Carbohydrates analysis in herbal glycomics

•Carbohydrates analysis is a novel aspect of herbal glycomics.•Carbohydrates analysis is essential to understand structure–function relationships.•Carbohydrates are new functional ingredients in herbs.•Advances in carbohydrates analysis in herbal glycomics.

Herbs serve primary healthcare needs and some herbs are widely used as functional foods. Analysis of carbohydrates is essential to understand their structure–function relationships in food science and herbal medicine. However, accurately defining chemical structures of glycans is a challenge due to their chemical heterogeneity and diversity. We review and discuss carbohydrates as new functional ingredients in herbs and functional foods, and their analysis, a novel aspect in quality control and herbal glycomics.