Abstract

Agri-food byproducts in Korea are increasingly investigated as secondary sources of bioactive compounds. However, variability in pretreatment, extraction, and analytical workflows limits comparability across studies. Reliable identification and quantification therefore require robust analytical strategies and standardized validation practices. This review summarizes analytical approaches applied to representative Korean agri-food byproducts, with emphasis on sample pretreatment, extraction, chromatographic analysis, spectroscopic screening, and method validation. Liquid chromatography remains the principal platform for phenolic acids, flavonoids, isoflavones, lignans, and ginsenoside-related compounds, whereas gas chromatography is primarily used for volatile and aroma-active constituents. Spectrophotometric assays and near- or mid-infrared methods provide rapid screening options but show lower selectivity than chromatographic techniques. Across the reviewed studies, analytical results are strongly influenced by matrix-specific pretreatment, including drying, defatting, hydrolysis, and solvent selection. Improved comparability would benefit from matrix-aware validation and more consistent reporting of pretreatment conditions and analytical performance.

Graphical Abstract