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Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 2005

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ana Margarida Silva

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Guest Editor
EQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
Interests: valorization of agro-food by-products; green extraction techniques; bioactive compounds; phenolic composition; antioxidant capacity; in-vitro cell assays
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Francisca Rodrigues

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
REQUIMTE/LAQV, Superior Institute of Engineering of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: natural extracts; bioactive compounds; antioxidants; in vitro assays; in vivo cosmetic assays; pharmaceutics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

During the last decade, it has been observed that agro-food byproducts constitute an environmental problem, since many residues, such as peels, pomace, stems, flowers, seeds, and roots, are generated in high quantities in a limited period of time, leading to environmental concerns. These byproducts and wastes are a source of bioactive compounds able to generate new active ingredients with biological properties (e.g., antioxidant, antimicrobial, or anti-inflammatory activities) with useful applications in nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and pharmaceutical fields. Therefore, a huge number of innovative green extraction techniques have been employed to recover these bioactive molecules. The aim of this SI is to gather the latest advances in green extraction techniques for the recovery of pro-healthy compounds from agro-food byproducts and wastes, with a particular emphasis on polyphenol characterization and in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies to validate their safety and efficacy. This 2nd edition of the Special Issue results from the scientific community’s interest and reflects the growing importance of sustainable practices in different fields.

Dr. Ana Margarida Silva
Dr. Francisca Rodrigues
Guest Editors

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. Molecules 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 2700 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

  • agro-food byproducts
  • green extraction methods
  • bioactive compounds
  • in vitro analysis
  • ex vivo and in vivo studies
  • health benefits
  • nutraceuticals

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 23822 KiB  
Article
Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Chemical Profiling of Volatile Compounds from Cranberry Plant Byproducts as Potential Antibacterials, Antifungals, and Antioxidants
by Martin Aborah, Frank Scarano and Catherine Neto
Molecules 2025, 30(9), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30092047 - 4 May 2025
Viewed by 257
Abstract
The increasing resistance of microorganisms to currently used antimicrobials requires the urgent development of new effective treatments. Plant-based natural products can be an alternative solution. The aerial plant parts of the cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) present a potential new source of antimicrobial [...] Read more.
The increasing resistance of microorganisms to currently used antimicrobials requires the urgent development of new effective treatments. Plant-based natural products can be an alternative solution. The aerial plant parts of the cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) present a potential new source of antimicrobial secondary metabolites. Volatile essential oils were extracted from Stevens, Early Black, and Mullica Queen variety plants by steam distillation (SD) and the Clevenger method (CM), and their profiles were characterized by GC-MS. The extracts and two identified constituents, cinnamaldehyde and terpineol, were screened by the disc diffusion assay against Gram-positive B. cereus ATCC 11778 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 and Gram-negative bacteria E. coli ATCC 25922, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and C. albicans ATCC 14053. Radical scavenging antioxidant activity was also determined using the DPPH assay. The CM extracts were rich in fatty acids, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes, whereas the SD extracts contained more aldehydes, monoterpenes, and phenylpropanoids. All volatile extracts showed promising antioxidant activity; leaf extract activity was significantly higher than the vine (p < 0.05). The CM leaf and vine extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against B. cereus, S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans compared to the SD, and the leaf extracts were more effective than the vine extracts. Individual constituents of leaf and vine extracts, cinnamaldehyde and α-terpineol, also showed antimicrobial activity against these organisms. The active constituents of the CM extracts are yet to be identified. A multivariate analysis revealed a particular pattern of inhibition of the tested organisms. Based on our results, cranberry volatile extracts have potential for future valorization as antibacterials, antifungals, and antioxidants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste, 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 783 KiB  
Article
Comparison of the Degree of Hydrolytic and Cytolytic Modification in Wheat Malts Obtained from Grain of Selected Wheat Cultivars Produced at Different Levels of Nitrogen Fertilisation
by Józef Gorzelany and Justyna Belcar
Molecules 2025, 30(9), 1921; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30091921 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 140
Abstract
The degree of hydrolytic modification (marked by parameters: extractive capacity, diastatic power and degree of fermentation) in wheat malts significantly influences their quality, determining their potential for use in brewing. Nitrogen fertilisation at a dose of 60 kg N·ha−1 applied in 3-year [...] Read more.
The degree of hydrolytic modification (marked by parameters: extractive capacity, diastatic power and degree of fermentation) in wheat malts significantly influences their quality, determining their potential for use in brewing. Nitrogen fertilisation at a dose of 60 kg N·ha−1 applied in 3-year field experiments had a positive effect on the extractability value of wheat malts, with an average value of 84.51% d.m. The value of diastatic power in the obtained malts, depending on the variety, was on average at the level of 334–414 units W-K (Windisch–Kolbach) and 357–380 units W-K, depending on nitrogen fertilisation. Wort attenuation obtained from the analysed wheat malts was at a similar level (on average 78.1%), except for malt obtained from grain of wheat fertilised with a nitrogen dose of 40 kg N·ha−1, for which significantly lower values were obtained (respectively, by 5.12%). The viscosity parameter of wheat malts, determining the degree of cytolytic modification, varied and averaged 1.95 mPa·s for the variety and for the nitrogen fertilisation applied. In 2-year canopy experiments, at a nitrogen fertilisation level of 60 kg N·ha−1, the Elixer cultivar was characterised by the best indicators of the degree of hydrolytic and cytolytic modification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste, 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 1034 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Polyphenol-Rich Extracts from Agricultural By-Products: Infectivity Inhibition Potential for Human Coronavirus 229E
by Joan Teichenné, Yaiza Tobajas, Kevin Leonard, Job Tchoumtchoua and Xavier Escoté
Molecules 2025, 30(8), 1806; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30081806 - 17 Apr 2025
Viewed by 314
Abstract
Polyphenol-rich extracts derived from agricultural by-products exhibit promising antiviral properties. This study evaluated the antiviral potential of extracts from red onion peels, vineyard prunings, olive prunings and chicory leaves against human coronavirus HuCoV-229E. Subcritical water extraction and resin adsorption techniques were applied to [...] Read more.
Polyphenol-rich extracts derived from agricultural by-products exhibit promising antiviral properties. This study evaluated the antiviral potential of extracts from red onion peels, vineyard prunings, olive prunings and chicory leaves against human coronavirus HuCoV-229E. Subcritical water extraction and resin adsorption techniques were applied to produce the extracts. The extracts were further characterised for their bioactive content, and three out of four extracts showed a high polyphenol content (>200 mg/g). The antiviral activity was assessed through viral infectivity and replication inhibition assays in human MRC-5 host cells. The results indicate that chicory leaf and red onion peel extracts demonstrated significant antiviral effects, with effective concentrations (EC50) of 61.43 µg/mL and 10.1 µg/mL, respectively. Olive pruning extract exhibited moderate activity, while vineyard pruning extract showed limited efficacy. These findings suggest that polyphenol-rich agricultural by-products could serve as sustainable sources for antiviral agents, warranting further investigation into their mechanisms of action and potential applications against other coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste, 2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 1264 KiB  
Article
Chemical Characterization, Lipid Profile, and Volatile Compounds in Chlorella sp. and Spirulina platensis: A Promising Feedstock for Various Applications
by Lacrimioara Senila, Eniko Kovacs and Cecilia Roman
Molecules 2025, 30(7), 1499; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30071499 - 27 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 476
Abstract
Microalgae are among the most promising feedstocks for a wide range of applications due to their ease of cultivation, rapid growth rate, and ability to accumulate significant amounts of lipids and other valuable compounds. In the current study, two microalgae species, Chlorella sp. [...] Read more.
Microalgae are among the most promising feedstocks for a wide range of applications due to their ease of cultivation, rapid growth rate, and ability to accumulate significant amounts of lipids and other valuable compounds. In the current study, two microalgae species, Chlorella sp. and Spirulina platensis, were studied regarding chemical composition, lipid extraction by ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction, and volatile compounds analysis. The optimization of the lipid extraction process was investigated with respect to the influence of different process parameters. The highest lipid content was found in Chlorella sp., which was more than twice as high compared to Spirulina platensis. Both microalgae contain saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Spirulina platensis contains high palmitic acid (42.9%) and linolenic acid (22.5%), and is low in MUFA content (8.5%), whereas Chlorella sp. contains high oleic (21.9%), linoleic (25.3%), and α-Linolenic acid (10.2%). Based on the fatty acids profile, nutritional lipid indices were calculated. Regarding the volatile content, Spirulina platensis contains amines, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, and hydrocarbons, whereas Chlorella sp. contains hydrocarbons, heterocycle, aldehydes, thiocyanates, and esters which give the odor profile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste, 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 1348 KiB  
Article
Recovery of Natural Hypoglycemic Compounds from Industrial Distillation Wastewater of Lamiaceae
by Claudia Sciacca, Nunzio Cardullo, Martina Savitteri, Maria Gaetana Giovanna Pittalà, Luana Pulvirenti, Edoardo Marco Napoli and Vera Muccilli
Molecules 2025, 30(6), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30061391 - 20 Mar 2025
Viewed by 324
Abstract
The food industry generates the largest number of valuable by-products. The recovery of compounds such as fatty acids and polyphenols with notorious biological properties from biowaste is a new challenge in the circular economy scenario, as they represent value-added starting materials for the [...] Read more.
The food industry generates the largest number of valuable by-products. The recovery of compounds such as fatty acids and polyphenols with notorious biological properties from biowaste is a new challenge in the circular economy scenario, as they represent value-added starting materials for the preparation of functional foods, food supplements, cosmetics and over-the-counter drugs. Less commonly explored are industrial wastewaters, which return to the nearby water streams without adequate treatment. Distillation wastewater (DWW) from the essential oils or agro-food industries may represent a valuable source of bioactive compounds to be valorized. In this work, DWW from rosemary was treated with different resins through dynamic and static adsorption/desorption approaches, for the recovery of phenolic compounds including rosmarinic acid. The most effective methodology, selected according to total phenolic and rosmarinic acid contents, as well as antioxidant activity evaluation, was applied to sage, thyme and oregano DWWs. The procedure provides several advantages compared with conventional separation processes, as it involves the lower consumption of reagents/solvents, low operational costs, ease of handling, and simplicity of scale-up. The results of this work highlight a fast and sustainable procedure for the recovery of rosmarinic acid and other phenolics (caffeic acid derivatives and flavonoid glycosides) from DWWS, thus affording a fraction with antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Valorization of Food, Agricultural By-Products and Waste, 2nd Edition)
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