modern and traditional approaches in alkaloid extraction and phytochemical screening: techniques, integration strategies, and future perspectives

Alkaloids, nitrogen-rich secondary metabolites, exhibit diverse pharmacological properties, including anticancer, antimicrobial, and cardiovascular effects. their rapid and accurate determination is vital for drug discovery and standardization. this review critically compares traditional extraction techniques such as maceration and soxhlet with modern methods like ultrasound-assisted extraction (uae), microwave-assisted extraction (mae), supercritical fluid extraction (sfe), and pressurized liquid extraction (ple). conventional qualitative phytochemical tests are evaluated alongside advanced analytical techniques including uv-vis spectroscopy, hplc, gc-ms, lc-ms/ms, nmr, and ftir. the integration of extraction and screening approaches—such as uae-hplc and sfe-lc-ms/ms—offers enhanced efficiency and reduced compound degradation. case studies highlight successful profiling of vinca and isoquinoline alkaloids. emerging trends emphasize green chemistry, microextraction, ambient mass spectrometry, and ai-driven process optimization. despite significant progress, challenges such as matrix interference and high costs remain. integrating traditional knowledge with advanced technologies can propel alkaloid research and innovation in phytopharmaceutical development.