Omics analysis of natural products is going greener: Opportunities from new materials combined with microextraction techniques

Natural product analyses must cover a wide range of topics, from metabolomics studies to quality and safety controls. In all cases, sample preparation plays a fundamental role, as downstream analyses detect only metabolites previously extracted. On the other hand, quality control analyses require the determination of single or multiple metabolites, which are often present in trace amounts. Therefore, the choice of the correct extraction phase and technique is of paramount importance and the most critical parameter to be considered, also taking into account the complexity of the plant biological system. Most studies and official methods for plant matrices still use traditional extraction techniques that have significant environmental impacts. However, there are new environmentally friendly alternatives that are more in line with the principles of Green Analytical Chemistry. For example, miniaturized techniques and new classes of more sustainable extraction phases that meet Green Analytical Chemistry criteria are increasingly being used. However, it is also important to keep in mind that accurate and reliable measurements are required, especially for industrial quality control laboratories that have to deal with a variety of norms and quality standards, and that practical considerations such as productivity, cost, and simplicity of methods should not be neglected. This communication will explore, through a set of case studies in the natural product field, the possibility of improving the environmental footprint of sample preparation while maintaining appropriate analytical performance and laboratory productivity. With respect to extraction, particular emphasis is placed on the use of new and renewable materials. Indeed, plant products can be a source of effective solvents that can be used in conjunction with appropriate microextraction techniques for the isolation of target analytes, further improving the sustainability of the process. Moreover, the proposed methods are evaluated using different metric tools that can assess not only their environmental footprint but also their global performance.