Glycoalkaloids in Potato: A Comprehensive Overview of Accumulation, Detection and Mitigation Strategies

Abstract Glycoalkaloids are bioactive secondary metabolites predominantly found in Solanaceae species, which are known for their dual role as natural defence compounds and potential toxicants for human and animal consumption. Accurate analysis of glycoalkaloids is, therefore, of crucial importance for food safety, agricultural practice and pharmaceutical research. This review highlights how different factors, including genetic variation, extraction methods and analytical techniques, contribute to differences in the analysis of glycoalkaloids. It provides a comparative analysis of the different analytical methods used for the detection and quantification of glycoalkaloids. These range from traditional techniques, such as coulometric methods and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to more advanced approaches, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS). This review discusses the challenges in analysing glycoalkaloids, including difficulties in extraction, interference with matrix components and the need for standardised methods. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on the significance of glycoalkaloid analysis in domains such as food safety, agriculture and medicine, particularly highlighting their role in plant breeding, toxicology, and therapeutic potential. Finally, emerging trends in glycoalkaloid analysis, such as innovative technologies and data-driven approaches, are examined to improve detection sensitivity and efficiency. This review underscores the necessity of comprehending the factors that influence glycoalkaloid analysis to ensure food safety and to advance scientific research.