Repurposing saffron (Crocus sativus) waste presents a sustainable strategy for generating high-value products within the bioeconomy framework. Typically, flower components are discarded after stigma harvest, resulting in significant waste—350 kg of tepals per kilogram of stigmas. This research employed a comprehensive approach, integrating bioactivity studies (in vitro and in silico) with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluations, to extract and assess bioactive compounds from C. sativus tepals sourced in Tuscany, Italy. Phytochemical characterization using UPLC-MS/MS revealed a high abundance and variety of flavonoids in the hydro-ethanolic extract (CST). The antioxidant capacity was validated through various assays, and the ability to mitigate H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress and enhance fermentation was demonstrated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This study reports that C. sativus tepals extract reduces oxidative stress and boosts ethanol fermentation in yeast, paving the way for applications in the food and biofuels sectors. Further validation in RAW 264.7 macrophages confirmed CST’s significant anti-inflammatory effects, indicating its potential for pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, and nutraceutical applications. In silico studies identified potential targets involved in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory processes, shedding light on possible interaction mechanisms with Kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside (KOS-3), the predominant compound in the extract. The integration of LCA studies highlighted the environmental benefits of this approach. Overall, this research underscores the value of using waste-derived extracts through “green” methodologies, offering a model that may provide significant advantages for further evaluations compared to traditional methodologies and supporting the circular bioeconomy.

The sustainable utilization of biomass-derived bioactives addresses the growing demand for natural health products and supports sustainable development goals by reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals in healthcare. Cannabis sativa biomass, in particular, has emerged as a valuable resource within this context. This study focuses on the hydroethanolic extract of C. sativa leaves (CSE), which exhibited significant levels of phenolic compounds contributing to robust antioxidant activity. Evaluation using potassium ferricyanide, ABTS, and DPPH methods revealed potent radical scavenging activity comparable to the Trolox standard. UPLC-MS/MS profiling identified cannabinoids as the predominant secondary metabolites in CSE, with flavonoids also present in substantial quantities. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of CSE on RAW 264.7 macrophages and IL-1β-stimulated C-20/A4 immortalized human chondrocytes, demonstrating protective effects without cytotoxic or mutagenic effects. Mechanistically, CSE reduced inflammation by inhibiting the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. In silico approaches showed the ability of CSE’s main metabolites to bind and influence MAPK and NF-κB activity, confirming in vitro evidence. Incorporating C. sativa leaf extract into a hyaluronic acid-based formulation showed biotechnological promise for treating joint inflammation. Future research should aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects and explore the potential of CSE-derived compounds in mitigating osteoarthritis progression. This approach highlights the significance of utilizing annually increasing biomass waste for sustainable bioactivity and environmental impact reduction.

This study presents an innovative approach to the sustainable valorization of industrial sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) waste from the Vignola Region, Italy, transforming what is typically discarded into a high-value bioactive resource. Unlike conventional extractions, our hydroethanolic extract (VCE) was obtained from the entire cherry waste, including the pericarp, pulp, and stone, as generated by industrial processing. This full-fruit extraction strategy represents a novel and efficient use of agricultural by-products, aligning with circular bioeconomy principles. Sweet cherries are known for their phenolic richness, and spectrophotometric assays (TPC, TFC, reducing power, DPPH, and ABTS) confirmed the extract’s antioxidant capacity. In vitro studies using RAW 264.7 macrophages revealed no cytotoxic effects (MTT assay), along with significant anti-inflammatory activity, evidenced by reduced ROS and NO production and downregulation of iNOS and COX-2. Western blotting showed inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation and MAPK pathway signaling. Additionally, agarose gel electrophoresis showed protection against oxidative DNA damage. UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified sakuranetin, aequinetin, and dihydrowogonin as the most representative compounds in VCE. Molecular docking simulations revealed strong and specific binding affinities of these compounds to NF-κB p65 and key MAPK targets. These findings highlight whole sweet cherry waste—including the pit—as a potent and sustainable source of bioactive compounds with promising nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

Background: The accumulation of agri-food waste is a major environmental and economic challenge and converting these by-products into bioactive compounds fits within the circular bioeconomy. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of extracts derived from Cannabis sativa L. leaves (CSE), Crocus sativus tepals (CST), and Prunus avium L. cherry waste (VCE) against four key bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays were performed to assess antibacterial activity, while a bioinformatic pipeline was implemented to explore possible molecular targets. Full-proteome multiple sequence alignments across the bacterial strains were used to identify conserved, strain-specific proteins, and molecular docking simulations were applied to predict binding interactions between the most abundant compounds in the extracts and their targets. Results: CSE and CST demonstrated bacteriostatic activity against S. aureus and B. subtilis (MIC = 15.6 mg/mL), while VCE showed selective activity against B. subtilis (MIC = 31.5 mg/mL). CodY was identified as a putative molecular target for CSE and CST, and ChaA for VCE. Docking results supported the possibility of spontaneous binding between abundant extract constituents and the predicted targets, with high binding affinities triggering a strong interaction network with target sensing residues. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the antimicrobial activity of these agri-food wastes and introduces a comprehensive in vitro and in silico workflow to support the bioactivity of these agri-food wastes and repurpose them for innovative, eco-sustainable applications in the biotechnology field and beyond.