Study on Green Extraction Technology and Biological Activity of Natural Products

Dear Colleagues,

Recent scientific research is guiding the development of green extraction methods with modern technologies that use less or no organic solvents to minimize environmental and health impacts and maximize the yield of desired bioactive compounds through selective extraction. Non-conventional and innovative extraction techniques are given more emphasis in recent decades. The use of methods such as microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, pulsed electric field-assisted, and enzyme-assisted extractions, as well as pressurized liquid and supercritical fluid extractions, etc., have been developed to recover bioactive compounds from natural sources.   

Natural products are valued in the food industry, drug development, cosmetic, and nutraceutical industries. Several bioactive compounds that can contribute positively to human health are also potential sources of functional ingredients. Several bioactive compounds are described to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, or anti-cancer properties, and may also modulate metabolic processes. The assessment of the biological activity (in vivo or in vitro) of novel food ingredients from natural sources is essential.

Therefore, considering the high level of interest in bioactive compounds from natural sources, this Special Issue will cover the most up-to-date knowledge on green extraction technologies (including novel technologies, methods optimization, or alternative solvents) of natural products and the assessment of their biological activity.

Dr. Villalva Marisol
Dr. Elena Arranz
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.

• food by-products
• food bioactive compounds
• sustainability
• green extraction
• novel natural ingredients
• advanced extraction techniques (PLE, UAE, SFE, MAE, EAE, PEF)
• novel solvents