Chapter 3. Plant sampling and Sample Preparation

VATTUONE, M. A.; SAMPIETRO, D. A.; SOBERÓN, J. R.; SGARIGLIA, M. A.; QUIROGA, E. N.

Isolation, Identification and Characterization of allelochemicals/Natural Products

Science Publishers Inc.

Lugar: Einfield, New Hampshire, USA.; Año: 2009; p. 31 - 69

Sample collection, transportation, storage, handling and extraction are critical steps in chemical analysis of natural products. Sample extraction is required for the separation of sample contituents to make them suitable for further chemical analysis. This process is necessary when a direct analysis of the sample is not possible or to improve the yield of the substance of interest. The study of natural plant products is a difficult task because their nature and amount in the plant is dependent of several factors, which must be controlled as feasible as possible. Factors such as growth state, plant development and environmental stimulus may change plant metabolic rate and chemical composition. These problems are present before and after plant sample collection. This chapter provides an overview of techniques applied for extraction of different groups of secondary metabolites from plant samples, taking into account the properties of the substance/s to be extracted.