in our group, generally we analyze the extract  first using TLC or HPLC to know the possible compounds, if we have enough amount of extract, we will  purify  and isolate the compounds using CC, TLC preparative or HPLC Preparative. After we get pure isolate (s), we will do structure elucidation using spectroscopy  methods (NMR, MS, IR). If we have only have small amount of extracts, we will directly use LC MS or GC MS to study the compounds of the extracts. Using LC-Qtof HR MS is nicer