The Editorial on the Research Topic Green and Sustainable Extraction Techniques for Bioactives in Food, Plants,
More recently, there has been a significant surge in green and sustainable analytical approaches for the analysis of bioactive phytochemicals in various sectors including food, plants, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The concept of "Green Analytical Chemistry" was initially introduced by de la Guardia and Ruzicka in 1995 with the primary objective of downsizing analytical procedures while minimizing the use of reagents and chemicals.Moreover, key principles such as miniaturization, automation, utilization of sustainable solvents, and reduction in energy consumption are fundamental for achieving green analytical chemistry objectives. To ensure the overall greenness of the analytical process, it is imperative to consider the reduction and/or replacement of existing extraction techniques with environmentally sustainable alternatives. This transition is pivotal in mitigating environmental impact. A critical component in attaining this objective involves choosing an appropriate solvent for extraction processes, as the type of solvent utilized can significantly impact the effectiveness of isolating bioactive/nutrient components, energy consumption, and emissions. Therefore, the development of eco-friendly and sustainable extraction methodologies is currently a prominent research focus within the multidisciplinary field of applied chemistry, such as food science, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and beyond. Hence, three primary strategies have been identified for designing and implementing green extraction methods on both laboratory and industrial scales, with the aim of optimizing the utilization of raw materials, solvents, and energy: (1) improving and optimization of existing processes; (2) using non-dedicated equipment; and (3) innovation in processes and procedures but also in discovering alternative solvents. To promote these strategies, a consortium of interdisciplinary experts (Dr. Kandi Sridhar, Dr. Baskaran Stephen Inbaraj, Dr.Prince Chawla, and Er. Rahmatuzzaman Rana), specializing in green extraction technologies, has organized a specialized Research Topic focused on "Green and Sustainable Extraction Techniques for Bioactives in Food, Plants, Pharmaceuticals, and Cosmetics" to be published in Frontiers in Chemistry (ISSN 2296(ISSN -2646)), an international open access journal that explores the role of chemistry in our everyday lives. In this Special Research Topic, we explored the forefront of research and innovations in green chemistry, uncovering their vast potential through the curation of research and review articles encompassing, but not limited to:• Green and sustainable analytical chemistry and eco-friendly solvents
• Green extraction methods/techniques for bioactives/micronutrients from food/agro byproducts, fruits and vegetables, plants/plant products, cosmeceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and food/agro byproducts and wastes For this Special Research Topic, esteemed researchers worldwide were invited to contribute, culminating in a total of 9 submissions dealing with green extraction technologies for bioactive compounds and their applications in agri-food-pharma, and cosmetic industries. Additionally, exposure to their high concentration significantly lowered the viability of colon cancer cells HCT116 compared to other groups.In another study, authors focused on isolation of specific bioactive compound, puromycin, from a novel Streptomyces albofaciens strain MS38 using fermented broth through extraction with n-butanol (Singh et al., 2024). The puromycin exhibited a significant antimicrobial efficacy against various pathogenic bacteria and fungi due to presence of distinctive functional groups with potent antimicrobial attributes. Another study by Ahmad et al. (2023) extracted the uranium(VI) from aquatic solution of Albizia Lebbeck pods using biowaste-derived active carbon. The optimal extraction efficiency of 90.60% was achieved at a dose of 0.5 g of biowaste active carbon, pH of 6, contact time of 120 min, and uranium(VI) concentration of 10 ppm. The biowaste active carbon was also shown to possess both regeneration and reusable characteristics for uranium(VI) extraction across multiple sorption-desorption cycles, retaining its extraction capacity without significant loss. The development of efficient adsorbent from biowaste represents a promising advancement for addressing the substantial demand for uranium(VI) in nuclear energy applications.In conclusion, the aforementioned studies collectively offer diverse strategies for the green extraction methodologies in promoting sustainability and innovation within the chemical industry. We are firmly convinced that these articles constitute a valuable repository of information on approaches to promote environmentally-friendly practices and enhance product quality. The vision underpinning this special Research Topic also paves the way for further exploration of sustainable way of extracting bioactive compounds from diverse sources. We look forward to continuing this important discussion in future special Research Topics.feedback, which significantly contributed to the quality of the published articles. Special thanks are extended to the researchers who generously submitted their research contributions to this important topic. Lastly, we appreciate Frontiers Media SA, Lausanne, Switzerland, for their dedication to publishing this Special Research Topic.