engleski

Sustainable herbal extract production by using conventional and advanced techniques

Medicinal and aromatic herbs contain numerous bioactive molecules (BAMs) which differ significantly according to molecular structure, physical, chemical and biological properties. Therefore, for their isolation is necessary to apply a systematic and sustainable approach that includes the selection of the most efficient extraction technique, optimization of extraction conditions, standardization, processing into a stable powder form, by-product utilization. One of the most commonly used extraction techniques for isolation of the targeted BAMs is conventional, despite the fact that is time consuming, requires large amounts of solvent, relatively lower BAM yields and often is not environment friendly. In the sustainable production of plant extracts, advanced extraction techniques (microwave, ultrasonic, high pressure assisted extraction, accelerated solvent extraction, etc.) with lower consumption of organic solvents, increased use of green solvents, shortening extraction times and increasing the yield of targeted BAMs are being widely used. In addition, parameters such as pH, time, temperature, particle size, solvent, sample/solvent ratio as well as pressure, microwave power, ultrasound intensity etc. are main parameters that needs to be optimized depending on the applied technique. Liquid plant extracts are often processed into a more stable powder form using appropriate encapsulation techniques, whereas the obtained byproducts are utilized in accordance with the principles of the circular economy. Besides previously mentioned parameters it is also important to conduct a feasibility study to determine which technique is the best choice for sustainable plant extracts and powder production from a technical and economic point of view. This paper summarized an overview of conventional and advanced extraction techniques, parameters that affect the extraction yields of the targeted BAMs, advantages and disadvantages, the possibility of using extraction by-products, encapsulation techniques for powder production and the perspective of the use liquid and dry extracts in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.

sustainable extraction ; conventional technique ; advanced technique ; bioactive molecules ; by-product

nije evidentirano