Natural Bioactive Compounds: Methods for Extraction, Characterization and Application

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, “Natural Bioactive Compounds: Methods for Extraction, Characterization and Application”, aims to highlight recent advances in the isolation, structural elucidation, and functional evaluation of bioactive compounds derived from natural sources, particularly those relevant to food and biotic products. Natural bioactives, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, peptides, and polysaccharides, are crucial for food preservation, nutrition, and health promotion. Their incorporation into functional foods, nutraceuticals, and biotic-based formulations is garnering increasing attention due to their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and other health-related properties.

This Special Issue welcomes original research and comprehensive reviews on innovative extraction technologies (e.g., green solvents, ultrasound, supercritical fluids), analytical and spectroscopic characterization methods (e.g., HPLC, LC-MS, NMR), and practical applications in food systems, edible coatings, encapsulation, and delivery systems. We also seek contributions that address the stability, bioaccessibility, and interaction of natural bioactives with food matrices or microbiota.

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

• Novel and sustainable extraction methods for bioactive compounds;
• Advanced techniques for structural and functional characterization;
• The application of natural bioactives in food preservation, safety, and shelf-life extension;
• Encapsulation and delivery systems for improved bioavailability;
• Biotechnological approaches for enhancing bioactive production;
• Regulatory and safety considerations in the use of natural bioactives.

This Special Issue hopes to bridge the gap between fundamental research and applied science, offering a multidisciplinary platform for researchers in food science, biotechnology, chemistry, and related disciplines.

Dr. Mariela R. Michel
Dr. Manuela Pintado
Guest Editors

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