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Sustainable Use of Bioactive Compounds: Green Approaches Towards Healthier Outcomes
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Sustainable Use of Bioactive Compounds: Green Approaches Towards Healthier Outcomes

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Chemical Engineering and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2026) | Viewed by 9109

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nevena Grujić-Letić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: green pharmaceutical chemistry; natural products analysis; environmental chemistry
Dr. Emilia I. Gligoric

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: green pharmaceutical chemistry; natural products analysis; molecular docking

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive compounds possess significant therapeutic and nutritional potential with various pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic applications. Sustainable use of bioactive compounds ensures a positive impact on the environment and, at the same time, on health outcomes. The United Nations’ primary sustainable goals have made green extraction techniques more and more relevant in promoting ecologically acceptable activities that do little or no harm to humans. Employing and optimizing green extraction techniques can maximize the yield of bioactive compounds while making the process more efficient, faster, energy-saving, and free from toxic organic solvents, resulting in bioactive compounds that are safer for consumption. By-products from plant processing, usually discarded as waste, represent promising sources of valuable bioactive compounds. Their utilization can minimize environmental impact while enhancing resource efficiency. In this context, this Special Issue aims to gather high-quality original research articles and review papers that contribute to understanding and advancing sustainable approaches in bioactive compounds. Papers including different research areas are welcome:

  • Green extraction technologies applied for the extraction of bioactive compounds from various matrices;
  • QSAR analysis of green solvents;
  • Impact of green solvents on nature and environmental risk assessment;
  • Pharmacological activity of green extracts;
  • Application of green extracts in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Dr. Nevena Grujić-Letić
Dr. Emilia I. Gligoric
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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

  • green chemistry
  • bioactive compounds
  • sustainability
  • environmental chemistry
  • molecular docking

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 2975 KB  
Article
Use of Waste Material from Vineyards—Vine Tendrils—To Produce Natural Hair Care Cosmetics Using Loan Extraction
by Tomasz Wasilewski, Zofia Hordyjewicz-Baran, Wiktoria Orzechowicz, Joanna Fleszer, Natalia Stanek-Wandzel and Katarzyna Malorna
Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10245; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210245 - 16 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 836
Abstract
Growing consumer preference for natural products has prompted interest in the use of plant extracts as plant raw materials providing active ingredients for cosmetics. This study focuses on vine tendrils, a by-product of grape cultivation, as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds. The [...] Read more.
Growing consumer preference for natural products has prompted interest in the use of plant extracts as plant raw materials providing active ingredients for cosmetics. This study focuses on vine tendrils, a by-product of grape cultivation, as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds. The idea of loan extraction using components borrowed from the final formulation was applied to extract valuable compounds from vine tendrils. The effectiveness of different extraction media was compared by analyzing the chemical profile of the extracts obtained using LC–MS/MS and UV–VIS techniques. The results obtained indicate the potential of extracts from grapevine tendrils as plant materials rich in bioactive substances with antioxidant properties, which supports their use in cosmetic products aimed at improving hair condition and skin protection. It is important to emphasize that grapevine tendrils are considered waste material that must be removed during vineyard maintenance. Cosmetics based on the processed extracts were prepared and evaluated. The viscosity, foaming properties, color parameters, and irritation potential of the developed cosmetics were assessed. The obtained results demonstrated the potential of the waste material as a valuable source of natural cosmetic components. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Use of Bioactive Compounds: Green Approaches Towards Healthier Outcomes)
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19 pages, 1549 KB  
Article
Rice Bran Biorefinery: A Zero-Waste Approach to Bioactive Oil and Biopolymer Production
by Bruno Navajas-Preciado, Sara Martillanes, Almudena Galván, Javier Rocha-Pimienta, M. Rosario Ramírez-Bernabé and Jonathan Delgado-Adámez
Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10219; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210219 - 15 Nov 2025
Viewed by 995
Abstract
Rice is a staple food for global nutrition, and its processing generates large volumes of waste with a consequent environmental impact. The industry needs to improve its capacity to manage and treat this waste with more sustainable options than traditional management methods, thereby [...] Read more.
Rice is a staple food for global nutrition, and its processing generates large volumes of waste with a consequent environmental impact. The industry needs to improve its capacity to manage and treat this waste with more sustainable options than traditional management methods, thereby mitigating the environmental impact of the rice industry. Among the waste streams generated, rice bran represents a significant fraction that is largely underutilized. This study proposes a comprehensive approach to rice bran recovery, aiming to transform 100% of the waste into bio-based products through a three-stage biorefinery approach that combines chemical and biological operations. The process began with the ethanolic extraction of rice bran, which yielded 20.58% (w·w−1) rice bran oil. This oil, evaluated through both in vitro and in vivo trials, has demonstrated effectiveness when combined with commercial edible coatings, reducing post-harvest damage in grapes and lemons by 15–20%. Following extraction, the remaining defatted rice bran, accounting for 79.42% (w·w−1) of the initial material, was used as a carbon-rich substrate for microbial fermentation by Haloferax mediterranei. This step converts 28.75% (w·w−1) of rice bran into microbial biomass and 12.75% (w·w−1) into polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate. The undigested residual biomass, comprising 37.95% (w·w−1) of the starting material, was further valorized through the purification of high-value products such as cellulose (13.08% (w·w−1)), hemicellulose (14.58% (w·w−1)), and lignin (10.29% (w·w−1)). Overall, the biorefinery model recovers 100% of the initial waste and demonstrates, under laboratory conditions, the model’s ability to transform rice bran into six products of industrial interest, offering an option with the potential to effectively manage rice bran waste and help circularize the production model of an industry that traditionally operates under a linear production model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Use of Bioactive Compounds: Green Approaches Towards Healthier Outcomes)
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15 pages, 990 KB  
Article
Towards a Green and Sustainable Valorization of Salix amplexicaulis: Integrating Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents and Microwave-Assisted Extraction for Enhanced Recovery of Phenolic Compounds
by Milica Vidić, Nevena Grujić-Letić, Branislava Teofilović and Emilia Gligorić
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6347; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146347 - 10 Jul 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1234
Abstract
Combining advanced extraction technologies with non-pollutant solvents represents a sustainable approach toward valorizing medicinal plants and aligns with the principles of green chemistry. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) combined with natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) to extract [...] Read more.
Combining advanced extraction technologies with non-pollutant solvents represents a sustainable approach toward valorizing medicinal plants and aligns with the principles of green chemistry. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) combined with natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) to extract bioactive compounds from the underexplored leaves and bark of Salix amplexicaulis Bory & Chaub. Additionally, the potential of NADES as sustainable alternatives to conventional solvents was assessed through a comparative evaluation of MAE-NADES with MAE–water and traditional ethanol maceration. NADES based on lactic acid–glycerol, lactic acid–glucose, glycerol–glucose, and glycerol–urea were synthesized by heating and stirring. Willow extracts were characterized by HPLC-DAD, resulting in the identification and quantification of seven phenolic acids and four flavonoids. Lactic acid–glucose (5:1)-based NADES extracted the highest number of phenolics in the greatest amount from the bark and leaves of S. amplexicaulis. MAE-NADES offers a fast, cost-effective preparation, high extraction efficiency, and environmentally friendly properties, opening new perspectives on the valorization of S. amplexicaulis in the pharmaceutical field. Furthermore, NADES provide a promising alternative to water and toxic organic solvents for extracting bioactives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Use of Bioactive Compounds: Green Approaches Towards Healthier Outcomes)
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16 pages, 1558 KB  
Article
One-Pot Combined Hydrodistillation of Industrial Orange Peel Waste for Essential Oils and Pectin Recovery: A Multi-Objective Optimization Study
by Jacopo Paini, Giusi Midolo, Francesca Valenti and Gianluca Ottolina
Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010293 - 3 Jan 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4885
Abstract
Sustainable waste management for orange peel waste is a global concern that presents a concomitant opportunity. In this study, a combined process was developed to optimize the simultaneous recovery of pectin, essential oils, and sugars from industrial orange peel waste. The sequential recovery [...] Read more.
Sustainable waste management for orange peel waste is a global concern that presents a concomitant opportunity. In this study, a combined process was developed to optimize the simultaneous recovery of pectin, essential oils, and sugars from industrial orange peel waste. The sequential recovery process was used as a benchmark, while a one-pot combined process was optimized through the design of the experiments. A multi-objective desirability function was computed to maximize process performance while balancing opposing optimal conditions. The aim was to find a model able to confidently predict yields while reducing the process environmental footprint, potentially giving the necessary multi-product flexibility in modern biorefining. As a result, the combined process under optimal conditions, liquid-to-solid ratio of 2.5, pH value of 3.7, and residence time of 130 min, yielded 0.52% of essential oils and 11% of pectin on a dry basis. The environmental factor 18 is relevant to the fine chemicals industry, which is the target sector of this study. Finally, the process mass balance was calculated, demonstrating the opportunity to further enhance process environmental sustainability and efficiency by upgrading the resulting solid fraction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Use of Bioactive Compounds: Green Approaches Towards Healthier Outcomes)
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Review

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30 pages, 2381 KB  
Review
A Macroeconomic and Technological Perspective on the Sustainable Valorization of Plant-Based Waste Streams in European States
by Simona Gavrilaș
Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2163; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052163 - 24 Feb 2026
Viewed by 438
Abstract
The transition toward a circular, sustainable food industry requires efficient valorization of biological resources while minimizing environmental pressures. This critical review focuses on the sustainable use of bioactive compounds recovered from plant-based waste and side streams through green extraction technologies as a core [...] Read more.
The transition toward a circular, sustainable food industry requires efficient valorization of biological resources while minimizing environmental pressures. This critical review focuses on the sustainable use of bioactive compounds recovered from plant-based waste and side streams through green extraction technologies as a core element of circular economy strategies in the agri-food sector. By integrating EUROSTAT indicators, a multivariate analytical approach, combining correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), K-means clustering, and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC), was employed to assess the relationships between greenhouse gas emissions, energy productivity, economic activity, and environmental employment across European States. The results reveal two main structural dimensions that explain nearly 90% of the total variability, reflecting the balance between economic scale and environmental pressure, and the role of energy efficiency in supporting sustainable consumption. Cluster analysis identified converging economies with greater circularity potential and structurally distinct economies that require targeted transition pathways. These findings emphasize that circular bioeconomy solutions, such as integrating green-extracted bioactive compounds into food products, must be tailored to each country’s economic and energy profile. This review highlights the strategic role of circular economy principles in strengthening the sustainability, resilience, and innovation capacity of the European food industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Use of Bioactive Compounds: Green Approaches Towards Healthier Outcomes)
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