Bioactive Compounds from Fruit and Vegetable By-Products: Recovery, Characterization, and Potential Applications
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 29
Special Issue Editor
Interests: food science; plant bioactive compounds; functional food; hops; beer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The global food industry generates substantial quantities of by-products and residues from the processing of fruits and vegetables, which are often underutilized despite their rich content of valuable bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and dietary fibers. In the context of circular economy principles and sustainable development goals, the value of these by-products as functional ingredients has received significant interest in recent years.
This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the recovery, characterization, and application of bioactive compounds derived from fruit and vegetable processing by-products. We invite original research articles, reviews, and case studies that explore innovative extraction technologies (e.g., green solvents, ultrasound-assisted, and enzymatic), advanced analytical methods for compound profiling, and the functional evaluation of recovered compounds in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or agricultural applications. Contributions that address bioavailability, stability, regulatory aspects, or the techno-functional integration of these compounds into novel food systems are also welcome.
Through this Issue, we seek to bridge gaps between waste management, food science, and bioactive compound research, offering sustainable and health-oriented solutions for industry and society. Researchers, industry experts, and policymakers are encouraged to contribute their knowledge to promote the efficient use of agro-industrial residues and support the transition toward zero-waste biorefineries.
Dr. Liana C. Salanță
Guest Editor
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
- fruit by-products
- vegetable by-products
- agro-industrial waste valorization
- extraction methods
- phytochemicals
- functional ingredients
- sustainable food systems
- antioxidants
- phenolic compounds
- food waste valorization
- green extraction technologies
- circular economy
- food additives
- bioavailability
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