Phenolic Compounds: Extraction, Chemical Profiles, and Bioactivity

A special issue of Compounds (ISSN 2673-6918).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1755

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico
Interests: phenolic compounds; anti-virulence agents; biofilm control; foodborne pathogens; enzyme inhibition

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Investigación y Posgrado en Alimentos, Universidd de Sonora, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico
Interests: phenolic compounds; antioxidant activity; antimicrobial agents; biofilm control; encapsulation technologies; functional foods
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Phenolic compounds represent one of the most diverse and bioactive classes of secondary plant metabolites, widely recognized for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and therapeutic properties. In recent years, advances in extraction technologies, sustainable sourcing strategies, and analytical methods have significantly expanded our understanding of phenolic compounds, both in their natural matrices and as functional ingredients in food, pharmaceutical, and environmental applications.

This Special Issue aims to provide an updated, multidisciplinary perspective on the extraction, chemical profiling, and bioactivity of phenolic compounds. Particular emphasis will be placed on innovative, eco-friendly extraction methods, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction and the use of natural deep eutectic solvents, as well as the valorization of agro-industrial by-products as sustainable sources of phenolics. Contributions addressing the structural characterization and comprehensive chemical profiling of phenolic compounds using advanced chromatographic and spectrometric techniques are especially welcome.

Furthermore, the issue aims to highlight new findings on the health-promoting effects of phenolic compounds and their role as natural preservatives in food systems. Emerging topics, such as the environmental fate and atmospheric interactions of phenolics, as well as the development of functional foods enriched with these bioactive molecules, are also of interest.

This Special Issue offers a platform for researchers to share original research articles and reviews that advance the current knowledge on phenolic compounds, from sustainable extraction to bioactivity validation and functional applications.

Dr. Francisco Vázquez-Armenta
Dr. Ariadna Thalia Bernal-Mercado
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • phenolic compounds
  • extraction methods
  • sustainable sourcing
  • chemical profiling
  • bioactivity
  • functional foods
  • antioxidant activity
  • natural preservatives
  • bioactive properties

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 527 KB  
Article
Mexican Fruits of the Stenocereus Genus: Characterization, Physicochemical, Nutritional, and Content of Bioactive Compounds
by Alma Delia Noriega-Juárez, Yolanda Nolasco-González, Oswaldo Alejandro Arellano-Machuca, Diego Rafael Montoya-Carvajal, Brandon Alexis López-Romero, Javier Alberto Navarro-Mendoza and Efigenia Montalvo-González
Compounds 2025, 5(4), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/compounds5040055 - 2 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Stenocereus fruits are appreciated for their flavor and color, and their cultivation is highly sustainable, as they grow in arid zones without the need for fertilizers or agrochemicals. However, their nutritional and bioactive composition remains underexplored. This study evaluated the physicochemical and nutritional [...] Read more.
Stenocereus fruits are appreciated for their flavor and color, and their cultivation is highly sustainable, as they grow in arid zones without the need for fertilizers or agrochemicals. However, their nutritional and bioactive composition remains underexplored. This study evaluated the physicochemical and nutritional properties, bioactive compound content, and antioxidant capacity (AOX) of Stenocereus thurberi (red, white, purple, and orange), Stenocereus martinezzi (red), and Stenocereus gummosus (red). All fruits exhibited low total soluble solids (12.6 ± 0.2–14.7 ± 0.3 °Brix), acidity (0.81 ± 0.03–1.12 ± 0.03%), and moderate dietary fiber content (3.71 ± 0.05–4.86 ± 0.09%). S. martinezzi stood out for its high levels of betalains (33.7 ± 0.65 mg/100 g_fw), vitamin E (84.7 ± 0.2 µg/100 g_fw), and vitamin C (147.6 ± 11.4 mg/100 g_fw). At the same time, potassium, magnesium, and calcium were the predominant minerals in all samples. S. gummosus showed the highest total soluble phenols (120.6 ± 2.2 mg/100 g_fw) and was also notable for its flavonoid content. Flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic, and hydroxybenzoic acids were detected in all fruits. Red fruits had the highest AOX levels, followed by white, orange, and purple varieties. In conclusion, these fruits are nutritious, low in sugars, and rich in bioactive compounds, suggesting their potential as functional foods, particularly beneficial for individuals with chronic degenerative diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phenolic Compounds: Extraction, Chemical Profiles, and Bioactivity)
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20 pages, 3564 KB  
Article
Optimization of Green Processes for Catechin Extraction and Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Shan Tuyet Tea Leaves in Vietnam
by Xuyen Thi Nguyen, Phuong Thi Thu Pham, Uyen Thu Pham, Duong Thanh Nguyen, Doanh Van Nguyen and Tung Quang Nguyen
Compounds 2025, 5(4), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/compounds5040046 - 24 Oct 2025
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Abstract
Aged green tea leaves, particularly from Shan Tuyet trees, represent an underutilized source of catechins—key antioxidant compounds with known health benefits. This study aims to optimize and compare three green extraction methods—Hot Water Extraction (HWE), Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE), and Ethanol–Water Extraction (EthE)—for catechin [...] Read more.
Aged green tea leaves, particularly from Shan Tuyet trees, represent an underutilized source of catechins—key antioxidant compounds with known health benefits. This study aims to optimize and compare three green extraction methods—Hot Water Extraction (HWE), Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE), and Ethanol–Water Extraction (EthE)—for catechin recovery from mature tea leaves. A Box–Behnken design (BBD) under Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the effects of different extraction conditions. Total catechin content was quantified by HPLC, and antioxidant activities were measured using DPPH, FRAP, ORAC, and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays. Results showed that while UAE and HWE produced total catechin yields of 206.0 mg/g and 202.0 mg/g, respectively, their biological efficacy was profoundly different. HWE, operating at a higher temperature (82 °C), induced significant thermal degradation, evidenced by high levels of catechin epimerization (EGCG/GCG ratio = 3.62) and hydrolysis. This loss of structural integrity resulted in the lowest cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) of 98.3 µmol QE/g. In contrast, the optimized UAE process (78 °C, 55 min, 290 W) preserved catechin stereochemistry (EGCG/GCG ratio = 9.86), yielding the highest CAA (185.2 µmol QE/g). These findings demonstrate that UAE acts as the optimal green strategy for producing high-yield, functionally superior extracts from mature tea leaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phenolic Compounds: Extraction, Chemical Profiles, and Bioactivity)
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16 pages, 1077 KB  
Article
Synthesis of Acetylated Phenolic Compounds with Promising Antifouling Applications: An Approach to Marine and Freshwater Mussel Settlement Control
by Míriam C. Pérez, Mónica García, Gustavo Pasquale, María V. Laitano, Gustavo Romanelli and Guillermo Blustein
Compounds 2025, 5(4), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/compounds5040045 - 24 Oct 2025
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Abstract
Biofouling by mussels is responsible for serious economic losses worldwide. In Argentina, Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) and Brachidontes rodriguezii (d’Orbigny, 1842) are common and abundant bivalve species of great interest, inhabiting freshwater and marine coasts, respectively. Both species are considered fouling pests for [...] Read more.
Biofouling by mussels is responsible for serious economic losses worldwide. In Argentina, Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) and Brachidontes rodriguezii (d’Orbigny, 1842) are common and abundant bivalve species of great interest, inhabiting freshwater and marine coasts, respectively. Both species are considered fouling pests for coastal industrial facilities that use untreated water as part of their processes. To chemically control mussel biofouling, it is necessary to find efficient and environmentally friendly non-biocidal compounds. In this work, we report the antifouling activity of three phenolic compounds (hydroquinone, resorcinol, and catechol) and their respective acetylated derivatives against L. fortunei and B. rodriguezii mussels. Classic ecotoxicity tests with Artemia salina were also performed. Acetylated phenolic compounds were synthesized in the laboratory by sustainable chemistry procedures. Results revealed the importance of hydroquinone, resorcinol, and catechol and their diacetylated derivatives for preventing the settlement of both these mussels, in a non-biocide way. Ecotoxicity bioassays revealed that these compounds were not toxic, with the exception of resorcinol. We propose the incorporation of these compounds in solution into closed circuits and water sprinkler anti-fire systems to prevent the settlement of L. fortunei and their inclusion in antifouling paints to prevent the settlement of B. rodriguezii. These results highlight a new friendly alternative for controlling mussels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phenolic Compounds: Extraction, Chemical Profiles, and Bioactivity)
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