Research on Plant-Based Polyphenols: Extraction, Purification and Application
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 1162
Special Issue Editors
Interests: wood sciences and technology; green extraction methods; material valorization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to invite you to share your research regarding the extraction and application of plant-based polyphenols. Tree extracts possess a range of properties and have been associated with excellent results in various applications and fields. Polyphenols are valuable resources, with tannins representing a particularly versatile family of plant-derived polyphenolic molecules and protecting trees against fungi, herbivores and insects. Depending on the source, this wide group of oligomeric compounds can be separated into four main groups: (i) hydrolysable tannins, which are carbohydrate esters of gallic and ellagic acid; (ii) condensed tannins, which are oligomeric flavan-3-ols or proanthocyanidins; (iii) phlorotannins, which are mostly found in algae; and (iv) complex tannins. Tannins contain aromatic rings and hydroxy groups that render them reactive in various ways.
Due to the high availability of raw materials (bark, leaves, fruits, algae, etc.) and their ease of extraction, plant-based polyphenols are attracting enhanced interest from the scientific and industrial community. Current applications of polyphenols include leather tannery, the synthesis of various types of resins with different crosslinkers, and the production of porous polymers such as foams and aerogels. These materials are mainly used in, but not limited to, insulation, the production of engineered wood products, soil amendment, effluent and wastewater treatment and water storage.
This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of recent innovations in extraction techniques, purification, separation, fermentation procedures and the advanced characterization of plant-based polyphenols and their innovative applications. Therefore, the articles submitted to this Special Issue should highlight novel extraction techniques, propose the valorization of untapped resources, and provide new perspectives on the application and synthesis of tannin and polyphenol-based materials, as well as tannins themselves.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Novel extraction techniques;
- Valorization of untapped tannin sources;
- Separation, purification and advanced characterization;
- The application of tannins in material synthesis;
- Use of plant-based polyphenols in health and nutrition;
- Resin and polymer application.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schnabel
Dr. Thomas Sepperer
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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
- condensed tannin
- biopolymers
- extraction
- circular economy
- deep eutectic solvent
- hydrolysable tannin
- residue valorization
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
