Advancements in gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry for analysing natural medicines

Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) is an emerging analytical technique with significant potential for natural medicine analysis because of its high sensitivity, resolution, rapid detection, and portability. This article discusses the principles of GC-IMS technology and its diverse applications in analysing natural medicine compositions. These applications encompass authenticity, origin, matrix, quality determination, and identification of volatile compounds. Additionally, the potential of combining GC-IMS with other analytical techniques is investigated. Finally, the current challenges facing the adoption of GC-IMS for natural medicine discovery and characterisation are presented alongside future development directions. This article primarily aims to provide a comprehensive reference for applying GC-IMS technology in the analysis of natural medicine components and foster continued advancements in natural medicine research.