In a scenario of increasing alarm about food waste due to rapid urbanization, population growth and lifestyle changes, this study aims to explore the valorization of waste from the retail sector as potential substrates for the biotechnological production of biosurfactants. With a perspective of increasingly contributing to the realization of the circular bioeconomy, a vegetable juice, derived from unsold fruits and vegetables, as a carbon source was used to produce lipopeptides such as surfactin and fengycin. The results from the shake flask cultivations revealed that different concentrations of vegetable juice could effectively serve as carbon sources and that the fed-batch bioreactor cultivation strategy allowed the yields of lipopeptides to be significantly increased. In particular, the product/substrate yield of 0.09 g/g for surfactin and 0.85 mg/g for fengycin was obtained with maximum concentrations of 2.77 g/L and 27.53 mg/L after 16 h, respectively. To conclude, this study provides the successful fed-batch cultivation of B. subtilis using waste product as the carbon source to produce secondary metabolites. Therefore, the consumption of agricultural product wastes might be a promising source for producing valuable metabolites which have promising application potential to be used in several fields of biological controls of fungal diseases.

This study assesses the efficacy of three white-rot fungi—Bjerkandera adusta, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and Trametes versicolor—in degrading synthetic dyes and lignin in pulp and paper mill effluents, which annually contribute around 40,000 million cubic meters of dyed waste. Exploiting the structural resemblance of dyes to lignin, the fungi utilize ligninolytic enzymes—lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase—to break down the pollutants. Initial mycoremediation trials in synthetic dye solutions with Direct black 80, Direct yellow 11, Basic brown 1, Orange II, and Red 8 BLP achieved decolorization rates of 70–80% within 7 days, except for Red 8 BLP. Both soluble and insoluble lignin fractions were significantly reduced, with an overall removal rate of 80–90%. Contrary to prior beliefs about the recalcitrance of azo dyes, B. adusta demonstrated substantial biodegradation capabilities, even on non-lignocellulosic substrates, such as dairy waste. The decolorization efficacy varied with dye structure, suggesting that efficiency should not be judged solely on color reduction. Remarkably, B. adusta also effectively decolorized and removed lignin from actual mill effluents without pH alteration, indicating a viable low-cost bioremediation strategy. This invites further investigation into optimizing B. adusta for industrial wastewater biodecolorization, especially in the field of PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) and EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals).

Supply chain waste gives rise to significant challenges in terms of disposal, making upcycling a promising and sustainable alternative for the recovery of bioactive compounds from by-products. Lignocellulosic by-products like STF231, which are derived from the medicinal plant extract industry, offer valuable compounds such as polyphenols and iridoids that can be recovered through upcycling. In an unprecedented study, we explored and compared conventional hydroethanolic extraction, ultrasound hydroethanolic extraction, and natural deep eutectic solvents–ultrasound extraction methods on STF231 to obtain extracts with antioxidant activity. The extraction profile of total polyphenols (TPCs) was measured using the Folin–Ciocalteu test and the antioxidant capacity of the extracts was tested with FRAP and DPPH assays. HPLC-UV was employed to quantify the phenolic and iridoid markers in the extracts. Additionally, the sustainability profile of the process was assessed using the green analytical procedure index (GAPI), AGREEprep, and analytical GREEnness metric approach (AGREE) frameworks. Our findings indicate that a choline chloride and lactic acid mixture at a 1:5 ratio, under optimal extraction conditions, resulted in extracts with higher TPC and similar antioxidant activity compared with conventional hydroethanolic extracts. The innovative aspect of this study lies in the potential application of sustainable upcycling protocols to a previously unexamined matrix, resulting in extracts with potential health applications.

In recent years, a reversal of the global economic framework has been taking place: from the linear model, there has been a gradual transition to a circular model where by-products from the agri-food industry are taken and transformed into value products (upcycling) rather than being disposed of. Olive tree pruning represents an important biomass currently used for combustion; however, the leaf part of the olive tree is rich in phenolic substances, including hydroxytyrosol. Mill wastewater is also discarded, but it still contains high amounts of hydroxytyrosol. In this study, cosmetic and food supplement formulations were prepared using biophenols extracted from leaves and wastewater and were tested in a placebo-controlled study on healthy volunteers using a combined cosmetic and food supplement treatment. A significant improvement in skin health indicators (collagen density, elasticity, etc.) and a 17% improvement against Photo-induced Irritative Stimulus was observed.

In a recent study, we obtained two novel cortisone-derived molecules: 1,9β,17,21- tetrahydroxy-4-methyl-19-nor-9β-pregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-11,20-dione(SCA)and 1,9β,17,20β,21-pentahydroxy-4-methyl-19-nor-9β-pregna-1,3,5(10)-trien-11-one(SCB). These compounds showed a dual activity combining potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents for conditions characterized by inflammation and oxidative stress, such as severe ocular disorders. In this study, in vitro experiments using human ARPE-19 and mouse 661 W cell lines, which model the retinal pigment epithelium and retinal photoreceptors respectively, revealed that pretreatment with SCA and SCB under oxidative stress with H₂O₂ preserved cell viability, reduced intracellular ROS levels, maintained tight junction integrity and Trans Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER). Moreover, both compounds enhanced mitochondrial respiration, thereby improving cellular bioenergetics. These results indicate that SCA and SCB could provide an effective alternative to traditional corticosteroids in treating complications in which oxidative stress and inflammation are combined, including diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Preclinical studies on animal models and trials on human ocular diseases are necessary to validate these findings in vivo and explore their therapeutic potential.

Schinus molle L. Essential Oil (SMEO) displays a rich scientific literature, including preliminary studies on its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. This review seeks to systematically analyze the influence of the chemotype diversity of SMEO on its biological and pharmaceutical applications, with a particular focus on antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activities, and to identify research gaps for effective pharmaceutical exploitation. The article selection process was carried out in June 2025 and focused on the PubMed, Scopus, and MDPI databases, producing 176 articles, of which 51 were selected for this review. The present systematic review included the articles published in English and Spanish, with no limitations on the year of publication; data from patent and symposium abstracts were excluded. A qualitative assessment of the selected articles was carried out, including a TRL (Technology Readiness Level) analysis. The results were summarized using hierarchical cluster analysis and a strategic patent search tree, and were processed into tables, graphs, and a heat map, which enabled discussions and proposals for new research trends to be developed. The chemical composition varies significantly depending on the production area, climatic conditions, and seasonality, but the presence of two prevalent chemotypes is evident, α-phellandrene and sabinene, respectively. Data on antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activity were promising, and some formulation prototypes are available, pointing toward the potential development of pharmaceutical and veterinary products. The use of nanotechnology appears to be crucial for the potential pharmaceutical application of SMEO, but further studies are needed. Specifically, further investigation of the properties of SMEO or its components in wound healing applications could represent a new research trend. This review highlights the state of the art of pharmacological research on SMEO and suggests future research directions with a view to develop formulations suitable for safety and efficacy improvements.