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Processes
Special Issues
Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin
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Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 15755

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marijana Zovko Končić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: phytotherapy; phytochemistry; natural product chemistry; chromatography; extraction procedures; secondary metabolites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sylwia Zielińska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: plant biotechnology; plant in vitro cultures; plant physiology; molecular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biotechnologically derived drugs of plant origin serve as natural therapeutic products and a valuable alternative for synthetic drugs. The quality of such products is based not only on elucidating the biosynthesis pathways but also on highly precise synthesis and extraction processes. Due to a high variety of specialized metabolites, their production in plant material, derived from a number of plant species, is still under investigation. Similarly, new methods of extraction, separation, identification and isolation of these compounds are still being developed.

This Special Issue is dedicated to Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin, including, but not limited to, elucidation and utilization of biosynthetic pathways for production of valuable primary and secondary metabolites, methods for increasing the yield of their production, as well as their isolation from biological matrices and media.

Prof. Dr. Marijana Zovko Končić
Dr. Sylwia Zielińska
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. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

  • biosynthesis
  • biosynthetic pathways
  • extraction procedures
  • medicinal plant
  • plant biotechnology
  • plant cell cultures
  • plant metabolites

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1580 KiB  
Article
A Sustainable Approach for High-Recovery of Procyanidins from Coffee Pulp: Optimization of Microwave-Ultrasound Hybrid Extraction
by Micheal B. Bamikale, José Sandoval-Cortes, Jorge E. Wong-Paz, Juan A. Ascacio-Valdés, Mónica L. Chávez-González, Orlando de la Rosa and Cristóbal N. Aguilar
Processes 2025, 13(4), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13040932 - 21 Mar 2025
Viewed by 390
Abstract
Coffee pulp, which accounts for approximately 40% of the dry weight of coffee cherries, is one of the many byproducts produced by the world’s most popular beverage, coffee. Such neglected waste represents an interesting source of bioactive compounds, such as procyanidins, which have [...] Read more.
Coffee pulp, which accounts for approximately 40% of the dry weight of coffee cherries, is one of the many byproducts produced by the world’s most popular beverage, coffee. Such neglected waste represents an interesting source of bioactive compounds, such as procyanidins, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. This study aims to develop an efficient method for procyanidins extraction from Coffea arabica pulp using a novel microwave–ultrasound hybrid method of extraction. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and a novel hybrid method (MAE–UAE) were comparatively analyzed. Using Box–Behnken design, the hybrid extraction method was optimized, giving a procyanidin yield of 60.88 mg/g (under these conditions: ~60 °C, ~21 min, ~1:13 solid-to-liquid ratio). The purification was carried out through a Sephadex LH-20 packed column chromatography, and the identified procyanidin dimers and trimers were confirmed by HPLC/ESI-MS. The hybrid extract’s acetonic fraction’s DPPH and ABTS tests revealed that procyanidins had a greater capacity to scavenge radicals than Trolox (p < 0.05). The findings highlight the potential of sustainable extraction methods for valorizing coffee pulp in functional food and pharmaceutical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin)
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16 pages, 1023 KiB  
Article
The Role of Fermentation and Drying on the Changes in Bioactive Properties, Seconder Metabolites, Fatty Acids and Sensory Properties of Green Jalapeño Peppers
by Isam A. Mohamed Ahmed, Fahad AlJuhaimi, Mehmet Musa Özcan, Nurhan Uslu and Noman Walayat
Processes 2024, 12(10), 2291; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12102291 - 19 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 833
Abstract
In this study, the influence of fermentation and different drying techniques on the bioactive components, antioxidant activity, phenolic components, fatty acids, nutrients and sensory characteristics of fresh and processed jalapeño peppers was investigated. At the end of the fermentation, the pH, acidity and [...] Read more.
In this study, the influence of fermentation and different drying techniques on the bioactive components, antioxidant activity, phenolic components, fatty acids, nutrients and sensory characteristics of fresh and processed jalapeño peppers was investigated. At the end of the fermentation, the pH, acidity and salt values of the brine were determined as 3.38, 0.09% and 6.02 g/100 mL, respectively. The oil results of pepper samples were found between 2.0% (microwave and air) and 2.60% (oven). Total carotenoid and total phenolic amounts of fresh (control) and processed peppers (air, conventional, microwave and fermentation) were characterized to be between 3.38 (fermented) and 65.68 µg/g (air) to 45.81 (fermented) and 350.69 mg GAE/100 g (microwave), respectively. Total flavonoid quantities of fresh and processed pepper samples were defined to be between 14.17 (fresh) and 482.74 mg/100 g (microwave). 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and catechin amounts in fresh and processed jalapeño peppers were defined to be between 0.43 (fermented) and 11.0 mg/100 g (microwave) to 1.36 (fermented) and 44.87 mg/100 g (microwave), respectively. The predominant fatty acids of pepper oils were palmitic, oleic and linoleic acid. The oleic acid amounts of fresh and processed jalapeño pepper oils were specified to be between 9.52% (air drying) and 29.77% (fermented), while the linoleic acid values of pepper oils vary between 10.84% (fermented) and 68.38% (air drying). The major elements of fresh and processed peppers were K, P, S, Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn in decreasing order. Protein amounts in fresh and processed jalapeño peppers were characterized to be between 8.59 (fermented) and 12.22% (oven). As a result of panelist evaluations, the most appreciated features (4.83 score) were the flavor, color and texture feature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin)
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17 pages, 5128 KiB  
Article
Solid-State Fermentation-Assisted Extraction of Flavonoids from Grape Pomace Using Co-Cultures
by Arturo Siller-Sánchez, Cristóbal N. Aguilar, Mónica L. Chávez-González, Juan A. Ascacio-Valdés, Deepak Kumar Verma and Miguel Aguilar-González
Processes 2024, 12(9), 2027; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12092027 - 20 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3357
Abstract
Eighty percent of grape production is destined for the wine industry, which generates various types of waste, of which grape pomace is the main one, accounting for 50–60% of waste created during processing. This waste could be a promising source of bioactive compounds [...] Read more.
Eighty percent of grape production is destined for the wine industry, which generates various types of waste, of which grape pomace is the main one, accounting for 50–60% of waste created during processing. This waste could be a promising source of bioactive compounds (e.g., flavonoids and tannin), which are known for their antioxidant properties. Although these byproducts pose disposal challenges, they can be utilized as a substrate for solid-state fermentation bioprocess using co-cultures, where different microorganisms can interact and complement each other, improving the efficiency of metabolite production or substrate degradation. This study investigates the extraction of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of the compounds from grape pomace in the solid-state fermentation bioprocess, comparing fungal and yeast monocultures, and then exploring the use of two co-cultures (P. stipites/A. niger GH1 and S. cerevisiae/A. niger) on the flavonoid extractive process. Fermentation kinetics were evaluated over 120 h, with sampling done every 12 h. Initially, yeasts were used to reduce the content of simple sugars in the medium, and fungus was added at 24 h into the process due to its ability to produce a broad spectrum of extracellular enzymes, allowing a higher efficiency in substrate degradation. Competition or antagonism during co-culture leads to significantly higher production of compounds, which are recovered using different solvents. The evaluation included phenolic compounds (total polyphenols, condensed tannins, and total flavonoids), antioxidant activity (DPPH●/FRAP), molecular characterization (HPLC-MS), and structural microscopy during the bioprocess. The highest titers obtained were 62.46 g/L for total flavonoids and 32.04 g/L for condensed tannins, using acetone as the solvent in co-culture with P. stipitis after 120 h of fermentation. Characterization identified 38 compounds, highlighting families of flavonols, hydroxybenzoic acids, and hydroxycinnamic acids. The co-culture of P. stipitis and A. niger GH1 significantly improved the extraction yield of bioactive compounds through solid-state fermentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin)
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9 pages, 1093 KiB  
Article
Effect of Drying Methods on the Antioxidant Capacity and Bioactive and Phenolic Constituents in the Aerial Parts of Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) Grown Naturally in the Taurus Mountains in the Mediterranean Region
by Fahad AlJuhaimi, Isam A. Mohamed Ahmed, Mehmet Musa Özcan, Nurhan Uslu and Emad Karrar
Processes 2024, 12(9), 2016; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12092016 - 19 Sep 2024
Viewed by 668
Abstract
This research revealed the effect of drying processes on the bioactive properties of marjoram leaves. The total carotenoid content in marjoram leaves ranged between 60.96 µg/g (fresh) and 189.78 µg/g (oven-dried), whereas the total flavonoid content ranged between 949.33 mg CE/100 g (control) [...] Read more.
This research revealed the effect of drying processes on the bioactive properties of marjoram leaves. The total carotenoid content in marjoram leaves ranged between 60.96 µg/g (fresh) and 189.78 µg/g (oven-dried), whereas the total flavonoid content ranged between 949.33 mg CE/100 g (control) and 16,958.59 mg CE/100 g (oven-dried). The total phenolic amounts in marjoram leaves were between 259.17 mg GAE/100 g (fresh) and 1264.17 mg GAE/100 g (oven-dried), while the antioxidant activity values were between 45.23% (fresh) and 77.29% (oven-dried). The 1,2-dihydroxybenzene and (+)-catechin amounts in marjoram leaves were between 19.54 (microwave-dried) and 165.26 (oven-dried) to 20.97 (fresh) and 46.99 mg/100 g (oven-dried), respectively. The kaempferol content in the marjoram plant was specified between 11.45 mg/100 g (fresh) and 43.05 mg/100 g (oven-dried). In general, the quantities of phenolic constituents in the marjoram leaves dried in both drying systems increased compared with fresh samples (except 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, p-coumaric acid, and resveratrol in the microwave-dried samples). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin)
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24 pages, 6228 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Microwave-Assisted Extraction from Levisticum officinale WDJ Koch Roots Using Pareto Optimal Solutions
by Michał Plawgo, Sławomir Kocira and Andrea Bohata
Processes 2024, 12(5), 1026; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12051026 - 18 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 994
Abstract
The current research trend is not only focused on advanced techniques to intensify the extraction of bioactive compounds from plants, but also on the optimization process. The objective of this work was the implementation of the multiple criteria analysis using navigation on Pareto [...] Read more.
The current research trend is not only focused on advanced techniques to intensify the extraction of bioactive compounds from plants, but also on the optimization process. The objective of this work was the implementation of the multiple criteria analysis using navigation on Pareto sets to determine the optimal parameters for the microwave-assisted extraction of Levisticum officinale WDJ Koch roots in order to obtain the maximum efficiency of the antioxidant potential of the extracts. The optimized parameters were extraction time, microwave power, and plant biomass/solvent ratio, while the evaluation criteria were based on the total phenols, flavonoids, reducing sugars, and antioxidant capacity. It was shown that the process parameters analyzed, i.e., biomass/solvent ratio, process time, and microwave power, determined the extraction efficiency of total phenolic content (TPC). A different observation was made for the analysis of total flavonoid content (TFC) and total antioxidant potential (TAA). Compared to the assessment of TFC and TAA, a completely different trend was observed for the analysis of total reducing sugars (RSC). Sets of Pareto optimal, compromise, and preferred solutions were identified that will maximize the efficiency of the extraction of bioactive compounds from biomass. Due to the determined number of Pareto optimal solutions, an approach related to the introduction of preferences in the optimization procedure was applied. It was shown that for a satisfactory level of bioactive compounds, extraction should be carried out at a maximum microwave power of 750 W. Preferred solutions were obtained for root biomass to water ratios ranging from 0.0536 g/mL to 0.0679 g/mL. The preferred optimal time for microwave-assisted water extraction ranged from 64.2857 to 85.7143 s. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin)
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Review

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23 pages, 4588 KiB  
Review
Plant-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Natural Nanocarriers for Biotechnological Drugs
by Eleonora Calzoni, Agnese Bertoldi, Gaia Cusumano, Sandra Buratta, Lorena Urbanelli and Carla Emiliani
Processes 2024, 12(12), 2938; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12122938 - 23 Dec 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1964
Abstract
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) are lipid bilayer nanoparticles, naturally produced by plant cells, with sizes ranging from 50 to 500 nm. Recent studies have highlighted their great potential in the biotechnological and medical fields, due to their natural origin, high biocompatibility and intrinsic [...] Read more.
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) are lipid bilayer nanoparticles, naturally produced by plant cells, with sizes ranging from 50 to 500 nm. Recent studies have highlighted their great potential in the biotechnological and medical fields, due to their natural origin, high biocompatibility and intrinsic therapeutic properties. PDEVs contain a complex biological cargo of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and secondary metabolites, including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory molecules, making them ideal for biomedical applications such as drug delivery. These vesicles play a key role in intercellular communication and gene regulation, proving to be particularly promising in personalized medicine. Recent studies have highlighted their ability to improve drug stability and bioavailability, optimizing targeted release and minimizing side effects. Despite some challenges, such as compositional variability and the need for standardized protocols, PDEVs are at the gunsight of innovative research aimed at improving their loading capacity and therapeutic specificity. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of PDEVs, exploring their structure, isolation methods, functional characteristics, and applications, highlighting their advantages over synthetic nanoparticles and animal-derived extracellular vesicles, leading to an innovative and sustainable solution for the development of new therapeutic approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin)
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16 pages, 1188 KiB  
Review
The Prospects of Algae-Derived Vitamins and Their Precursors for Sustainable Cosmeceuticals
by Neha Arora and George P. Philippidis
Processes 2023, 11(2), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11020587 - 15 Feb 2023
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6974
Abstract
Aquatic algae are a rich source of a wide range of bioproducts intended to compete for a sizable global market share. Thanks to the gradual shift towards the use of natural products, microalgae-derived bioactive compounds offer an ecofriendly and vegan option to the [...] Read more.
Aquatic algae are a rich source of a wide range of bioproducts intended to compete for a sizable global market share. Thanks to the gradual shift towards the use of natural products, microalgae-derived bioactive compounds offer an ecofriendly and vegan option to the cosmeceutical sector, whose products aim to improve skin health but currently consist of mostly synthetic chemicals. In particular, algae-derived vitamins and their precursors are being explored and widely used in the cosmeceuticals industry as compounds that contain biologically active ingredients with therapeutic benefits. The present review highlights the current strategies for industrial production of an array of vitamins from algae for cosmeceutical applications. When compared to traditional plant sources, algae have been found to accumulate vitamins, such as A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, in high concentrations. The purpose of this review is to provide context for the development of a green and sustainable algae-derived bioeconomy by summarizing and comparing the current market for vitamins and precursors derived from algae, as well as presenting novel strategies and key findings from the most recent research in this area. Emphasis is placed on novel biotechnological interventions that encompass genetic modifications, genetic engineering, and media development to enhance vitamin biosynthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin)
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