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Green Chemistry for Natural Product Extraction: Cleaner and Efficient Approaches
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Green Chemistry for Natural Product Extraction: Cleaner and Efficient Approaches

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 5653

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Grasiele Scaramal Madrona

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food Engineering, Universidade Estadual de Maringa, Maringa, Brazil
Interests: extraction; characterization and application of bioactive compounds in foods
Dr. Adriano Costa de Camargo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Nutrition and Food Technology Institute, University of Chile, Santiago 7830490, Chile
Interests: natural product chemistry; food science and technology; biochemistry; mass spectrometry; extraction
Prof. Dr. Rúbia Carvalho Gomes Corrêa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Cesumar Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation-ICETI, Cesumar University–UniCesumar, 1610 Guerdner Venue, Acclimation Gardner, Maringa, Parana, Brazil
Interests: food science and nutrition; sustainable food systems; adding value to agro-industrial waste; production of bioactive compounds; upcycling of food wastes; novel plant-based materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Carlos Eduardo Eduardo Barão

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Federal Institute of Parana, Paranavai Campus, Av. Jose Felipe Tequinha, 1400, Paranavai 87703-536, PR, Brazil
Interests: extraction; food science and technology; natural products
Dr. Miria Hespanhol Miranda Reis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculdade de Engenharia Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlandia, Brazil
Interests: development of fermentative, enzymatic processes, with membranes and environmental technologies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Green chemistry has emerged due to the importance of the use of processes that are environmentally friendly. For extracting natural products, greener and more sustainable alternatives to traditional methods have been explored over the last decade. The knowledge generated by this topic can help society change its habits and behaviors, showing us how certain products and attitudes pose more risks to nature than others. This knowledge also ties into Sustainable Development Goals 2; 11; and, more specifically, 12, which deal with sustainable production and consumption. In this sense, with the aim of providing a new and novel knowledge base via green chemistry for natural products, we would like to invite researchers to participate in this Special Issue. Therefore, this Special Issue will focus on approaches to improve and accelerate extraction efficiency and reduce solvent consumption, such as solvent-based techniques, deep euteric solvents (DES), ultrasound-assisted extraction and microwave-assisted extraction, as well as supercritical fluid extraction and pressurized solvent extraction. However, other related research is highly encouraged. Authors are cordially invited to contribute original research articles as well as review articles. All research will be published as Open Access.

Prof. Dr. Grasiele Scaramal Madrona
Dr. Adriano Costa de Camargo
Prof. Dr. Rubia Carvalho Gomes Correa
Dr. Carlos Eduardo Eduardo Barão
Dr. Miria Hespanhol Miranda Reis
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. Plants 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 2700 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

  • sustainable extraction
  • agro-industrial by-products extraction
  • green extraction
  • clean technologies
  • natural ingredients
  • food security
  • sustainable development

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 931 KiB  
Article
Supercritical CO2 and Conventional Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Different Cultivars of Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) Pomace
by Indrė Čechovičienė, Kiril Kazancev, Ewellina Hallmann, Eglė Sendžikienė, Marcin Kruk, Jonas Viškelis and Živilė Tarasevičienė
Plants 2024, 13(20), 2931; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13202931 - 19 Oct 2024
Viewed by 627
Abstract
The main objective of this work was to extract bioactive compounds from different cultivars of blackberry pomace using conventional Soxhlet and supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) extraction methods. For Soxhlet extraction, two different solvents, ethanol and n-hexane, were used. Qualitative and [...] Read more.
The main objective of this work was to extract bioactive compounds from different cultivars of blackberry pomace using conventional Soxhlet and supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) extraction methods. For Soxhlet extraction, two different solvents, ethanol and n-hexane, were used. Qualitative and quantitative composition of fatty acids was determined by GC, carotenoids and chlorophylls by HPLC, and volatile organic compounds were identified with an e-nose based on GC. The yield of the extract was influenced by the extraction, while the qualitative content of the extracts was also dependent on the cultivar. While there were no differences in the types of fatty acids extracted, their content varied significantly depending on the cultivar, extraction method, and their interaction. The results showed that linoleic acid (C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), and α-linolenic acid (C18:3) were the most prevalent in all cultivars of blackberry pomace extracts. The linoleic acid content varied from 33.33 to 64.77% depending on the variety, and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 varied from 3.17% to 5.71%. Significantly higher quantities of carotenoids and chlorophylls were obtained in Soxhlet extraction with n-hexane in all extracts. The major carotenoid in the ‘Orkan’ and ‘Polar’ extracts was lutein, while in the ‘Brzezina’ extract, it was β-carotene. The extraction method has a significant impact on the flavor profile of the extracts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Chemistry for Natural Product Extraction: Cleaner and Efficient Approaches)
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12 pages, 704 KiB  
Article
Brazil Nut Semi-Defatted Flour Oil: Impact of Extraction Using Pressurized Solvents on Lipid Profile, Bioactive Compounds Composition, and Oxidative Stability
by Karen Keli Barbosa Abrantes, Tatiana Colombo Pimentel, Camila da Silva, Oscar de Oliveira Santos Junior, Carlos Eduardo Barão and Lucio Cardozo-Filho
Plants 2024, 13(19), 2678; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192678 - 24 Sep 2024
Viewed by 655
Abstract
Brazilian nuts are native to the Amazon rainforest and are considered a non-timber forest-product of extreme economic importance to local populations. This study evaluated the lipid profile, bioactive compounds, and oxidative stability of semi-defatted Brazilian nut flour oil (BNSDFO) obtained using pressurized fluids [...] Read more.
Brazilian nuts are native to the Amazon rainforest and are considered a non-timber forest-product of extreme economic importance to local populations. This study evaluated the lipid profile, bioactive compounds, and oxidative stability of semi-defatted Brazilian nut flour oil (BNSDFO) obtained using pressurized fluids (n-propane at 40 °C and 2, 4, and 8 MPa or a CO2/n-propane mixture at 40 °C and 12 MPa). A Brazilian nut kernel oil (BNKO) processed by conventional cold pressing was also obtained. The BNKO showed a higher concentration of total phenolic compounds and saturated fatty acids, higher antioxidant activity, and the presence of gallic acid derivatives. The oils extracted using pressurized fluids showed a higher concentration of linoleic acid, β-sitosterol, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The utilization of pressurized n-propane resulted in higher yields (13.7 wt%), and at intermediate pressures (4 MPa), the product showed myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside and higher oxidative stability (OSI, 12 h) than at lower pressures (2 MPa). The CO2/n-propane mixture of pressurized solvents resulted in higher concentrations of squalene (4.5 times), the presence of different phenolic compounds, and a high OSI (12 h) but lower yield (2.2 wt%). In conclusion, oils with better fatty acid profiles (oleic e linoleic acids), phytosterol composition, and suitable radical scavenging activity may be obtained using pressurized fluids and Brazilian nut flour, a byproduct of oil extraction. The mixture of solvents may improve the concentration of squalene, whereas using only n-propane may increase oil yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Chemistry for Natural Product Extraction: Cleaner and Efficient Approaches)
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14 pages, 1114 KiB  
Article
Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from the Fruits of Jambolan (Syzygium cumini (L.)) Using Alternative Solvents
by Carla Adriana Ferrari Artilha-Mesquita, Ana Paula Stafussa, Patrícia Daniele Silva dos Santos, Oscar de Oliveira Santos, Silvio Claudio da Costa and Grasiele Scaramal Madrona
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2065; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152065 - 26 Jul 2024
Viewed by 893
Abstract
This work demonstrates the effectiveness of using alternative solvents to obtain jambolan extracts with a high content of bioactive compounds compared to conventional organic solvents, being the first study to evaluate the best ecological solvent alternative for Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels. Five alternative [...] Read more.
This work demonstrates the effectiveness of using alternative solvents to obtain jambolan extracts with a high content of bioactive compounds compared to conventional organic solvents, being the first study to evaluate the best ecological solvent alternative for Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels. Five alternative solvents were used for extraction: water at 25 °C (W25), water at 50 °C (W50), water at 75 °C (W75), water with citric acid at 2.4% (CA2), and water with citric acid at 9.6% (CA9) in comparison with three conventional solvents: ethanol (EtOH), water with ethanol at 50% (WE), and water with methanol at 50% (WM). A protocol was then established for the extraction and concentration of samples obtained with these solvents. The highest content of total phenolic compounds (TPCs) in the extracts was obtained with the solvent W75 (1347.27 mg GAE/100 g), while in the concentrates it was the solvents EtOH (3823.03 mg GAE/100 g) and WM (4019.39 mg GAE/100 g). Total monomeric anthocyanins (TMAs) increased by 209.31% and 179.95% in extractions with CA2 and CA9, respectively, compared to pulp (35.57 mg eq c-3-g/100 g), demonstrating that they are the most efficient alternative solvents in this extraction. The levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity varied according to the solvents used. Delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside, cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside, delphinidin 3-glucoside, petunidin 3,5-diglucoside, cyanidin 3-glucoside, peonidin 3,5-diglucoside, malvidin 3,5-diglucoside, petunidin 3-glucoside, and malvidin 3-glucoside were identified in most of the samples by UPLC-MS/MS. This study suggests that a simple procedure using alternative solvents can be used as an environmentally friendly strategy to achieve efficient extraction of bioactive compounds in jambolan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Chemistry for Natural Product Extraction: Cleaner and Efficient Approaches)
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13 pages, 1604 KiB  
Article
Artemisia fragrans Willd. Essential Oil: Chemical Profile and Insecticidal Potential against the Confused Flour Beetle, Tribolium confusum du Val
by Asgar Ebadollahi, William N. Setzer and Franco Palla
Plants 2024, 13(13), 1725; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131725 - 21 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1173
Abstract
The confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum du Val, is one of the cosmopolitan and polyphagous storage insect pests. The frequent application of chemical insecticides has resulted in several side effects, including threats to human health and non-target organisms and the resistance of insect [...] Read more.
The confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum du Val, is one of the cosmopolitan and polyphagous storage insect pests. The frequent application of chemical insecticides has resulted in several side effects, including threats to human health and non-target organisms and the resistance of insect pests. In the current study, the fumigant toxicity and feeding deterrence potential of Artemisia fragrans Willd. essential oil on T. confusum adults were investigated. The essential oil was rich in terpenic compounds, in which α-thujone (27.8%) and 1,8-cineole (22.8%) were dominant. The essential oil displayed significant fumigant toxicity on T. confusum, where a concentration of 35.3 μL/L caused 100% mortality of the treated adults after 48 h. The LC30 and LC40 values (lethal concentrations to kill 30% and 40% of tested insects: 15.1 and 18.4 μL/L, respectively) significantly decreased the nutritional indices of the pest, including the consumption index, relative consumption rate, and relative growth rate. The feeding deterrence index of the essential oil were calculated as being 62.29 and 48.66% for the concentrations of 15.1 and 18.4 μL/L after 5 days, respectively. Accordingly, A. fragrans essential oil can be considered an efficient, available, and natural alternative to detrimental chemical pesticides in the management of T. confusum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Chemistry for Natural Product Extraction: Cleaner and Efficient Approaches)
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15 pages, 1858 KiB  
Article
Optimization of the Parameters Influencing the Antioxidant Activity and Concentration of Carotenoids Extracted from Pumpkin Peel Using a Central Composite Design
by Roxana Nicoleta Gavril (Rațu), Oana Emilia Constantin, Elena Enachi, Florina Stoica, Florin Daniel Lipșa, Nicoleta Stănciuc, Iuliana Aprodu and Gabriela Râpeanu
Plants 2024, 13(11), 1447; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13111447 - 23 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1541
Abstract
It has been discovered that the peel of a pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), regarded as a waste product of pumpkin processing, has significant amounts of carotenoids and other antioxidants. This study aims to identify the most effective extraction parameters for an ultrasonic-assisted [...] Read more.
It has been discovered that the peel of a pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), regarded as a waste product of pumpkin processing, has significant amounts of carotenoids and other antioxidants. This study aims to identify the most effective extraction parameters for an ultrasonic-assisted extraction method to extract the total carotenoids (TCs) and assess the antioxidant activity (AA) of pumpkin peel. To determine the effects of the extraction time, temperature, and material-to-solvent ratio on the recovery of TCs and AA, a response surface methodology utilizing the central composite design (CCD) was used. The extraction temperature (6.25–98.75 °C), extraction duration (13.98–128.98 min), and solvent ratio (0.23–50.23 mL) were the variables studied in the coded form of the experimental plan. The carotenoid concentration varied from 0.53 to 1.06 mg/g DW, while the AA varied from 0.34 to 7.28 µM TE/g DW. The findings indicated that the optimal extraction parameters were an 80 °C temperature, a 10 mL solvent ratio, and a 100 min extraction time. The study confirmed that the optimum extraction conditions resulted in an experimental TC yield of 0.97 mg/g DW and an AA of 7.25 µM TE/g DW. Overall, it should be emphasized that the extraction process can be enhanced by setting the operating factors to maximize the model responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Chemistry for Natural Product Extraction: Cleaner and Efficient Approaches)
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