Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Phytochemistry is the study of "phytochemicals," which are the various chemical compounds produced by plants (secondary metabolites).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Screening: The first step in investigating a medicinal plant is to find out what it contains (e.g., alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides).
2. Isolation and Characterization: Once a compound is identified, it is isolated in pure form and its chemical structure is "characterized" using techniques like chromatography (HPLC, TLC) and spectroscopy (NMR, IR, Mass Spec).
3. Utility: This allows scientists to understand the plant's therapeutic mechanism and provides the basis for the development of new drugs.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The scientific core of phytochemical research is the systematic discovery and structural analysis of plant metabolites.