Classic/Recommended Methods and Development of new Methods to Monitor Phytochemical Composition of Plant Food Supplements and their Content in Active Molecules

The object of this chapter is a short review of appropriate methods for the identification and authentication of plant materials and the quantification of bioactive compounds having physiological (or toxicological) relevance. The quality control of a botanical can be applied to raw material, a derivative (extract) or an ingredient of a commercial product (Plant Food Supplement or Traditional Medicine). Using the most suitable assays, each batch of botanical should be identified using taxonomic classification, morphological examination and/or biochemical/chemical characterization. An example of the quality control, which can be performed on botanicals, is here presented taking into consideration Camellia sinensis (tea).