Agro-Industrial By-Products of Plant Origin: Therapeutic Uses as well as Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

The importance of bioactive compounds in agro-industrial by-products of plant origin lies in their direct impacts on human health. These compounds have been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, contributing to disease prevention and strengthening the immune system. In particular, the antimicrobial action of these compounds emerges as an important tool in food preservation, providing natural alternatives to synthetic preservatives and contributing to combating antimicrobial resistance. Using agro-industrial by-products of plant origin not only addresses the need to reduce waste and promote sustainability but also inaugurates a new era in the formulation of functional foods. From fruit peels to pulps and seeds, these by-products are emerging as essential ingredients in the creation of products that can promote health. Continued research in this area will unveil new applications and properties of these by-products and open doors to a food paradigm in which health and sustainability converge, paving the way to a healthier and more equitable future. The present review presents an overview of our knowledge of agro-industrial by-products and some of their more relevant health-promoting bioactivities.

Keywords: agro-industrial wastes; antioxidants; bioactive compounds; functional properties.

Figure 1

Proposed model for using plant by-products. Plants are cultivated and harvested (1) and either consumed fresh or industrially processed into various products (2); their industrial processing generates various by-products (3). These by-products can be used in functional foods (4) due to their antimicrobial (5) and therapeutic (6) potentials, thereby minimizing waste and contributing to a circular economy model.