Exploring the phytochemical complexity of herbal based products by untargeted metabolomics with turmeric and hawthorn as case analyses

• Chemical composition of 19 turmeric-based and 17 hawthorn-based products was compared. • Analysis was performed using an LC-HRMS untargeted metabolomics approach. • Concentrations of bioactive compounds varied from single to millionfold. • This suggests huge differences in biological effects among products. • Regulation and standardization are key for the safe and robust use of phytotherapeutic products. Herbal food supplements (HFS) are becoming increasingly popular in the field of phytotherapy. In the European Union, HFS are classified as foodstuffs and therefore do not have to meet the same manufacturing and quality control standards as medicines, nor do they have to prove their efficacy or safety before being marketed. Consequently, their composition and quality can vary significantly. This study employed an untargeted metabolomics approach using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to analyze the composition of 19 turmeric-based and 17 hawthorn-based commercial products. There is clinical evidence for both species. In the case of turmeric, the results revealed considerable variability in the concentrations of curcuminoids and turmerones. The main discriminating factor was the formulation, which was designed to increase curcumin bioavailability. Formulations designed to improve water solubility showed the greatest potential for bioavailability. For hawthorn, the manufacturing process was the main discriminating factor, despite different species being authorized by the European Medicines Agency. Globally, phytomedicines showed the highest levels of flavonoids and procyanidins compared to HFS. This study highlights the need for stricter regulations to force manufacturers to supply consumers with standardized, high-quality and efficient products.