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Bridging the Gap: Basic Metabolomics Methods for Natural Product Chemistry

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Metabolomics Tools for Natural Product Discovery

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1055))

Abstract

Natural products and their derivatives often have potent physiological activities and therefore play important roles as both frontline treatments for many diseases and as the inspiration for chemically synthesized therapeutics. However, the detection and synthesis of new therapeutic compounds derived from, or inspired by natural compounds has declined in recent years due to the increased difficulty of identifying and isolating novel active compounds. A new strategy is therefore necessary to jumpstart this field of research. Metabolomics, including both targeted and global metabolite profiling strategies, has the potential to be instrumental in this effort since it allows a systematic study of complex mixtures (such as plant extracts) without the need for prior isolation of active ingredients (or mixtures thereof). Here we describe the basic steps for conducting metabolomics experiments and analyzing the results using some of the more commonly used analytical and statistical methodologies.

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Acknowledgments

OAHJ thanks all members of the Griffin lab at the Biochemistry Department at the University of Cambridge, UK. The help and support of Dr. Julian Griffin, Mr Steven Murfitt, Dr. Helen Atherton, Dr. Jeff Troke, Dr. Lee Roberts, Dr. Mahon Maguire and Dr. Cheng Kian Kai in particular is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

    Oliver A. H. Jones & Helmut M. Hügel

Authors
  1. Oliver A. H. Jones
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  2. Helmut M. Hügel
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Parkville, Australia

    Ute Roessner

  2. School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    Daniel Anthony Dias

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Jones, O.A.H., Hügel, H.M. (2013). Bridging the Gap: Basic Metabolomics Methods for Natural Product Chemistry. In: Roessner, U., Dias, D. (eds) Metabolomics Tools for Natural Product Discovery. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1055. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-577-4_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-577-4_18

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-576-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-577-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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