Food Industry By-Products as a Sources of Phytochemical Compounds

Ultrasound-Assisted Encapsulation of Phytochemicals for Food Applications: A Review

The use of phytochemicals as natural food additives is a topic of interest for both academic and food industry communities. However, many of these substances are sensitive to environmental conditions. For this reason, encapsulation is usually performed prior to incorporation into food products. In this sense, ultrasound-assisted encapsulation is an emerging technique that has been gaining attention in this field, bringing important advantages for the production of functional food products. This review article covered applications published in the last five years (from 2019 to 2023) on the use of ultrasound to encapsulate phytochemicals for further incorporation into food. The ultrasound mechanisms for encapsulation, its parameters, such as reactor configuration, frequency, and power, and the use of ultrasound technology, along with conventional encapsulation techniques, were all discussed. Additionally, the main challenges of existing methods and future possibilities were discussed. In general, ultrasound-assisted encapsulation has been considered a great tool for the production of smaller capsules with a lower polydispersity index. Encapsulated materials also present a higher bioavailability. However, there is still room for further developments regarding process scale-up for industrial applications. Future studies should also focus on incorporating produced capsules in model food products to further assess their stability and sensory properties.

Micro- and nanoencapsulation of natural phytochemicals: Challenges and recent perspectives for the food and nutraceuticals industry applications

Worldwide, there has been growing interest in the research, development, and commercialization of functional bioactive components and nutraceuticals. As a result of consumer awareness of the relationship between diet, health, and disease, the consumption of plant-derived bioactive components has recently increased in the past two decades. Phytochemicals are bioactive nutrient plant chemicals in fruits, vegetables, grains, and other plant foods that may provide desirable health benefits beyond essential nutrition. They may reduce the risk of major chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and psychotic diseases and have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties, cholesterol-lowering, antithrombotic, or anti-inflammatory effects. Phytochemicals have been recently studied and explored for various purposes, such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, flavors, fragrances, coloring agents, biopesticides, and food additives. These compounds are known as secondary metabolites and are commonly classified as polyphenols, terpenoids (terpenes), tocotrienols and tocopherols, carotenoids, alkaloids and other nitrogen-containing metabolites, stilbenes and lignans, phenolic acids, and glucosinates. Thus, this chapter aims to define the general chemistry, classification, and essential sources of phytochemicals, as well as describe the potential application of phytochemicals in the food and nutraceuticals industry, explaining the main properties of interest of the different compounds. Finally, the leading technologies involving micro and nanoencapsulation of phytochemicals are extensively detailed to protect them against degradation and enhance their solubility, bioavailability, and better applicability in the pharmaceutical, food, and nutraceutical industry. The main challenges and perspectives are detailed.

An Analysis of the Plant- and Animal-Based Hydrocolloids as Byproducts of the Food Industry

Hydrocolloids are naturally occurring polysaccharides or proteins, which are used to gelatinize, modify texture, and thicken food products, and are also utilized in edible films and drug capsule production. Moreover, several hydrocolloids are known to have a positive impact on human health, including prebiotics rich in bioactive compounds. In this paper, plant-derived hydrocolloids from arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea), kuzu (Pueraria montana var lobata), Sassafras tree (Sassafras albidum) leaves, sugarcane, acorn, and animal-derived gelatin have been reviewed. Hydrocolloid processing, utilization, physicochemical activities, composition, and health benefits have been described. The food industry generates waste such as plant parts, fibers, residue, scales, bones, fins, feathers, or skin, which are often discarded back into the environment, polluting it or into landfills, where they provide no use and generate transport and storage costs. Food industry waste frequently contains useful compounds, which can yield additional income if acquired, thus decreasing the environmental pollution. Despite conventional manufacturing, the aforementioned hydrocolloids can be recycled as byproducts, which not only minimizes waste, lowers transportation and storage expenses, and boosts revenue, but also enables the production of novel, functional, and healthy food additives for the food industry worldwide.