The relevance of food composition for human health has increased consumers’ interest in the consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as foods enriched in bioactive compounds and nutraceuticals. This fact has led to a growing attention of suppliers on reuse of agro-industrial wastes rich in healthy plant ingredients. On this matter, grape has been pointed out as a rich source of bioactive compounds. Currently, up to 210 million tons of grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are produced annually, being the 15% of the produced grapes addressed to the wine-making industry. This socio-economic activity generates a large amount of solid waste (up to 30%, w/w of the material used). Winery wastes include biodegradable solids namely stems, skins, and seeds. Bioactive compounds from winery by-products have disclosed interesting health promoting activities both in vitro and in vivo. This is a comprehensive review on the phytochemicals present in winery by-products, extraction techniques, industrial uses, and biological activities demonstrated by their bioactive compounds concerning potential for human health.

Covering: up to November 2008 New sources of antimicrobial products need to be identified due to the existence and constant evolution of resistant microorganisms and phenotypes, the emergence of new diseases, and the toxicity of some of the current antimicrobials. Development of bacterial resistance, including multidrug resistance (MDR), is unavoidable because it represents a particular aspect of the general microbial evolution. Due to the increased bacterial resistance to conventional antimicrobials, new products need to be discovered and developed. In this context, phytochemicals have already demonstrated their potential as antibacterials when used alone, and as synergists/potentiators of less effective antibacterial products. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated that phytochemicals can be used where bacterial resistance mechanisms, such as MDR, make conventional treatments ineffective and also in the control of biofilms. The aim of this review is to cover the recent advances in phytochemical antibacterial activities and their mode of action, as well as to indicate current developments in their control of MDR bacteria and biofilms.

Chlorophylls play a crucial role in photosynthesis and are abundantly found in green fruits and vegetables that form an integral part of our diet. Although limited, existing studies suggest that these photosynthetic pigments and their derivatives possess therapeutic properties. These bioactive molecules exhibit a wide range of beneficial effects, including antioxidant, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic, anti-cancer, and anti-obesogenic activities. However, it is unfortunate that leafy materials and fruit peels often go to waste in the food supply chain, contributing to the prevailing issue of food waste in modern societies. Nevertheless, these overlooked materials contain valuable bioactive compounds, including chlorophylls, which offer significant health benefits. Consequently, exploring the potential of these discarded resources, such as utilizing them as functional food ingredients, aligns with the principles of a circular economy and presents exciting opportunities for exploitation.