Technologies for Production, Processing, and Extraction of Natural Products, 3rd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 2295

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural bioactive compounds encompass a plethora of structures and functionalities, providing a reliable source of molecules for the production of nutraceuticals, functional foods, and food additives. Furthermore, they have demonstrated significant market potential for industrial applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors. These compounds, which are produced and recovered from various biological sources (such as fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, wastes, and byproducts), can be found in nature either at high concentration (i.e., polyphenols) or at very low levels, such that massive harvesting is needed to obtain sufficient amounts. In fact, the structural diversity and complexity of these substances make chemical synthesis unprofitable. The development of advanced technologies has been fundamental to overcoming the inherent difficulties in screening and producing these compounds. Traditionally, they are extracted using conventional liquid–liquid or solid–liquid extraction techniques; however, this approach is associated with negative thermal influences on extraction yield and quality, as well as a significant expenditure of organic solvents and energy. In addition, with the growing consumer demand for greener alternatives that do not involve toxic chemicals, as well as the industry’s concerns around sustainable, nontoxic extraction methods, the applications of novel extraction technologies (including, for instance, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and enzyme-assisted extraction, as well as their combination) are becoming more and more widespread.

This Special Issue of the journal Processes, entitled “Technologies for Production, Processing, and Extraction of Natural Products, 3rd Edition” aims to group original research and review articles about the setting and optimization of production and processing strategies, as well as conventional and innovative extraction technologies of natural compounds.

Dr. Pasquale Crupi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • natural product chemistry
  • biological sources
  • leftovers
  • production methods
  • processing
  • non-conventional extractions
  • methods of analysis

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2412 KB  
Article
Isolation of Bioactive Metabolites from Fusarium fujikuroi: GC-MS Profiling and Bioactivity Assessment
by Zainab Farooq, Sobia Nisa, Eman Y. Santali, Ruwida M. K. Omar and Ashraf Ali
Processes 2025, 13(11), 3729; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13113729 - 19 Nov 2025
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Abstract
In the present study, the endophytic fungus Fusarium fujikuroi was isolated from the medicinal plant Debregeasia salicifolia and cultivated for the extraction of bioactive metabolites. The crude extract was fractionated via gravity column chromatography using solvents of increasing polarity (n-hexane, n-hexane/chloroform 1:1 v [...] Read more.
In the present study, the endophytic fungus Fusarium fujikuroi was isolated from the medicinal plant Debregeasia salicifolia and cultivated for the extraction of bioactive metabolites. The crude extract was fractionated via gravity column chromatography using solvents of increasing polarity (n-hexane, n-hexane/chloroform 1:1 v/v, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol) to isolate bioactive compounds. The antimicrobial activity of these fractions was evaluated against pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli). Most extracts exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, with the n-hexane/chloroform fraction (HCF) showing the highest efficacy (18 mm inhibition zone), followed by the n-hexane fraction while Ciprofloxacin was used as a positive control. Fractions were tested in triplicate; antibacterial activities (p < 0.05) were highest in the HCF. Bioactive compounds from the most potent fractions were further purified and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS profiling revealed the presence of diverse bioactive metabolites, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenols, and fatty acids. Notably, several of these compounds have not been previously reported in Fusarium fujikuroi, highlighting the potential for novel antimicrobial agents from this endophytic strain. In silico toxicity prediction using the ProTox-II tool indicated that the major compounds possess low to moderate toxicity profiles, supporting their potential safety for further biological evaluation. Full article
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15 pages, 1401 KB  
Article
Kinetics of Luteolin Extraction from Peanut Shells and Reseda luteola for Potential Applications as a Biofunctional Ingredient
by Efstratios Episkopou, Dimitrios Tsimogiannis, Maria Giannakourou and Petros Taoukis
Processes 2025, 13(9), 3009; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13093009 - 21 Sep 2025
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Abstract
This study investigates the extraction kinetics of luteolin, a bioactive flavonoid with recognized antioxidant and health-promoting properties, from the aerial parts of Reseda luteola (dyer’s weld), with emphasis on its industrial potential. A comparative analysis with peanut shells (Arachis hypogea) identified [...] Read more.
This study investigates the extraction kinetics of luteolin, a bioactive flavonoid with recognized antioxidant and health-promoting properties, from the aerial parts of Reseda luteola (dyer’s weld), with emphasis on its industrial potential. A comparative analysis with peanut shells (Arachis hypogea) identified R. luteola as a superior source, containing 14 ± 3 mg of LUT/g of material, approximately eight times higher than the amount in peanut shells. Luteolin occurred predominantly as luteolin-7-O-glycoside (57%) and the aglycone (35%). Methanolic semi-batch extraction at 25 °C yielded 9.6 mg LUT/g (70%) within 60 min at a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:9, demonstrating significantly greater solvent efficiency than conventional Soxhlet or maceration techniques. Kinetic modeling, based on Fick’s second law, revealed a biphasic process with a low rate constant ratio (3:1) between the two stages, indicating the need for process optimization. These results establish R. luteola as a cost-effective and sustainable source of luteolin for dietary supplements and functional foods, while indicating the need to explore alternative solvents and advanced extraction methods to further optimize yield and efficiency. Full article
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21 pages, 1521 KB  
Article
Recovery of Carotenoids via Novel Extraction Technologies for the Valorization of Tomato By-Products
by Athina Ntzimani, Maria Tsevdou, Maria Katsouli, Ioanna Thanou, Dimitrios Tsimogiannis, Maria Giannakourou and Petros Taoukis
Processes 2025, 13(9), 2964; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13092964 - 17 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 645
Abstract
Tomato processing residues—including peels, seeds, and pomace—are rich in bioactive compounds, such as lycopene, β-carotene, cutin, pectin, and antioxidants, yet are often underutilized. This study evaluates microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and high-pressure-assisted extraction (HPAE) for the recovery of carotenoids from TP, compared to [...] Read more.
Tomato processing residues—including peels, seeds, and pomace—are rich in bioactive compounds, such as lycopene, β-carotene, cutin, pectin, and antioxidants, yet are often underutilized. This study evaluates microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and high-pressure-assisted extraction (HPAE) for the recovery of carotenoids from TP, compared to conventional extraction (CE) using ethyl acetate. Optimal MAE conditions (150 W, 50 °C, 20 min, solid/liquid ratio of 1:10 g/mL) yielded 592.5 mg carotenoids/kg dry weight (dw), exceeding CE yields (505.3 mg/kg dw), while significantly reducing extraction time (20 min vs. 120 min). By contrast, direct HPAE (650 MPa, ambient temperature, solid/liquid ratio of 1:10 g/mL) resulted in lower carotenoid yields (ca. 84 mg/kg dw), but when used as a pre-treatment followed by stirring for 24 h, HPAE enhanced carotenoids extractability to 277.0 mg/kg dw, recovering 55% of carotenoids extracted by CE. Bioaccessibility studies showed low lycopene bioaccessibility across all methods (3.9% for HPAE, 3.4% for MAE, and 1.6% for CE). Incorporation into oils significantly improved bioaccessibility, with olive pomace oil (OPO) achieving 28.1%, compared to 8.1% in corn oil (CO). Overall, MAE and HPAE (as pre-treatment) present efficient strategies that reduce solvent usage and processing time, though they still rely on organic solvents, while strategies to enhance bioaccessibility should further be explored for effective functional ingredient development. Full article
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Review

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24 pages, 1475 KB  
Review
An Updated Overview on the Use of the β-Carotene Bleaching Method in Assessing the Antioxidant Activity of Compounds
by Małgorzata Olszowy-Tomczyk and Dorota Wianowska
Processes 2025, 13(12), 3814; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13123814 - 25 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Compounds with antioxidant properties have recently gained popularity. Globally, in parallel with the search for new sources of antioxidants, research is being conducted on methods for assessing antioxidant properties. The aim of this review article is to systematize and update knowledge about one [...] Read more.
Compounds with antioxidant properties have recently gained popularity. Globally, in parallel with the search for new sources of antioxidants, research is being conducted on methods for assessing antioxidant properties. The aim of this review article is to systematize and update knowledge about one of the most popular methods for testing antioxidant properties–the β-carotene bleaching method. This article presents the most important information regarding this method. It discusses, among other things, the basic reaction mechanism used to assess antioxidant properties, the properties of the model antioxidant–β-carotene, the measurement procedure and reagent preparation, and, importantly, factors that the analyst should consider when interpreting the final result. Furthermore, the article reviews applications of the β-carotene method. The information presented should be helpful in obtaining consistent and reliable results using this method and contribute to the standardization of antioxidant testing methods. Full article
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