Metabolomics by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS): Genotypes, Phenotypes and Secondary Metabolites

Abstract

Metabolomics utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is well-suited for the detection and quantification of small molecular metabolites (<650 daltons), such as small acids, alcohols, hydroxyl acids, amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, sterols, catecholamines, drugs, and toxins. Chemical derivatization is frequently employed to render these compounds gas chromatographically volatile. This section demonstrates how GC-MS metabolomics makes it simple to combine untargeted metabolomics for the discovery of new substances with targeted experiments for the absolute quantification of particular metabolites. In human body fluids (e.g., plasma, urine, or stool) samples, GC-MS may detect and semi-quantify over 200 substances each study. This is made possible by database annotations employing huge spectral libraries and established, standardized standard operating procedures. Like liquid chromatography-MS untargeted profiling (LC-MS), deconvolution software allows for the detection of over 300 more unknown signals that can be annotated using precise mass instruments and suitable data processing methods. As a result, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is an established technique that employs a variety of mass spectrometers, including traditional quadrupole detectors, target mass spectrometers, and precise mass instruments. Metabolomics using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is covered in this unit. (i) Collecting data, (ii) checking for quality, and (iv) processing the data obtained from samples of mammals. The creation of secondary metabolites has sparked a lot of attention in the past few years, as has the prospect of improving that production through the use of tissue culture technologies. So far, there has been a good amount of published research and abstracts assessing the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic properties of numerous plant-derived secondary metabolites. We looked at the bioactivity of eighteen different plant compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and phytosterols. It was discovered that a total of eleven plants exhibited antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic secondary metabolite potential. Many plant parts, including roots, stems, leaves, fruits, and flowers, contain secondary metabolites that demonstrate bioactivity.