Fruit waste: a current perspective for the sustainable production of pharmacological, nutraceutical, and bioactive resources

Abstract

Fruits are crucial components of a balanced diet and a good source of natural antioxidants, that have proven efficacy in various chronic illnesses. Various kinds of waste generated from fruit industries are considered a global concern. By utilizing this fruit waste, the international goal of “zero waste” can be achieved by sustainable utilization of these waste materials as a rich source of secondary metabolites. Moreover, to overcome this waste burden, research have focused on recovering the bioactive compounds from fruit industries and obtaining a new strategy to combat certain chronic diseases. The separation of high-value substances from fruit waste, including phytochemicals, dietary fibers, and polysaccharides which can then be used as functional ingredients for long-term health benefits. Several novel extraction technologies like ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) could provide an alternative approach for successful extraction of the valuable bioactives from the fruit waste for their utilization as nutraceuticals, therapeutics, and value-added products. Most of these waste-derived secondary metabolites comprise polyphenols, which have been reported to have anti-inflammatory, insulin resistance-treating, cardiovascular disease-maintaining, probiotics-enhancing, or even anti-microbial and anti-viral capabilities. This review summarizes the current knowledge of fruit waste by-products in pharmacological, biological, and probiotic applications and highlights several methods for identifying efficacious bioactive compounds from fruit wastes.

Potential of Deep Eutectic Solvents in the Extraction of Organic Compounds from Food Industry By-Products and Agro-Industrial Waste

“…Antioxidants prevent adverse alterations of lipids, proteins and DNA. Therefore, the application of exogenous antioxidants can help in dealing with oxidative stress [81][82][83][84].…”

Unravelling the Influence of Chlorogenic Acid on the Antioxidant Phytochemistry of Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) Fruit Peel

“…Many fruits and vegetables contain these antioxidant phenolics, which contribute to their health benefits [11]. Despite the antioxidant benefits of fruit consumption, studies have shown that the non-edible wastes of many fruits are notable sources of phenolics, which is influential in their reported medicinal properties [12][13][14]. For instance, the seed of avocado fruit has ethnomedicinal applications in mental disorders and obesity [15], while the peel has cosmetic applications [16].…”