Introduction: The recovery of plant waste material is an attractive approach within the framework of EU waste management policies and the development of a circular economy. Biowastes from side streams or other sources are underutilized as a potential resource of valuable compounds. The exploitation of vegetable byproducts rich in nutritious and bioactive compounds presents several advantages like obtaining important secondary metabolites with biological activity, reducing plant waste by recovering target compounds, increasing the potential of the phytopharmaceutical and food market and increasing the quality of life. The aim of the present study was to develop active extracts using technology that could be easily up-scaled for industrial applications. Materials and Methods: Among the several strategies evaluated, the recovery of secondary metabolites from Arctium lappa L. wastes seemed the most promising approach. Results: The natural extracts obtained presented simultaneous antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The process applied for obtaining the extract was based on microwave-assisted extraction, followed by concentration on a rotary evaporator and freeze-drying. The results revealed a good extraction efficiency for the targeted active principles. Conclusions: The developed product is ecological and natural, showing antioxidant and antimicrobial actions while being readily available for application in natural treatments for topical use. The obtained results represent the subject of a patent application [1].
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, R.C.F. and I.F. and A.M.B.; methodology, R.C.F. and A.O.; formal analysis, R.C.F., A.M.B., S.S., D.I., T.F. and R.I.M.; investigation, A.M.B., S.S., R.C.F. and A.O.; writing—original draft preparation, R.C.F. and I.F.; writing—review and editing, R.C.F., A.M.B. and I.F.; supervision, R.C.F.; project administration, R.C.F. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This work was supported by a grant from the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CCCDI-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P3-3.5-EUK-2019-0226, contract 220/2020 within PNCDI III. This work also acknowledges the support from the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization through Program 1-Development of the national research–development system, Subprogram 1.2—Institutional performance—Projects to finance excellence in RDI, contract no. 15PFE/2021.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement
Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement
The supporting data are available from the corresponding author.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest. No commercial products are presented in the work.
Reference
- Ortan, A.; Spinu, S.; Fierascu, R.C.; Baroi, A.M.; Fierascu, I.; Fistos, T. Ecological Extracts from Burdock Waste Obtaining Process and Potential Therapeutic Use. Patent Application A00187, 24 April 2022. [Google Scholar]
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