Processes

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Dear Colleagues,

Biotechnologically derived drugs of plant origin serve as natural therapeutic products and a valuable alternative for synthetic drugs. The quality of such products is based not only on elucidating the biosynthesis pathways but also on highly precise synthesis and extraction processes. Due to a high variety of specialized metabolites, their production in plant material, derived from a number of plant species, is still under investigation. Similarly, new methods of extraction, separation, identification and isolation of these compounds are still being developed.

This Special Issue is dedicated to Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin, including, but not limited to, elucidation and utilization of biosynthetic pathways for production of valuable primary and secondary metabolites, methods for increasing the yield of their production, as well as their isolation from biological matrices and media.

Prof. Dr. Marijana Zovko Končić
Dr. Sylwia Zielińska
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biosynthesis
biosynthetic pathways
extraction procedures
medicinal plant
plant biotechnology
plant cell cultures
plant metabolites

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 6228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Microwave-Assisted Extraction from Levisticum officinale WDJ Koch Roots Using Pareto Optimal Solutions

by Michał Plawgo, Sławomir Kocira and Andrea Bohata

Processes 2024, 12(5), 1026; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12051026 - 18 May 2024

Viewed by 213

Abstract

The current research trend is not only focused on advanced techniques to intensify the extraction of bioactive compounds from plants, but also on the optimization process. The objective of this work was the implementation of the multiple criteria analysis using navigation on Pareto sets to determine the optimal parameters for the microwave-assisted extraction of Levisticum officinale WDJ Koch roots in order to obtain the maximum efficiency of the antioxidant potential of the extracts. The optimized parameters were extraction time, microwave power, and plant biomass/solvent ratio, while the evaluation criteria were based on the total phenols, flavonoids, reducing sugars, and antioxidant capacity. It was shown that the process parameters analyzed, i.e., biomass/solvent ratio, process time, and microwave power, determined the extraction efficiency of total phenolic content (TPC). A different observation was made for the analysis of total flavonoid content (TFC) and total antioxidant potential (TAA). Compared to the assessment of TFC and TAA, a completely different trend was observed for the analysis of total reducing sugars (RSC). Sets of Pareto optimal, compromise, and preferred solutions were identified that will maximize the efficiency of the extraction of bioactive compounds from biomass. Due to the determined number of Pareto optimal solutions, an approach related to the introduction of preferences in the optimization procedure was applied. It was shown that for a satisfactory level of bioactive compounds, extraction should be carried out at a maximum microwave power of 750 W. Preferred solutions were obtained for root biomass to water ratios ranging from 0.0536 g/mL to 0.0679 g/mL. The preferred optimal time for microwave-assisted water extraction ranged from 64.2857 to 85.7143 s. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin)

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Graphical abstract

Review

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16 pages, 1188 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

The Prospects of Algae-Derived Vitamins and Their Precursors for Sustainable Cosmeceuticals

by Neha Arora and George P. Philippidis

Processes 2023, 11(2), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11020587 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4004

Abstract

Aquatic algae are a rich source of a wide range of bioproducts intended to compete for a sizable global market share. Thanks to the gradual shift towards the use of natural products, microalgae-derived bioactive compounds offer an ecofriendly and vegan option to the cosmeceutical sector, whose products aim to improve skin health but currently consist of mostly synthetic chemicals. In particular, algae-derived vitamins and their precursors are being explored and widely used in the cosmeceuticals industry as compounds that contain biologically active ingredients with therapeutic benefits. The present review highlights the current strategies for industrial production of an array of vitamins from algae for cosmeceutical applications. When compared to traditional plant sources, algae have been found to accumulate vitamins, such as A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, in high concentrations. The purpose of this review is to provide context for the development of a green and sustainable algae-derived bioeconomy by summarizing and comparing the current market for vitamins and precursors derived from algae, as well as presenting novel strategies and key findings from the most recent research in this area. Emphasis is placed on novel biotechnological interventions that encompass genetic modifications, genetic engineering, and media development to enhance vitamin biosynthesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Extraction Processes of Biotechnological Drugs of Plant Origin)

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