Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Cross-Field Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2025 | Viewed by 933
Special Issue Editors
Interests: cell culture media optimization; in vitro ecotoxicology; alternative solvents; extraction of bioactive compounds from different plant materials; valorization of waste/byproducts by applying green principles; biological investigation of extracts; therapeutic applications of plant extracts and novel drug formulations
Interests: biomass valorisation; green chemistry; green extraction; green solvents; enabling technologies; process intensification; polyphenols; heterogeneous catalysis; extraction kinetics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to invite you to submit original articles or reviews to a Special Issue in Molecules entitled “Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources”.
The extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources is crucial due to the therapeutic, nutritional, and industrial benefits that these compounds possess. Utilizing natural sources reduces reliance on synthetic chemicals and minimizes environmental impact, where the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for the extraction of natural compounds additionally promotes sustainability and the greenness of the process. Innovative applications of DESs in the field of natural product extraction from diverse natural sources such as plants, algae, and microorganisms contribute to the development of medicines, functional foods, and cosmetics.
Research so far demonstrates DESs’ superior extraction efficiencies, particularly for polar and thermolabile compounds, owing to their ability to stabilize bioactive molecules during the extraction process. Notable advantages are also reduced solvent consumption, improved selectivity, and compatibility with environmentally friendly extraction techniques like ultrasound and microwave assistance. DESs surely represent a promising frontier for sustainable and innovative natural product extraction, but the challenges remain in scaling up the process, ensuring the food- and pharmaceutical-grade purity of DESs, and addressing recyclability.
Therefore, this Special Issue will cover fundamental research as well as practical applications, providing an overview of current state, future developments, and potential applications of deep eutectic solvents in the extraction of natural compounds.
The Special Issue will include several key topics:
- Development and Characterization of DESs: the design, formulation, and physicochemical properties of DESs tailored for specific bioactive compounds;
- Mechanisms of Extraction: the molecular interactions between DESs and target compounds, contributing to understanding and optimization of the extraction process;
- Comparative Analyses: evaluation of DESs against traditional solvents (yield, purity, and environmental impact);
- Applications in Natural Products: the use of DESs for extracting phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and other high-value bioactives from different natural sources;
- Sustainability and Green Chemistry: the environmental benefits of DESs (reduced toxicity and potential recyclability).
We would like to invite and encourage you to submit your original articles or reviews. We are look forward to receiving your work.
Dr. Kristina Radošević
Dr. Giorgio Grillo
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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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
- bioactive compounds
- natural sources
- biological activity
- deep eutectic solvents
- green extraction
- sustainable solvents
- natural product valorization
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