Applications of liquid-phase microextraction techniques in natural product analysis: A review

• Modes and mechanisms of different kinds of LPMEs are discussed and summarized.
• Applications of LPMEs in different natural product matrices analysis are summarized.
• Future developments and applications of the LPMEs in complex sample analysis are prospected.

Over the last years, liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) as a simple, rapid, practical and effective sample-preparation technique, coupled with various instrumental analytical methods, has been increasingly and widely used to research and determine trace or ultra-micro-levels of both inorganic and organic analytes from different matrix-complex samples. In this review, different kinds of LPMEs such as single drop liquid-phase microextraction, dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, and hollow fibre liquid-phase microextraction are summarized and recent applications of LPMEs in trace compounds in vivo and in vitro from different natural product matrice analysis such as tea, vegetables, seeds, herbs, and galenical are also discussed. Finally, future developments and applications of LPMEs in complex sample analysis are prospected.