Analytical strategies by liquid chromatography for the determination of glycoalkaloids in potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and related products: Current knowledge, applications, and future perspectives

Abstract

Glycoalkaloids (GAs), bioactive secondary metabolites found in Solanum crops, have garnered increasing attention due to their dual role: health-promoting at low doses and toxic at high concentrations. Covering the period from 2000 to 2025, this review presents an updated assessment of sample preparation strategies and LC- based analytical methods for the detection and quantification of GAs in Solanum-derived foods. Solid–liquid extraction, often coupled with solid-phase extraction and UV detection, remains a commonly employed approach. However, fewer than 20 % of studies investigate the β- and γ-forms of GAs and/or their aglycones, despite their potential toxicological significance. Consequently, recent trends have shifted toward the use of MS detection to enable the analysis of these less abundant forms. This review highlights technical challenges and limitations in extraction–LC workflows, including matrix complexity and the need for high sensitivity, with the aim of supporting methodological standardization and ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance.

The authors thank the funding received from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the State Research Agency and the European Regional Development Fund (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE), as financing entities of the PID2022-137278OB-I00 Project (EVALKALIM-II).