Revalorization of Broccoli By-Products for Cosmetic Uses Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction

Abstract

The agri-food industry is currently one of the main engines of economic development worldwide. The region of Murcia is a reference area in Europe for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables and produces the bulk of Spanish exports of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica). The processing of fresh produce generates a huge number of by-products that represent an important economic and environmental problem when discarded. In this work, an advanced extraction technique using environmentally friendly solvents was applied to assess the revalorization of broccoli by-products, by performing a comparative analysis with conventional extraction. To achieve this goal, supercritical fluid extraction based on response surface methodology was performed using CO2 and ethanol as solvents. The results obtained showed that the supercritical fluid extracts were rich in β-carotene, phenolic compounds, chlorophylls and phytosterols. Moreover, in bioactivity assays, the supercritical fluid extracts exhibited a high antioxidant activity and a cytoprotective effect in a non-tumorigenic keratinocyte cell line exposed to ultraviolet B light. The results indicate that supercritical fluid extracts from broccoli by-products could potentially serve as an ingredient for cosmetic purposes.

Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) Stems, Leaves, and Florets: Optimization, Characterization, and Comparison with Maceration Extraction

“…The large amounts of broccoli waste have a negative effect on the agricultural environment and food security. Some studies have revealed that significant amounts of bioactive compounds and essential nutrients are present in the broccoli byproducts, such as phenolic compounds, glucosinolates, flavonoids, carotenoids, and sterols [5][6][7][8]. The bioactive compounds are extra-nutritional components with the capacity of modulating metabolic processes, and some of them hold antioxidant, anti-microbial, or anti-inflammatory properties [9,10].…”

Application of Broccoli Leaf Powder in Gluten-Free Bread: An Innovative Approach to Improve Its Bioactive Potential and Technological Quality

“…While we were interested in broccoli by-products—in particular, leaves—that are seldom utilised for food. Broccoli leaves, similar to florets, are characterised by a high content of nutrients (proteins, vitamin C, minerals, and trace elements) and bioactive compounds (glucosinolates, phenolic acids, and flavonoids) [ 19 , 20 ]. Although perceived as a waste product, they might be consumed as a valuable fresh product or as sources of phytonutrients, allowing to obtain added-value baked products [ 21 , 22 ].…”

By-Products Revalorization with Non-Thermal Treatments to Enhance Phytochemical Compounds of Fruit and Vegetables Derived Products: A Review

“…The non-thermal technologies found were: solid-state fermentation, supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasounds, high pressure, hydrostatic pressure, electro-technologies, enzyme-assisted extraction, and light stress. Most of the investigations found (70%) were on fruit by-products or the wine and distillate industry, with only two studies related to vegetables (onion and broccoli) [ 79 , 80 , 81 ].…”

“…The market for natural cosmetics is growing due to the importance of sustainable development and protecting the environment. Manufacturers present an interest in recovering bioactive compounds from F&V by-products for reducing the environmental impact of waste and for converting them into particularly valuable sources of extracts for cosmetic usage [ 79 , 155 ]. In addition, the potential of food and agricultural residues (rich sources of different classes of compounds with valuable active principles) for the preparation of pharmaceutical and bioactive compounds is gaining importance, taking the environmental impact of the overall production process into account [ 19 , 156 ].…”

“…In addition, the potential of food and agricultural residues (rich sources of different classes of compounds with valuable active principles) for the preparation of pharmaceutical and bioactive compounds is gaining importance, taking the environmental impact of the overall production process into account [ 19 , 156 ]. For example, the use of broccoli by-products wasted during the preharvest stage were classified as potential ingredients for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, mainly due to the antioxidant effect of its phytochemicals compounds [ 79 ]. These findings have been transferred to the industry, and several companies have been recently created, such as (accessed on 25 December 2021).…”