Our research group specializes in metabolomics using multiplatform analytical tools, integrating advanced analytical technologies to investigate natural products, plant physiology, ecology, and biological interactions. Led by the founder of the Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) concept, the group pioneers innovative metabolomics approaches and sustainable green extraction technologies for natural product research.

More information about Young Hae Choi

Key Research Areas

1. Multiplatform Metabolomics: Development and integration of advanced analytical platforms, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), and chromatographic techniques, for comprehensive metabolite profiling, identification, and structural elucidation in complex biological systems.
2. Natural Product Chemistry: Isolation, identification, structural characterization, and investigation of bioactive natural products from plants and microorganisms, with an emphasis on their chemical diversity, biosynthesis, biological functions, and potential pharmaceutical applications.
3. Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES): Pioneering the original NADES concept and theory, exploring their physiological and biological significance, and developing innovative applications in green extraction, natural product stabilization, solubilization, and sustainable processing technologies.
4. Enzyme-Mediated Biotransformation of Natural Products: Investigation of enzyme-catalyzed transformations of natural compounds to generate novel derivatives, enhance biological activities, improve physicochemical properties, and explore sustainable approaches to natural product modification and production.
5. Exosome and Extracellular Vesicle Metabolomics: Development and application of advanced analytical and metabolomics approaches to characterize the molecular composition of exosomes and extracellular vesicles, investigate their roles in intercellular communication, and explore their potential biological and biomedical significance.
6. Plant Metabolomics, Physiology, and Chemical Ecology: Application of metabolomics to investigate plant metabolic regulation, defense mechanisms, and ecological interactions, particularly plant–pathogen and plant–herbivore relationships, including metabolic responses associated with salicylic acid and jasmonate signaling pathways.
7. Metabolomics of Traditional Medicines and Chemotaxonomy: Comprehensive metabolite profiling and chemical characterization of medicinal plants and traditional medicines to investigate their chemical diversity, biological activities, quality, authenticity, and taxonomic relationships.
8. Green Extraction and Sustainable Natural Product Technologies: Development and optimization of environmentally friendly extraction and processing methodologies, particularly NADES-based extraction and supercritical fluid technologies, for the efficient recovery, stabilization, and utilization of valuable natural products.

Ongoing Research Projects and Funding

1. EU and Netherlands Government-Funded Projects

1. NaDeCon: Developing a Natural Decontamination Strategy for Hospital Drainage Channels
   Funding: NWO-KIC Mission – Biochemical Diversity
   Project Period: 2027–2030
2. NOVA Institute for a Sustainable Future
   Funding: European Union, Horizon Europe – WIDERA-2025-ACCESS-0
   Project Period: 2027–2032
3. SKY HIGH: Vertical Farming – A Revolution in Plant Production
   Funding: NWO Perspectief Programme
   Project Number: P18-07, Project B2
   Project Period: 2021–2026

2. Industry-Funded Research Projects

Application of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) in the Formulation of Anti-Obesity Products
Industry Partner: Naturalendo Tech (Pangyo, South Korea)
Project Period: 2025–2028

Key publications

1. Leveraging metabolic similarity in a ¹H NMR database of medicinal plants to advance pharmacognostic insigts. S. Seo, Ö. Erol, H. K. Kim, H. G. J. van Mil, J. Jung, Y. P. Jang, D. Y. Lee, M. Wang, H. Sheridan, S. B. Han, Y. H. Choi, Scientific Reports, 16, 6691, 2026, https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-37725-2
2. Are Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents the Missing Link in Understanding Cellular Metabolism and Physiology? Y. H. Choi, J. van Spronsen, Y. Dai, M. Verberne, F. Hollmann, I. W. C. E. Arends, G.-J Witkamp, R. Verpoorte. Plant Physiology, 156, 1701-1705, 2011.
3. NMR-based metabolomic analysis of plants. H. K. Kim, Y. H. Choi, R. Verpoorte. Nature Protocols, 3, 536-549, 2010

Brief biography

He is a natural product chemist and metabolomics researcher at Leiden University, specializing in natural products, plant metabolism, and advanced analytical technologies. He obtained his BSc in Pharmacy and PhD from Seoul National University, focusing on natural product chemistry and supercritical fluid extraction. Over the past two decades, his research has centered on developing multiplatform metabolomics approaches, integrating NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and chromatographic techniques to investigate natural products, plant physiology, and chemical ecology. His research interests include plant–pathogen and plant–herbivore interactions, traditional medicines, chemotaxonomy, enzyme-mediated biotransformation of natural products, and exosome metabolomics. He also originally proposed the concept of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES), which has contributed to new perspectives on natural product chemistry and the development of sustainable extraction technologies. His work continues to explore the integration of metabolomics, natural product chemistry, and green technologies to better understand complex biological systems.

Technology Transfer and Industry Collaboration

1. NADES Technology: Commercial licensing of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) technology to Gattefossé (Lyon, France) through a royalty-bearing agreement.
2. Natural Product NMR Spectral Database: Commercial licensing of a natural product NMR spectral database to Chenomx (Edmonton, Canada) through a royalty-bearing agreement.

Publications

Activities