Advanced Separation Techniques for Food Safety and Functional Component Analysis

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Analytical Methods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 4134

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Microbial and Enzymes Biotechnology and Biomolecules (LMEBB), Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax-Tunisia, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P.O. Box 1177, Sfax 3018, Tunisia
Interests: food security; recovery of high value byproducts; phytochemical analysis; natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia
Interests: extraction, separation, and chromatographic identification of bioactive molecules; biological activities in vivo and in vitro

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Guaranteeing food safety and categorizing functional components in food products are key aspects of modern food science. In this vein, progressive separation techniques act as a vital part in noticing contaminants, residues, and bioactive compounds with high precision and efficacy. Procedures viz. high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) are extensively used for qualitative and quantitative investigations. These tools allow the separation of complex food matrices into their individual components, permitting accurate detection of damaging substances like pesticides, mycotoxins, and heavy metals, as well as beneficial compounds such as antioxidants, vitamins, and peptides. Recent advances, counting microfluidic systems and lab-on-a-chip devices, could provide faster analysis times, minimal sample requirements, and movable applications, making real-time monitoring more accessible. Moreover, joining separation techniques with advanced detection methods like tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) develops sensitivity and specificity. The integration of these technologies certifies not only controlling compliance but also assists the expansion of functional foods by consenting targeted extraction and characterization of health-promoting ingredients. As consumer demand for safe, nutritious, and traceable food increases, the application of advanced separation techniques becomes progressively essential in both food safety guarantee and efficient food research. This Special Issue highlights recent advances in separation technologies that are transforming how we detect contaminants and isolate health-promoting components in complex food systems. By showcasing innovative methodologies and their applications, this collection aims to advance research in both food safety assurance and functional food development.

Dr. Slim Smaoui
Dr. Walid Elfalleh
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • innovative food safety solutions
  • next-generation separation techs
  • precision analysis of bioactive compounds
  • smart detection of food contaminants
  • functional food component profiling
  • high-resolution chromatographic techniques
  • advanced analytical methodologies
  • real-time food quality monitoring
  • green and sustainable extraction methods
  • integrated lab-on-a-chip applications

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1545 KB  
Article
Effects of Traditional and Bio-Based Packaging on Bioactive Compounds of Tomato By-Products During Storage
by Edmondo Messinese, Olimpia Pitirollo, Daniele Giuffrida, Francesca Rigano, Cinzia Cafarella, Roberta La Tella, Luigi Mondello and Antonella Cavazza
Foods 2026, 15(7), 1204; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15071204 - 2 Apr 2026
Viewed by 445
Abstract
Packaging has the main role of protecting a product during storage, and the material selected for packaging has a crucial role in shelf-life control. In recent years, according to the recent European regulations on plastics, different materials have been proposed with the aim [...] Read more.
Packaging has the main role of protecting a product during storage, and the material selected for packaging has a crucial role in shelf-life control. In recent years, according to the recent European regulations on plastics, different materials have been proposed with the aim of reducing the use of fossil-based packaging. In the present work, the storage of tomato by-product powders dried at different temperatures (40 and 70 °C), in different types of packaging (plastic bag, bioplastic bag, edible active film, and edible active film enriched with antioxidants) was monitored for 11 months. Several analytical approaches were used to characterize the properties of the product after drying treatment. Oxidative stability was evaluated through the Oxitest reactor; bioactive compounds content, such as total phenolic and percentage of total antioxidant capacity, were assessed through spectrophotometric assays; high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analysis was employed for β-carotene and lycopene contents monitoring. Results showed a progressive reduction in all parameters, with slight differences in the behavior of the aliquots stored in the different materials. Samples stored in bioplastic showed a higher retention of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity at early storage stages, whereas conventional plastic and active packaging exhibited comparable or improved performance at later stages, depending on the analytical parameter considered. Full article
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21 pages, 5169 KB  
Article
Pasuchaca (Geranium dielsiaum Knuth): A New Source of Astilbin with Antiglycation Activity
by Guanglei Zuo, Zhaoyang Wu, Hyun-Yong Kim, Jinghui Feng, Soo Kyeong Lee, Yanymee Nimesia Guillen Quispe and Soon Sung Lim
Foods 2025, 14(23), 4167; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14234167 - 4 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Pasuchaca (Geranium dielsianum Knuth), a traditional Peruvian medicinal plant from the Geraniaceae family used for diabetes management, was investigated for its antiglycative properties. This study aimed to screen, isolate, and identify the active antiglycative compounds from its aerial parts. By coupling a [...] Read more.
Pasuchaca (Geranium dielsianum Knuth), a traditional Peruvian medicinal plant from the Geraniaceae family used for diabetes management, was investigated for its antiglycative properties. This study aimed to screen, isolate, and identify the active antiglycative compounds from its aerial parts. By coupling a methylglyoxal (MGO)-HPLC screening assay with high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC), seven dihydroflavonol derivatives were separated and identified from the 80% methanol extract. The compounds were identified as 2,3-dihydromyricetin 3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (1), (+)-taxifolin 3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (2), astilbin (6), isoastilbin (8), 3″-acetyl astilbin (9), and 2″-acetyl astilbin (11). Astilbin was identified as the major constituent, with remarkably high contents of 252.41 mg/g in the 80% methanol extract and 541.04 mg/g in the partitioned upper layer fraction. Astilbin demonstrated potent antiglycation activity across all stages of protein glycation (early, middle, late, and whole stages), significantly surpassing the positive control aminoguanidine. Furthermore, the formation of MGO-astilbin adducts was confirmed by LC-ESI-MS, validating its role as an effective MGO scavenger. This report is the first to isolate these phytochemicals from Pasuchaca. The findings establish astilbin as the key antiglycative component of Pasuchaca, substantiating its traditional use and highlighting its potential as a source of functional food ingredients or natural therapeutics for mitigating glycative stress. Full article
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Review

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21 pages, 674 KB  
Review
Bioactive Compounds from Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Advances in Extraction Techniques and Applications
by Lynn Rhayem, Nadia Boussetta, Mirian T. K. Kubo, Franck Merlier, Eugene Vorobiev and Nikolai Lebovka
Foods 2026, 15(4), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15040782 - 21 Feb 2026
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Abstract
Taraxacum is a genus of flowering plants comprising species commonly known as dandelions. All parts of the dandelion (flowers, stems, roots, and leaves) contain valuable bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, amino, fatty, organic, and phenolic acids, coumarins, lignans, polysaccharides, phytosterols, terpenes, glycoproteins, oligosaccharides, and [...] Read more.
Taraxacum is a genus of flowering plants comprising species commonly known as dandelions. All parts of the dandelion (flowers, stems, roots, and leaves) contain valuable bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, amino, fatty, organic, and phenolic acids, coumarins, lignans, polysaccharides, phytosterols, terpenes, glycoproteins, oligosaccharides, and alkaloids. Dandelion extracts represent a promising feedstock for diverse applications across the food, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries. The extraction of bioactive compounds from dandelion is essential to access its therapeutic properties, with different techniques used to isolate its various phytochemicals. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the application of various techniques for the extraction of bioactive compounds from dandelion. Both conventional and innovative extraction techniques are discussed, with particular emphasis on their respective advantages and limitations. Full article
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