily identified as berberine. This result was further verified by tandem mass-spectrometry imaging and tandem mass spectra and finally confirmed by comparison with the mass spectrum of a reference standard. Consequently, the source of the dye in the sample was determined to be amur cork tree. The experiments confirmed the applicability and accuracy of the DESI-MSI method for the non-destructive analysis of precious textiles. This work underscores the urgent need to use such non-destructive techniques to provide technical support for the identification of high-value, inaccessible, or fragile silk artifacts and guide the historical tracing and preservation of these cultural relics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Analytical Approaches for Natural Products and Pharmaceuticals in Complex Matrices)

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12 pages, 1067 KB  

Open AccessArticle

A Thin-Layer Chromatography Bioautographic Assay for the Rapid Detection of Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors

by Aurélie Urbain, Yohan Paille, Maria Meidani, Yaouba Souaibou, Lucile Berthomier, César Cotte and Valérie Bardot

Analytica 2026, 7(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/analytica7020034 - 6 May 2026

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Abstract

Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) is a key enzyme implicated in several inflammatory disorders, including asthma and allergic rhinitis. Despite its therapeutic importance, only one compound is currently approved as an ALOX5 inhibitor in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for new drug candidates. [...] Read more.

Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) is a key enzyme implicated in several inflammatory disorders, including asthma and allergic rhinitis. Despite its therapeutic importance, only one compound is currently approved as an ALOX5 inhibitor in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for new drug candidates. Progress in this area is often hindered by conventional bioassays, which can be labor-intensive, costly, and unsuitable for complex mixtures. To overcome these challenges, we developed a simple thin-layer chromatography (TLC) bioautographic assay for the rapid detection of ALOX5 inhibitors in natural extracts, a rich source of pharmacologically active compounds. The method exploits the oxidative coupling of 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone (MBTH) with 3-(dimethylamino)benzoic acid (DMAB) during the ALOX5-catalyzed conversion of arachidonic acid, producing a colored indamine dye. Experimental parameters influencing chromogenic reaction were investigated and optimized to minimize reagent consumption while ensuring accuracy and sensitivity of the method. The assay was then applied to a panel of natural products and to crude mushroom extracts, enabling the rapid identification of several active compounds within complex extracts, including the dual COX2/ALOX5 inhibitor 3α-acetylpolyporenic acid A. Easy to implement, cost-efficient, and well suited for screening and bioguided fractionation, this TLC bioassay provides a powerful tool to accelerate the discovery of novel anti-inflammatory compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Analytical Approaches for Natural Products and Pharmaceuticals in Complex Matrices)

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11 pages, 786 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Integration of HPLC-ESI-MS/MS and NMR Techniques for Characterizing Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids in Leaves and Stems of Psychotria densicostata and Their Potential as Inhibitors of Human Neutrophil Elastase

by Virginia G. Correia, Victor F. Jesus, Rodolfo S. Barboza, Alviclér Magalhães, Leonardo N. Seito, Mário Gomes, Marcelo R. R. Tappin and Ligia M. M. Valente

Analytica 2026, 7(2), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/analytica7020031 - 18 Apr 2026

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Abstract

The species Psychotria densicostata Müll.Arg. is a shrub belonging to the Rubiaceae family, endemic to Brazil. So far, there are reports neither of phytochemical work on nor of biological evaluation of it. This study investigated its alkaloid profile and evaluated the inhibitory effects [...] Read more.

The species Psychotria densicostata Müll.Arg. is a shrub belonging to the Rubiaceae family, endemic to Brazil. So far, there are reports neither of phytochemical work on nor of biological evaluation of it. This study investigated its alkaloid profile and evaluated the inhibitory effects of extracts, alkaloid-enriched fractions and one of its major constituents on human neutrophil elastase (HNE). The monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) strictosidine (1), (3α,5α)-5-carboxystrictosidine (2), strictosidine lactam (3), lyaloside (4), lyalosidic acid (5), 5-carboxystrictosamide (6), 3,4-dehydrostrictosidinic acid (7), and N-glucopyranosyl vincosamide (8) were characterized in mixture, in its leaves, and/or stems by using an integrated approach combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization source (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS), and molecular networks. The crude leaf extract and an alkaloid-enriched fraction derived from it showed inhibitory activity against HNE. These results contribute to the chemical knowledge of the species and suggest its potential biological property. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Analytical Approaches for Natural Products and Pharmaceuticals in Complex Matrices)

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20 pages, 2823 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Profiling of Gingerol and Shogaol Analogues in Intact Zingiber officinale Rhizomes Using MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging

by Josie C. Torrecampo, Neaven Bon Joy M. Marcial, Chuckcris P. Tenebro, Janine J. Salcepuedes, Paul Felipe S. Cruz, Phil Aidan C. Cruz, Jonel P. Saludes and Doralyn S. Dalisay

Molecules 2026, 31(4), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31040618 - 10 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1043

Abstract

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a widely recognized functional food, known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and digestive health benefits largely attributed to gingerol-related compounds. While traditional extraction-based methods have been used to characterize these metabolites, they often compromise the spatial context within [...] Read more.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a widely recognized functional food, known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and digestive health benefits largely attributed to gingerol-related compounds. While traditional extraction-based methods have been used to characterize these metabolites, they often compromise the spatial context within tissues. This study represents the first application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) to map the detailed spatial distribution of key ginger metabolites (6-, 8-, and 10-gingerols and shogaols) in a complex matrix of an intact rhizome tissue. Rhizomes from five ginger accessions collected in Negros Occidental, Philippines, were cryosectioned at 20 μm, coated with 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) matrix, and analyzed using MALDI MSI at 100 µm spatial resolution across an m/z range of 50–1200. The MALDI MSI revealed that 6-, 8-, and 10-gingerols were predominantly localized in the stele and cortex regions, while shogaols exhibited broader distribution, including the epidermis. Principal component analysis (PCA) on UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS data of methanolic rhizome extracts revealed clustering patterns among the five ginger accessions. These findings provide a spatially resolved metabolomic profile of gingerols and shogaols, offering novel insights into the anatomical localization of bioactive compounds. This integrative approach establishes a foundation for future studies on ginger physiology, breeding, and quality control of ginger-derived natural products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Analytical Approaches for Natural Products and Pharmaceuticals in Complex Matrices)

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