Table 1.
A comparison between the most used methods applied to metabolomic research.
| Technique | Use | Overview | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPLC-MS | a, b, c | High sensitivity, nonvolatile metabolites, expensive | [12, 13] |
| GC-MS | a, c | High sensitivity, only volatile compounds, nonexpensive | [14, 15] |
| NMR | b, d, e | For highly abundant metabolites, nondestructive, very reproducible, low sensitivity | [16] |
| MS | a, b, c, d, e | High sensitivity, usually coupled with other techniques | [17] |
| Raman spectroscopy | e | Low resolution, sensitivity, automated, high throughput | [18] |
Ref: a: metabolite target analysis; b: metabolite profiling; c: metabolomics; d: metabolite flux analysis; e: metabolic fingerprinting. MS: mass spectrometry; HPLC-MS: high-performance liquid chromatography-MS; GS-MS: gas chromatography-MS; NMR: nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.