Review reveals antimicrobial mechanisms and applications of agri-food waste by-products, highlighting barriers to large-scale biomass valorization.
Key Points
To review the extraction, antimicrobial efficacy, mechanisms of action, and circular economy applications of bioactive molecules recovered from agri-food waste and by-products.
Narrative synthesis of literature regarding bioactive compounds recovered from agricultural and food processing wastes.
Evaluation of extraction methods, antimicrobial spectra, and bacterial inhibition mechanisms, alongside analysis of commercialization barriers.
Phenolic compounds, essential oils, and saponins represent the primary antibacterial molecules recovered from agri-food by-products.
Identified antimicrobial mechanisms include bacterial cell membrane alteration, disruption of energy metabolism and DNA synthesis, and inhibition of quorum sensing and biofilm formation.
Commercial valorization remains low due to extraction costs, supply chain complexity, limited infrastructure, regulatory hurdles, and consumer perception.