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A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Analysis of Food and Beverages".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 July 2022) | Viewed by 64438

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Angela Sorbo

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Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità - National Institute of Health, Via Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: food analysis; regulatory and monitoring activity; trace elements analysis; chemical speciation; chromatographic techniques; mass spectrometry; organization of proficiency testings; preparation of reference materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Claudia Zoani

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Department of Sustainability, Biotechnology and Agroindustry Division, ENEA—Italian National Agency of New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy
Interests: metrology in food and nutrition; atomic spectroscopic and mass spectrometry techniques; reference materials; food quality; safety and traceability; sustainability of agrifood systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Daniele Passeri

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Guest Editor

Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Via A. Scarpa 14, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: nanocharacterization; scanning probe microscopy; nanotechnology; nanoscience; atomic force microscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Assessing food safety and quality is nowadays a key point in world policies. The need to protect public health is leading to increasingly stringent legislation which, by lowering the limits allowed for certain substances, requires the development of increasingly sensitive methods. The spread of novel food is a further reason for the development of new analytical methods and devices, as well as tools for early detection. Furthermore, awareness of the contribution of nutrition to the overall health of the individual is a driving force for new studies that encourage integrated approaches (e.g., foodomics) or non-destructive tools to improve consumer well-being, health, education, and confidence. The availability of reliable analytical methods and devices to be applied in food quality & safety studies and monitoring can further support national and regional development, trade, public health decisions, as well as contribute to nutrition education. Furthermore, it can support the practical realisation of the “One Health” approach, taking into account the unbreakable link between human health, animal health, and environmental health and considering the impacts and close relations with agri-food systems, food production and consumption, and the environment.

This Special Issue is open to expert review and original contributions dealing with advances in analytical methods for detection and quantification of potentially hazardous substances in food matrices. It is also aimed at gathering new approaches in the field of assessment of food quality, covering the relevant physicochemical, microbiological/biological and organoleptic analysis of foods, rapid measurement techniques for functionality, and nutrient prediction. Papers are welcome on all the above topics including, but not limiting to, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, chromatography, chemical speciation, NMR, sensor analysis (even biomimetic), and their applications.

This Special Issue is also the occasion for scientists to compare different approaches to guarantee consumer protection at the national or local level, allowing the readers to get a picture of both the analytical and regulatory aspects of food quality and safety, with its close relation with food security and sustainability of agrifood systems.

Dr. Angela Sorbo
Dr. Claudia Zoani
Dr. Daniele Passeri
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. Separations 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 2600 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

Food safety and quality
Food analysis
Food laws and regulations
Mass spectrometry
Cromatography
(Smart) sensors and devices
Emerging contaminants
Nanoparticle analysis
Residues analysis
Nutrients, nutraceuticals, and sensory analysis

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Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

6 pages, 220 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications

by Angela Sorbo, Claudia Zoani and Daniele Passeri

Separations 2023, 10(5), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10050315 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2017

Abstract

The Special Issue “Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications” was open to expert reviews and original contributions dealing with advances in analytical methods for the detection and quantification of potentially hazardous substances in food matrices [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

11 pages, 1762 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Extraction and Physicochemical Composition of Irvingiagabonensis Almond Oil: A Potential Healthy Source of Lauric-Myristic Oil

by Sidrine Kerthy Koumba Ibinga, Muriel Cerny, Eric Lacroux, Jean-François Fabre, Romain Valentin, Othmane Merah, Raphaël Bikanga and Zéphirin Mouloungui

Separations 2022, 9(8), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9080207 - 8 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2738

Abstract

Irvingia gabonensis is a non-timber forest product, whose fruit contains an edible fat-rich kernel. This fat can be used not only in human food but also as a source of raw materials in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. This work aimed to provide a physicochemical description of components present in the almonds and butter of I. gabonensis. Oil was extracted by soxhlet and hot-pressing from almonds. Cryo-MEB analyses allowed the observation of oleosomes in which the triglycerides of almonds are located. The triglyceride profile and the fatty acids profile of the butter were determined by gas chromatography, and a statistical analysis was performed. The thermal properties of oil were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis. The results revealed that oil bodies have sizes ranging from 30 to 60 µm. With a 63.8 ± 0.2% fat content, I. gabonensis is composed of 98.4% triglycerides. The hot-pressing yield is 47.9%. The main triglycerides are essentially made up of lauric (38.5 ± 0.1%) and myristic (51.9 ± 0.2%) acids. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the butter melted at 43.4 °C and decomposed at 415.2 °C. These results show that I. gabonensis butter may be proposed as a good source of lauric acid for food and nutrition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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15 pages, 1803 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Amaranth Oilseed Composition and Cosmetic Applications

by Bouchra Sayed-Ahmad, Martine Urrutigoïty, Akram Hijazi, Zeinab Saad, Muriel Cerny, Philippe Evon, Thierry Talou and Othmane Merah

Separations 2022, 9(7), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9070181 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3843

Abstract

Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) is a possible alternative to high-nutritional-value crops. Amaranth seeds are considered to be one of the few sources of phytosqualene (up to 8%). The use of squalene and its hydrogenated form squalane in skincare formulations has been steadily increasing, and the demand for these compounds is expected to rise continuously. The aim of this study was to investigate the amaranth oilseed as a potential ingredient for cosmetic applications. First, an experimental design and optimization were carried out in order to obtain amaranth oil rich in squalane instead of squalene through catalytic hydrogenation. Under the optimal conditions, the resulting oil was fully hydrogenated, with higher stability, and more suitable for cosmetic uses. Furthermore, the effect of the addition of amaranth oil and squalane on the rheological and sensory characteristics of moisturizing cream formulations was assessed. As expected, higher contents of oil and polyunsaturated fatty acids were obtained by supercritical CO₂ extraction, and were used for the next step of the experiment. Optimization of the experimental conditions resulted in fully hydrogenated amaranth oil, with higher stability and rich in squalane. Better quality of moisturizing cream formulations was achieved when W/O formulations were enriched with 2% oil, or by adding 1% oil and 1% squalane. The formulation rich in squalane showed a better overall quality compared to other formulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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17 pages, 2752 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research and Application of In Situ Sample-Processing Methods for Rapid Simultaneous Detection of Pyrethroid Pesticides in Vegetables

by Bo Mei, Weiyi Zhang, Meilian Chen, Xia Wang, Min Wang, Yinqing Ma, Chunyan Zhu, Bo Deng, Hongkang Wang, Siwen Shen, Jinrong Tong, Mengfeng Gao, Yiyi Han and Dongsheng Feng

Separations 2022, 9(3), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9030059 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2706

Abstract

A novel rapid and cost-effective pre-processing method for the simultaneous determination of pyrethroid pesticides in vegetables has been developed and validated. The process of pesticide extraction was carried out by the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method combined with filtration by filter paper, and cleanup was carried out by the multi-plug-filtration-cleanup (m-PFC) method with no centrifuge program during the whole process. The pre-processing method is optimized for gas chromatography (GC). The process is convenient and time saving, requiring just a few seconds per sample. The recovery rate (70–120%), limit of detection (0.0001–0.007 mg/kg), precision (0.2–9.3%) and accuracy for each analyte were determined in 10 representative vegetables with good results. Finally, the feasibility of the developed method was further confirmed by the successful determination of pyrethroid-pesticide residues in pyrethroid-containing practical samples within the processing method coupled with thin-layer chromatography and a colloidal-gold test strip. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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11 pages, 1234 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metal Organic Framework-Based Dispersive Solid-Phase Microextraction of Carbaryl from Food and Water Prior to Detection by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

by Mohamed A. Habila, Bushra Alhenaki, Adel El-Marghany, Mohamed Sheikh, Ayman A. Ghfar, Zeid A. ALOthman and Mustafa Soylak

Separations 2022, 9(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9020032 - 28 Jan 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3483

Abstract

In this work, metal organic frameworks (A100 Al-based MOFs) were used in dispersive solid-phase microextraction (DSPME) for the isolation and preconcentration of the carbaryl from vegetable, fruit and water samples. The A100 Al-based MOFs showed excellent behavior for the adsorption of carbaryl from a water–ethanol solution; additionally, carbaryl was easily desorbed with ethyl acetate for detection by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-TMS). The analytical process of DSPME together with UPLC-TMS provides the accurate monitoring of trace carbaryl residues. The results show that the optimal recovery% of carbaryl was obtained at a sample apparent pH of 5, with the application of 1 mL of ethyl acetate to elute the carbaryl from the A100 Al-based MOFs. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.01 mg.L⁻¹ and 0.03 mg.L⁻¹, respectively. The RSD% was 0.8–1.9, and the preconcentration factor was 45. DSPME and UPLC-TMS were successfully used for the isolation and detection of carbaryl in food and water samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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11 pages, 1279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rapid and Simultaneous Determination of Free Aromatic Carboxylic Acids and Phenols in Commercial Juices by GC-MS after Ethyl Chloroformate Derivatization

by Alessio Incocciati, Elisa Di Fabio, Alberto Boffi, Alessandra Bonamore and Alberto Macone

Separations 2022, 9(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9010009 - 30 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3057

Abstract

Natural phenol and phenolic acids are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and the major dietary sources include fruits and beverages derived therefrom. Over the past decades, these compounds have been widely investigated for their beneficial effects on human health and, at the same time, several analytical methods have been developed for their determination in these matrices. In the present paper, 19 different aromatic carboxylic acids and phenols were characterized by GC-MS using ethyl chloroformate as the derivatizing agent. This procedure occurs quickly at room temperature and takes place in aqueous media simultaneously with the extraction step in the presence of ethanol using pyridine as a catalyst. The analytical method herein developed and validated presents excellent linearity in a wide concentration range (25–3000 ng/mL), low LOQ (in the range 25–100 ng/mL) and LOD (in the range 12.5–50 ng/mL), and good accuracy and precision. As a proof of concept, ethyl chloroformate derivatization was successfully applied to the analysis of a selection of commercial fruit juices (berries, grape, apple, pomegranate) particularly rich in phenolic compounds. Some of these juices are made up of a single fruit, whereas others are blends of several fruits. Our results show that among the juices analyzed, those containing cranberry have a total concentration of the free aromatic carboxylic acids and phenols tested up to 15 times higher than other juices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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13 pages, 837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Evaluation of the Equilibrium Properties in Hexane and Ethanol Extractive Systems for Moringa oleifera Seeds and Fatty Acid Profiles of the Extracts

by Karina Arguelles-Peña, José Arturo Olguín-Rojas, Andrés Antonio Acosta-Osorio, Ceferino Carrera, Gerardo F. Barbero, Miguel Ángel García-Alvarado and Guadalupe del Carmen Rodríguez-Jimenes

Separations 2021, 8(11), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8110217 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2756

Abstract

Until the present, oilseed extractions have been mainly performed using hexane: a toxic, non-sustainable solvent. Extraction methods using ethanol have recently been proposed and, to evaluate the suitability of ethanol as an alternative solvent, Moringa seeds with an oil content as high as 40% have been chosen to determine the equilibrium properties in solid–liquid ethanol extractions. The equilibrium constant (K_eq) and the specific retained solution (M) of the extractive systems seeds–oil–hexane and seeds–oil–ethanol were determined and validated, following a counter-current multi-stage extraction model. The extractions were carried out at 40 and 50 °C, the mass to solvent ratios used were 1:5, 1:10 and 1:20, and shelled and unshelled seeds (kernels) were tested. The K_eq and M of the different kinetics revealed that K_eq was not infinite in the hexane systems, whereas the ethanol systems registered slightly lower values. Regarding M, although the seed powder allowed more rapid extractions, particle size was increased to reduce M for an easier phase preparation. Finally, a counter-current multi-stage extraction system was simulated and applied under suitable conditions. The fatty acid profiles for both types of extract were similar regarding their main components. definition: Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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19 pages, 3017 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maximizing Contents of Phytochemicals Obtained from Dried Sour Cherries by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

by Anita Milić, Tatjana Daničić, Aleksandra Tepić Horecki, Zdravko Šumić, Danijela Bursać Kovačević, Predrag Putnik and Branimir Pavlić

Separations 2021, 8(9), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8090155 - 16 Sep 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2675

Abstract

Sour cherries were first dried by vacuum drying and then used as material for obtaining extracts rich in bioactive compounds by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The first step was to apply a factorial design for the preliminary experiments to determine the most influential UAE factors, and thus the three studied parameters were chosen as the most suitable for the design of the main experiment (temperature, liquid–solid ratio and ethanol concentration). In this part, the contents of total phenols and the total content of monomeric anthocyanins were taken for responses. For the further optimization of UAE, experimental design (face-centered) was applied, and the yield, total phenolics, flavonoid content and content of monomeric anthocyanins and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays) were analyzed. Temperature (40–80 °C), ethanol concentration (40–80%, w/w) and liquid–solid ratio (10–30 mL/g) were investigated as independent variables. The obtained experimental results were fitted to a second-order polynomial model and analysis of variance was used to determine the fit of the model and the optimal conditions for investigated responses. High quality extracts with high concentrations of polyphenols and anthocyanins were also obtained, which could be used as food additives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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14 pages, 1536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reusable Water Bottles: Release of Inorganic Elements, Phthalates, and Bisphenol A in a “Real Use” Simulation Experiment

by Maria Luisa Astolfi, Federica Castellani, Pasquale Avino, Arianna Antonucci, Silvia Canepari, Carmela Protano and Matteo Vitali

Separations 2021, 8(8), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8080126 - 20 Aug 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6152

Abstract

Reusable water bottles are growing in popularity; thus, possible chemical release from the internal surface into water should be carefully considered to control related health risks. We experimentally evaluated the release into deionized water of 40 elements, six phthalates, and bisphenol-A for 20 different reusable bottles by simulating the use in real world scenario. The 20 bottles, identified as those most purchased in Italy, were made of various materials (stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, and silicone). The experiment was carried out for four consecutive weeks in duplicate for each type of bottle. Our results showed the release, to various extents, of inorganic elements from all 20 bottles, while the release of phthalates and bisphenol-A was never found. The elements most frequently released were Al, Sr, Mo, and Cr, while the highest concentrations were for Ca, K, Mg, and Na; the release of toxic elements (such as Pb, Cd, Ni, Sb) also occurred. The comparison of our results with regulatory limits on drinking water quality revealed no exceeding values except for Al. However, these releases represent a further intake, and the related risks cannot be neglected, especially for highly susceptible populations. Thus, it is essential to correctly inform consumers both with dedicated interventions and exhaustive labelling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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15 pages, 4247 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of High Resolution Melting (HRM) Analysis for Meat Species Identification of Raw and Cooked Meat

by Peyman Gholamnezhad, Hamed Ahari, Gholamreza Nikbakht Brujeni, Seyed Amir Ali Anvar and Abbasali Motallebi

Separations 2021, 8(8), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8080116 - 8 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2741

Abstract

The current study aimed to examine a real-time PCR assay with high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis for the species identification of minced meat samples. Meat samples from several animal species were purchased and minced separately or as a mixture of two species. DNA was extracted from all meat samples and subjected to real-time PCR assay by amplifying species-specific mitochondrial cytochrome b regions. Regarding the meat mixtures, two separate melting curves with specific melt peak temperatures (Tm) were detected. Additionally, DNA from each species was quantified, based on the calibration curves. The results showed that a real-time PCR assay with HRM analysis is suitable for the species identification of meat products, and could be used for the detection of meat frauds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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Review

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17 pages, 1599 KiB

Open AccessReview

Single Cell Protein Production Using Different Fruit Waste: A Review

by Punniamoorthy Thiviya, Ashoka Gamage, Ranganathan Kapilan, Othmane Merah and Terrence Madhujith

Separations 2022, 9(7), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9070178 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 12862

Abstract

The single cell protein (SCP) technique has become a popular technology in recent days, which addresses two major issues: increasing world protein deficiency with increasing world population and the generation of substantial industrial wastes with an increased production rate. Global fruit production has increased over the decades. The non-edible parts of fruits are discarded as wastes into the environment, which may result in severe environmental issues. These fruit wastes are rich in fermentable sugars and other essential nutrients, which can be effectively utilized by microorganisms as an energy source to produce microbial protein. Taking this into consideration, this review explores the use of fruit wastes as a substrate for SCP production. Many studies reported that the wastes from various fruits such as orange, sweet orange, mango, banana, pomegranate, pineapple, grapes, watermelon, papaya, and many others are potential substrates for SCP production. These SCPs can be used as a protein supplement in human foods or animal feeds. This paper discusses various aspects in regard to the potential of fruit wastes as a substrate for SCP production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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26 pages, 3956 KiB

Open AccessReview

Food Safety Assessment: Overview of Metrological Issues and Regulatory Aspects in the European Union

by Angela Sorbo, Emilia Pucci, Chiara Nobili, Isabella Taglieri, Daniele Passeri and Claudia Zoani

Separations 2022, 9(2), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations9020053 - 17 Feb 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6599

Abstract

The safety of the food we consume has a direct impact on individual and population health and affects the economic growth of the region where food safety is practised and enhanced. The central goal of the European Commission’s Food Safety policy is to ensure a high level of protection of human health covering the whole supply chain. In recent years, great attention has been paid to food testing and the application of metrological tools to support food safety. The global food market and national and international food safety regulations have created a huge demand for the measurement traceability and comparability of analytical results that are independent of time or space boundaries. This review provides an overview of the European food safety policy and regulation, with a focus on the measurement-related elements of the European Union (EU) food law. It also highlights how the application of analytical techniques, with particular reference to separation approaches, and metrological tools can ensure the control of certain contaminants that nowadays represent the main challenges for food safety (e.g., mycotoxins, nanoparticles, emerging and process contaminants). METROFOOD-RI-Infrastructure for promoting metrology in food and nutrition is therefore described in this context. This European research infrastructure has been developed and is being implemented in the frame of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) to support metrology in food and nutrition and establish a strategy allowing reliable and comparable analytical measurements in food across the entire process line, from primary producers to consumers, and making data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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13 pages, 1802 KiB

Open AccessReview

NMR Tracing of Food Geographical Origin: The Impact of Seasonality, Cultivar and Production Year on Data Analysis

by Olimpia Masetti, Angela Sorbo and Luigi Nisini

Separations 2021, 8(12), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8120230 - 1 Dec 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3125

Abstract

The traceability of typical foodstuffs is necessary to protect high quality of traditional products. It is well-known that several factors could influence metabolites content in certified foods, but soil composition, altitude, latitude and coded production protocols constitute the territorial conditions responsible for the peculiar organoleptic and nutritional properties of labelled foods. Instead, regardless of origin, seasonality, cultivar, collection year can affect all agricultural products, so it is appropriate to include them in data analysis in order to obtain a correct interpretation of the differences linked to growing areas alone. Therefore, it is useful to use a flexible all-round technique, and NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistical analysis is considered a powerful means of assessing food authenticity. The purpose of this review is to investigate the relevance of year, cultivar, and seasonal period in the determination of food geographical origin using NMR spectroscopy. The strategy for testing these three factors may differ from author to author, but a preliminary study of cultivar or collection year effects on NMR spectra is the most popular method before starting the geographical characterization of samples. In summary, based on the available literature, the most significant influence is due to cultivar, followed by harvesting year, however seasonality is not considered a source of variability in data analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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24 pages, 1428 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) as Green Extraction Media of Beneficial Bioactive Phytochemicals

by Ali Sami Dheyab, Mohd Fadzelly Abu Bakar, Mohamed AlOmar, Siti Fatimah Sabran, Ahmad Fathi Muhamad Hanafi and Azman Mohamad

Separations 2021, 8(10), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8100176 - 7 Oct 2021

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 7309

Abstract

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are a mixture of two or more components and are classified as ionic solvents with special properties such as low volatility, high solubility, low melting points, low-cost materials and are less toxic to humans. Using DES has been suggested as an eco-friendly, green method for extraction of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and are a safe alternative for nutritional, pharmaceutical and various sector applications. Conventional solvent extraction methods present drawbacks such as long extraction period, safety issues, harmful to the environment, costly and large volume of solvents required. The extraction method with DES leads to higher extraction yield and better bioactivity results as compared to the conventional solvents. This review provides a summary of research progress regarding the advantages of using DES to extract bioactive compounds such as phenolic acid, flavonoids, isoflavones, catechins, polysaccharides, curcuminoids, proanthocyanidin, phycocyanin, gingerols, ginsenosides, anthocyanin, xanthone, volatile monoterpenes, tannins, lignin, pectin, rutin, tert-butyl hydroquinone, chlorogenic acids, resveratrol and others, as opposed to using conventional solvents. The bioactivity of the extracts is determined using antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor activities. Hence, DESs are considered potential green media with selective and efficient properties for extracting bioactive ingredients from medicinal plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications)

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