Phenolic Compounds in Food Science, Technology, and Circular Bioeconomy

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Biological Processes and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 733

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Farmacognosia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquimicas y Farmaceuticas, UNR–CONICET, Rosario S2000EZP, Argentina
Interests: effect-directed analysis; HPTLC-bioautography; bioactive compounds synthesis and screening; chromatographic fingerprinting; bio-organic analytical chemistry; HPTLC chemometrics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Phenolic compounds are among the most diverse and bioactive plant-derived molecules, shaping food quality, safety, and health outcomes. This Special Issue invites original research, reviews, and short communications that advance bioactivity-guided characterization, extraction, stabilization, and functionalization of phenolics for food applications, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and circular bioeconomy. We welcome studies valorizing agro-industrial side-streams and food losses as sources of phenolics; green and efficient processing routes; and integrative approaches that link chemical profiles and biological effects to functional performance in real or model food systems. Submissions addressing interactions in complex matrices, sensory and nutritional impacts, bioaccessibility/bioavailability, and translational applications in plant-based foods and active/intelligent packaging are encouraged. Contributions that include sustainability metrics, traceability, and scalability are valued.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Bioactivity-guided profiling, isolation, and effect-directed analysis of phenolics.
  • Valorization of agro-food by-products and side-streams; biorefinery concepts.
  • Green extraction, stabilization, and functionalization strategies.
  • Structure–function relationships; interactions in complex food matrices.
  • Phenolics in plant-based product design; preservation; sensory impact.
  • Bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and delivery systems (encapsulation, release).
  • Active/intelligent packaging and edible films leveraging phenolic functions.
  • Chemometrics, high-throughput screening, and QC workflows.

Sustainability and circularity assessments, traceability, and scale-up.

Dr. Ignacio Cabezudo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Processes 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 2400 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

  • phenolic compounds
  • bioactivity
  • sustainability
  • green extraction
  • food application
  • active packaging
  • food chemometrics

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 2312 KB  
Article
Effect-Directed Extraction of Grape Pomace: Optimizing Antioxidant and Antibrowning Efficacy
by Ignacio Cabezudo, Maximiliano Campero, Andrea M. Escalante and Ricardo L. E. Furlan
Processes 2026, 14(6), 925; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14060925 - 14 Mar 2026
Viewed by 502
Abstract
The increasing interest in valorizing agricultural by-products has positioned grape pomace as a rich source of bioactive compounds. This study developed an effect-directed extraction (EDE) approach guided by bioactivity quantification on thin layer chromatography (TLC). Twelve grape pomaces were screened based on antioxidant [...] Read more.
The increasing interest in valorizing agricultural by-products has positioned grape pomace as a rich source of bioactive compounds. This study developed an effect-directed extraction (EDE) approach guided by bioactivity quantification on thin layer chromatography (TLC). Twelve grape pomaces were screened based on antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory properties. Using hydroalcoholic solvent (ethanol:water, 1:1), the two most promising sources (Malbec from San Rafael) were subjected to response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize extraction of anti-browning and antioxidant compounds visualized as TLC spots. Temperature and time were optimized (76 °C, 45 min), and samples were analyzed using TLC coupled with DPPH and laccase inhibition bioautography. Antioxidant compounds showed retention factor values on TLC plates of 0.37 and 0.75 (DPPH/ABTS-active), while laccase inhibition occurred at Rf 0.35, coinciding with the primary tyrosinase inhibition zone. However, subsequent bioassay-guided HPLC fractionation and HRMS/MS analysis revealed that tyrosinase and laccase inhibitions are mediated by distinct compounds within this bioactive zone, highlighting a synergistic multi-target effect in the optimized extract that is retained throughout the process. The primary tyrosinase inhibitor at Rf ~0.35 was tentatively elucidated as an acylated anthocyanin, consistent with malvidin-3-O-(p-coumaroyl)glucoside. Optimized extracts were evaluated on Pink Lady apple slices at different timepoints. The browning index was reduced by 25% versus the control at 15 h, confirmed by significantly lower ΔE values (p < 0.05). The process requires only food-grade solvents and conventional equipment, facilitating scale-up for grape pomace generated worldwide. Validating the EDE strategy, this TLC-guided approach successfully tracked and preserved the primary anti-tyrosinase activity from the crude waste matrix down to the tentatively identified molecule, contributing to circular economy objectives in the wine industry. Full article
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