- Researchers are leveraging nanotechnology, including nano-liposomes and nano-emulsions, to enhance the stability, solubility, and bioavailability of health-promoting phytochemicals found in plant waste like seeds, husks, and stalks.
- Green extraction methods and nanotechnology enable the creation of functional foods and dietary supplements from agricultural waste, aligning with consumer demand for natural, plant-based ingredients and supporting a circular economy.
- The research opens doors for refining nanoparticle encapsulation techniques, scaling up industrial applications, and exploring synergistic interactions between bioactive compounds, paving the way for eco-friendly innovations in food and healthcare.
Agricultural waste, often overlooked or repurposed as animal feed, is now being recognised as a goldmine of health-promoting phytochemicals.
These bioactive compounds, found in seeds, husks, stalks, and roots, offer anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial benefits.
However, their use in food products has been limited due to challenges like poor solubility and chemical instability.
Ifrah Usman, a researcher at the University Institute of Food Science & Technology, The University of Lahore, and the Department of Food Science, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Her groundbreaking study, published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, explores how nanotechnology and green extraction methods can overcome these barriers.
“Nanotechnology-based delivery systems, such as nano-liposomes and nano-emulsions, can encapsulate phytochemicals, protecting them from degradation and improving their absorption in the body,” Usman explains.
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This not only enhances the functional efficacy of these compounds but also makes them more viable for use in food systems.
The implications are vast. By integrating these technologies, the food and healthcare industries can develop sustainable, phytochemical-rich functional foods and supplements.
This aligns with the rising consumer demand for natural, plant-based products and supports the principles of a circular economy.
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“Green extraction methods reduce food waste while creating high-value nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products,” Usman notes.
This approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also opens new commercial opportunities, potentially revolutionising both industries.
