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Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food...
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Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food Phytochemicals

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Foods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 25148

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Maria Fátima Duarte

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Alentejo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and Agro-Food (CEBAL)/Polythechnic Institute of Beja (IPBeja), 7801-908 Beja, Portugal
2. Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development–MED, CEBAL, 7081-908 Beja, Portugal
Interests: agro-industry subproducts valorization; non-conventional extraction methodologies; phytochemicals bio-based solutions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant foods are rich in bioactive ingredients which benefit human health, such as nuts, cereals, fruits and vegetables. In recent years, with the development of identification, separation, purification and other technologies, more and more attention has been paid to the characteristics and nutraceutical properties of plant foods. It has been reported that plant foods exhibit a wide range of functional properties, including antiobesity, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities, among many others. This Special Issue focuses on the latest advances of bioactive ingredients in plant foods, including emerging technologies, extraction optimization processes, as well as functional and pharmacological characterization, towards the comprehensive utilization within the food industry.

Dr. Maria Fátima Duarte
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  •  plant foods
  •  agro-food waste material valorization
  •  extraction optimization
  •  chemical characterization and identification
  •  pharmacological properties
  •  nutraceutical properties
  •  antimicrobial properties
  •  food industry applications

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 4823 KiB  
Article
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) from Alentejo (South Portugal)—Ethnobotany and Potential Industrial Use
by Orlanda Póvoa, Noémia Farinha, Violeta Lopes, Alexandra M. Machado and Ana Cristina Figueiredo
Foods 2024, 13(6), 929; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13060929 - 19 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1741
Abstract
Coriander is a medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) traditionally cultivated and used in Alentejo, Portugal. However, few publications are available about its ethnobotanical applications. Four independent ethnobotanical surveys were carried out: throughout the region (2002–2003), in three villages (2013), and in city markets [...] Read more.
Coriander is a medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) traditionally cultivated and used in Alentejo, Portugal. However, few publications are available about its ethnobotanical applications. Four independent ethnobotanical surveys were carried out: throughout the region (2002–2003), in three villages (2013), and in city markets (2007 and 2022). Coriander was the most common fresh cultivated MAP (75% of the total area) and also the most representative MAP fresh herb in city markets. The leaves, mostly, were used fresh or frozen or transformed in piso. Some of the recipes have agro-industrial potential, such as piso and aromatized olive oil. Coriander essential oils (EOs) were isolated by hydrodistillation from aerial parts with inflorescence emergence (APIs) and from fruits, and fatty acids (FA) by solvent extraction from the fruits. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed EOs dominated by n-decanal (21–24%), 2-trans-decenal (12–18%) and n-nonane (10–17%) in APIs, and linalool dominance (73–78%) in the fruits. Petroselinic acid (32–55%) was the dominant fatty acid. A literature survey on conventional and nonconventional extraction techniques showed a constancy in the dominant compounds isolated, highlighted piso as a home-made green-extraction procedure, but also reflected the relevance of coriander as a MAP with diverse industrial potential uses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food Phytochemicals)
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25 pages, 6858 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive Quality Analysis of Different Colors of Medicinal and Edible Honeysuckle
by Zhenying Liu, Yunxia Cheng and Zhimao Chao
Foods 2023, 12(16), 3126; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12163126 - 20 Aug 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1708
Abstract
Honeysuckle (the dried flower bud or opening flower of Lonicera japonica Thunb.), a medicinal and edible substance, has is greatly popular among consumers for its remarkable health effects, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, due to the influences of processing methods, [...] Read more.
Honeysuckle (the dried flower bud or opening flower of Lonicera japonica Thunb.), a medicinal and edible substance, has is greatly popular among consumers for its remarkable health effects, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, due to the influences of processing methods, storage conditions, and other factors, honeysuckles show different colors which can directly reflect the quality and the price on the market. In order to comprehensively compare the quality of different colors, 55 batches of honeysuckle samples were collected and analyzed. Their color parameters, chlorophyll content (chl), total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity (AA), main active compounds, and metabolites were measured. As a result, the initial green-white (GW) samples, a kind of highest-quality honeysuckle, had the smallest a* value, largest h*, chl, TPC, TFC, and AA values, and highest content of chlorogenic acid and cynaroside. There was a significant difference between GW samples and a series of discolored samples. As the color darkened or lightened, the quality gradually decreased. The yellow-brown (YB) samples were of the worst quality and were no longer available for clinical and health purposes. A series of differential metabolites, such as quercetin-7-O-glucoside and secologanoside, could be used as important references to evaluate the quality of differently colored samples. The metabolic profile of honeysuckle provided new insights into the process of color change and laid a foundation for further honeysuckle quality control. The correlation results showed that the a* and h* values significantly affect the abovementioned quality indicators and the 10 main active compounds. In other words, the color difference could directly reflect the quality and clinical efficacy. Multiple regression analysis was carried out using combined L*, a*, and b* values to predict the quality of honeysuckle. This is the first time the quality of different color honeysuckle samples on the post-harvest link has been systematically compared and a demonstration of medicinal and edible substances with different colors has been provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food Phytochemicals)
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12 pages, 2799 KiB  
Article
Optimization of QuEChERS Extraction for Determination of Carotenoids, Polyphenols, and Sterols in Orange Juice Using Design of Experiments and Response Surface Methodology
by Yusuke Iwasaki, Saki Yamada, Shinya Sakuma, Shunpei Kanba, Chinatsu Youda, Mizuki Ono, Rie Ito, Junzo Kamei and Hiroshi Akiyama
Foods 2023, 12(16), 3064; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12163064 - 15 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1545
Abstract
Several compounds with different physical properties are present in foods, biological components, and environmental samples, and there are cases in which these must be analyzed simultaneously. However, it is difficult to extract compounds with different physical properties from the same sample using a [...] Read more.
Several compounds with different physical properties are present in foods, biological components, and environmental samples, and there are cases in which these must be analyzed simultaneously. However, it is difficult to extract compounds with different physical properties from the same sample using a single method. In the present study, we examined the optimal conditions for the QuEChERS extraction of several kinds of compounds from orange juice using design of experiments (DoE) and response surface methodology (RSM) to determine the optimal ratio of organic solvent to sodium chloride. We determined the optimal extraction conditions, which were within the design space, using 100% tetrahydrofuran (THF) as the extraction organic solvent and NaCl:MgSO4 = 75:25 as the salt. The developed LC/MS/MS method using QuEChERS extraction achieved specific detection and precise quantification. Finally, we measured the polyphenols, sterols, and carotenoids in citrus juice using the optimized QuEChERS extraction method before LC/MS/MS analysis. Most of the analytes were quantifiable in orange juice. The optimized method achieved ease of operation, the extraction of analytes from food samples in a short time (within 30 min), minimization of analytical residues, and reliability. The DoE and RSM approach may contribute to better optimization of the extraction conditions for the lowest number of experiments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food Phytochemicals)
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12 pages, 2451 KiB  
Article
Edible Quality Analysis of Different Areca Nuts: Compositions, Texture Characteristics and Flavor Release Behaviors
by Bowen Yang, Haiming Chen, Weijun Chen, Wenxue Chen, Qiuping Zhong, Ming Zhang and Jianfei Pei
Foods 2023, 12(9), 1749; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12091749 - 23 Apr 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3750
Abstract
The areca nut is one of the most important cash crops in the tropics and has substantial economic value. However, the research information about the edible quality of different areca nuts is still insufficient. This study compared the composition, texture characteristics and flavor [...] Read more.
The areca nut is one of the most important cash crops in the tropics and has substantial economic value. However, the research information about the edible quality of different areca nuts is still insufficient. This study compared the composition, texture characteristics and flavor release behaviors of four different areca nuts (AN1, AN2, AN3 and AN4) and two commercially dried areca nuts (CAN1 and CAN2). Results showed that AN1 had higher soluble fiber and lower lignin, which was the basis of its lower hardness. Meanwhile, the total soluble solid (TSS) of AN1 was the highest, which indicated that AN1 had a moister and more succulent mouthfeel. After the drying process, the lignification degree of AN1 was the lowest. Through textural analyses, the hardness of AN1 was relatively low compared to the other dried areca nuts. AN1, CAN1 and CAN2 had higher alkaline pectin content and viscosity, and better flavor retention, which indicated better edible quality. The present study revealed the differences of various areca nuts and provided vital information to further advance the study of areca nuts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food Phytochemicals)
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19 pages, 1174 KiB  
Article
Tomato Processing By-Products Valorisation through Ohmic Heating Approach
by Marta C. Coelho, Soudabeh Ghalamara, Débora Campos, Tânia Bragança Ribeiro, Ricardo Pereira, António S. Rodrigues, José A. Teixeira and Manuela Pintado
Foods 2023, 12(4), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040818 - 15 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3135
Abstract
Tomato by-products from processing industries have a higher potential to be reused as a source of bioactive compounds. Reliable national data on tomato by-products and physicochemical characterisation that will inform and find effective planning on tomato waste management in Portugal is absent. To [...] Read more.
Tomato by-products from processing industries have a higher potential to be reused as a source of bioactive compounds. Reliable national data on tomato by-products and physicochemical characterisation that will inform and find effective planning on tomato waste management in Portugal is absent. To help obtain this knowledge, selected Portugal companies were recruited to obtain representative samples of by-products generation, and physicochemical composition was evaluated. Furthermore, an environmental-friendly method (the ohmic heating (OH) method, which allows the recovery of bioactive compounds in absence of hazardous reagents) was also used and compared with conventional methods to explore new safe value-added ingredients. Total antioxidant capacity and total and individual phenolic compounds were also evaluated by spectrophotometric and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. Tomato processing by-products have revealed a higher potential since both collected samples from companies were rich in protein (between 16.3 to 19.4 g/100 g DW, with fibre content ranging from 57.8 to 59.0 g/100 g DW). In addition, these samples contain 17.0 g/100 g of fatty acids (mainly polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and saturated, such as linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acid, respectively). Also, they present mainly chlorogenic acid and rutin as phenolic compounds. After understanding its composition, the OH was applied to determine added-value solutions to tomato by-products. With extractions, two types of fractions were obtained, namely liquid fraction rich in phenols, free sugars, and carotenoids and a solid fraction rich in fibre bound to phenols and carotenoids. This treatment has been shown to have the ability to preserve carotenoids, such as lycopene relative to conventional methods. Nevertheless, new molecules were identified by LC-ESI-UHR-OqTOF-MS analysis, such as phene-di-hexane and N-acethyl-D-tryptophan. According to the results, the OH boosts the potential of tomato by-products and can be directly introduced into the process, contributing to the circular economy and zero by-products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food Phytochemicals)
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13 pages, 660 KiB  
Article
A New Laboratory Scale Olive Oil Extraction Method with Comparative Characterization of Phenolic and Fatty Acid Composition
by Miguel D. Ferro, Maria João Cabrita, José M. Herrera and Maria F. Duarte
Foods 2023, 12(2), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12020380 - 13 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2475
Abstract
The establishment of operation protocols for olive oil (OO) extraction at non-industrial scale is crucial for research purposes. Thus, the present study proposes a simple and cost-effective method for OO extraction at the laboratory scale (LS) level. To validate the proposed methodology, industrial [...] Read more.
The establishment of operation protocols for olive oil (OO) extraction at non-industrial scale is crucial for research purposes. Thus, the present study proposes a simple and cost-effective method for OO extraction at the laboratory scale (LS) level. To validate the proposed methodology, industrial OO extraction (IS) was performed in parallel, using the same cultivars ‘Galega vulgar’ (GV), ‘Cobrançosa’ (COB) and ‘Arbequina’ (ARB) collected from the same orchards, within the same period. Obtained results showed highest extractability for COB and ARB, of about 53%, while GAL showed 50%. All produced OO showed values lower than the regulated limits for the physicochemical parameters (acidity, K232, K268 and ΔK), classifying them as extra virgin OO (EVOO). Highest total phenolic content was observed for COB, with no significant differences (p-value > 0.05) between extraction methods. Regarding fatty acid composition, oleic acid (C18:1) showed the lowest percentage for ARB, with about 66% and 68%, for LS and IS, respectively, and the highest for GV with about 72% for both LS and IS. Furthermore, all samples from both extraction methods were compared to the European Community Regulation, with fatty acid composition within the regulated levels for EVOO. This work showed promising results regarding extraction yields and OO extractability, as well as its quality parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food Phytochemicals)
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16 pages, 1509 KiB  
Article
Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Polyphenols from Maritime Pine Residues with Deep Eutectic Solvents
by Hugo Duarte, Valentim Gomes, María José Aliaño-González, Leonor Faleiro, Anabela Romano and Bruno Medronho
Foods 2022, 11(23), 3754; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11233754 - 22 Nov 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2606
Abstract
Deep eutectic solvents represent an important alternative in the field of green solvents due to their low volatility, non-toxicity, and low synthesis cost. In the present investigation, we propose the production of enriched polyphenolic extracts from maritime pine forest residues via an ultrasound-assisted [...] Read more.
Deep eutectic solvents represent an important alternative in the field of green solvents due to their low volatility, non-toxicity, and low synthesis cost. In the present investigation, we propose the production of enriched polyphenolic extracts from maritime pine forest residues via an ultrasound-assisted approach. A Box–Behnken experimental design with a response surface methodology was used with six variables to be optimized: solid-to-solvent ratio, water percentage, temperature and time of extraction, amplitude, and catalyst concentration. The mixture of levulinic and formic acids achieved the highest extraction yield of polyphenols from pine needle and bark biomass. In addition, the solid-to-solvent ratio was found to be the only influential variable in the extraction (p-value: 0.0000). The optimal conditions were established as: 0.1 g of sample in 10 mL of LA:FA (70:30%, v/v) with 0% water and 0 M H2SO4 heated to 30 °C and extracted during 40 min with an ultrasound amplitude of 80% at 37 kHz. The bioactive properties of polyphenol-enriched extracts have been proven with significant antioxidant (45.90 ± 2.10 and 66.96 ± 2.75 mg Trolox equivalents/g dw) and antimicrobial activities. The possibility to recycle and reuse the solvent was also demonstrated; levulinic acid was successfully recovered from the extracts and reused in novel extractions on pine residues. This research shows an important alternative to obtaining polyphenol-enriched extracts from forest residues that are commonly discarded without any clear application, thus opening an important window toward the valorization of such residues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food Phytochemicals)
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18 pages, 2552 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Different Extraction Methods on the Structure, Rheological, Thermal and Functional Properties of Soluble Dietary Fiber from Sanchi (Panax notoginseng) Flower
by Guihun Jiang, Karna Ramachandraiah, Zhaogen Wu and Kashif Ameer
Foods 2022, 11(14), 1995; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11141995 - 6 Jul 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2275
Abstract
The influence of different extraction methods, such as acidic (AC), enzymatic (EN), homogenization (H), ultrsonication (U) and alkali (AL), on structure, rheological, thermal and functional properties of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from Sanchi flower was evaluated in this study. The highest extraction yield [...] Read more.
The influence of different extraction methods, such as acidic (AC), enzymatic (EN), homogenization (H), ultrsonication (U) and alkali (AL), on structure, rheological, thermal and functional properties of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from Sanchi flower was evaluated in this study. The highest extraction yield (23.14%) was obtained for AL-SDF extract. Glucose (Glc) and galactose (Gal) were found to be the major constituents in Sanchi SDF. Homogenization and Ultrsonication treatments caused significant compaction of pores in the microstructures. FTIR analysis showed increased hydrolysis of pectin and hemicellulose in U, AL and AC-SDF extracts. H-SDF and AC-SDF exhibited similar shear rate change with the rise in shear stress. H-SDF was thermally more stable than other SDF extracts. Among all extraction methods, H-SDF and U-SDF exhibited the highest water holding capacity (WHC), oil-holding capacity (OHC), Bile acid-adsorption capacity (BAC), Cholesterol-adsorption capacity (CAC) and Glucose adsorption capacity (GAC). Thus, Sanchi flower SDF with improved functional properties could be utilized as a functional food ingredient in the development of various food products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food Phytochemicals)
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Review

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13 pages, 703 KiB  
Review
Use of Grape By-Products to Enhance Meat Quality and Nutritional Value in Monogastrics
by Cristina M. Alfaia, Mónica M. Costa, Paula A. Lopes, José M. Pestana and José A. M. Prates
Foods 2022, 11(18), 2754; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11182754 - 7 Sep 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4093
Abstract
Grape by-products could be used in monogastric animals′ nutrition to reduce feeding costs with conventional crops (e.g., maize and soybean meal) and to improve meat quality. The main grape by-products with the largest expression worldwide, particularly in the Mediterranean region, are grape pomace, [...] Read more.
Grape by-products could be used in monogastric animals′ nutrition to reduce feeding costs with conventional crops (e.g., maize and soybean meal) and to improve meat quality. The main grape by-products with the largest expression worldwide, particularly in the Mediterranean region, are grape pomace, grape seed, grape seed oil and grape skins. These by-products are rich sources of bioactive polyphenols, dietary fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), more specifically, the beneficial n-3 PUFA, that could be transferred to pork and poultry meat. The potential biological activities, mainly associated with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, make them putative candidates as feed supplements and/or ingredients capable of enhancing meat quality traits, such as color, lipid oxidation and shelf life. However, grape by-products face several limitations, namely, the high level of lignified cell wall and tannin content, both antinutritional compounds that limit nutrients absorption. Therefore, it is imperative to improve grape by-products’ bioavailability, taking advantage of enzyme supplementation or pretreatment processes, to use them as feed alternatives contributing to boost a circular agricultural economy. The present review summarizes the current applications and challenges of using grape by-products from the agro-industrial sector in pig and poultry diets aiming at improving meat quality and nutritional value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Extraction, Characterization and Biotechnological Use of Food Phytochemicals)
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