Application of native mass spectrometry in natural product research

Natural products, rich in sources and diverse in structure, play an important role in drug discovery. It is a hotspot to identify efficiently bioactive components from complex mixtures in the field of natural product research. Traditional research methods, starting from extraction and isolation to structural elucidation, and finally to bioactivity assay, are generally time-consuming, laborious, and untargeted. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop efficient screening methods for bioactive component discovery. Native mass spectrometry (native MS) is an underutilized method based on the interaction between target and ligand, which can rapidly discover potential active components in complex matrices. Due to the simple operation and the native state of the protein, the method is specific, efficient, and simple. Herein, we give a brief introduction of native MS and then review its recent application in natural product research, with its advantages and limitations, which would provide a reference for researchers in relevant fields.