Abstract: Metabonomics (or metabolomics) is one of platforms for function genomics and systems biology. Metabonomics focuses on the changes of low molecular mass metabolites in complex samples such as biofluids, cells and tissue/tissue extracts. Although it has not been possible for quantitative measurements of global metabolite profiling, the combination of chromatography-mass spectrometry and chemometrics has secured a central role in metabonomics research. Here, applications of chromatography-mass spectrometry in metabonomics are reviewed, the advantages and disadvantages of various separation techniques including gas chromatography, liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis are emphasized, their further developments in metabonomics field are prospected.

Key words: mass spectrometry, metabolite profiling , metabonomics/metabolomics, chromatography