Edible Plant-Based Bioactives: Extraction Methodologies and Characterization Techniques
A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Foods".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 11
Special Issue Editors
Interests: food chemistry; bioactive molecules; liquid chromatography; mass spectrometry; extraction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: food chemistry; bioactive molecules; liquid chromatography; mass spectrometry; extraction
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Food chemistry has increasingly focused on the detailed investigation of plant-based foods, particularly emphasizing the presence and role of secondary metabolites and micro-constituents with nutraceutical potential. This shift has expanded our understanding of food beyond its caloric value, recognizing the health-promoting effects of bioactive compounds naturally present in edible plants and in their by-products. The growing scientific interest in these molecules has highlighted the need for robust extraction methodologies and advanced analytical techniques to accurately identify, quantify, and valorize them.
This Special Issue, "Edible Plant-Based Bioactives: Extraction Methodologies and Characterization Techniques," invites contributions centered on the development and optimization of innovative extraction processes and analytical approaches for the study of bioactive compounds in plants, by-products, and derived foodstuffs. Key areas of interest include certainly the development of green extraction techniques by means of the use of bio-based solvents or natural deep eutectic solvents and innovative procedure (SFE, PLE, PFE, etc.). Another pivotal issue is the qualitative and quantitative characterization using hyphenated analytical techniques (such as LC-MS/MS, NMR, SFC-MS, etc.). Finally, this Special Issue also encompasses research findings on biological activities, food safety and traceability, and advancements in the fields of nutraceuticals and functional nutrition. In a rapidly evolving cultural, technological, and environmental context, this collection aims to promote informed dialogue on the role of plant-based bioactives in health and nutrition.
I am honored to invite you to contribute your research to this Special Issue.
Dr. Marina Russo
Guest Editor
Dr. Giovann Cafeo
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- food chemistry
- phytochemicals
- phenols
- bioactive compounds
- analytical techniques
- extraction methodology
- green chemistry
- circular economy
- active principal ingredients
- biological activities
- plant by-products
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