Bioactive component analysis

Abstract

Bioactive compounds including polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, organic acids, nucleosides and nucleotides, and phytosterols have attracted great attention due to their role in prevention of several chronic diseases. Accordingly, the methods that are used to analyze these compounds are of interest. Many attempts have been made to provide sensitive and selective analytical methods for the determination and characterization of the bioactive compounds. In this chapter, spectrophotometric, fluorometric, chromatographic, enzymatic, and electrophoretic methods that are used to analyze bioactive compounds among others are presented along with the required pretreatments. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of the existing analysis methods are highlighted.