The review article critically evaluates the application of edible plant extracts as natural preservatives in food systems, with a particular focus on environmentally sustainable extraction methodologies. It examines green extraction methods designed to enhance the yield of bioactive compounds responsible for plants’ strong antibacterial properties. The biochemical mechanisms underlying antibacterial activity are studied, namely disruption of bacterial cell walls and membranes; inhibition of metabolic enzymes; interference with nucleic acid synthesis; induction of oxidative stress; and suppression of quorum sensing, biofilm formation, efflux pumps, and β-lactamase activity, along with standardized methodologies for efficacy assessment and extracts’ incorporation into food matrices. Recent research demonstrates the potential of plant extracts to extend the shelf life of meat, seafood, dairy, and fresh products while meeting consumer demand for clean-label products. Although large-scale application remains limited due to challenges, future research should focus on optimizing green extraction approaches, establishing standardized evaluation protocols, and developing regulatory frameworks to facilitate their safe and sustainable use in the food industry.

This study investigates the enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) of bioactive compounds from the pseudo-fruit of the wild rose (Rosa canina L.), also known as rosehip, using a commercial cellulolytic enzyme preparation, Cellic^® CTec3 HS. The effects of extraction time, solid to liquid ratio, and enzyme loading on total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were evaluated. The highest yields of TPC (168.3 ± 1.1 GAE/g DM) and TFC (72.3 ± 0.8 mg CAE/g DM) were obtained at 360 min, using 1% (v/v) enzyme loading and a 6% (w/v) solid to liquid ratio. Kinetic modeling of the extraction process was performed using first-order, second-order, Peleg’s, and power law models. The power law model best described the extraction dynamics. The obtained extracts were assessed for their biological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-aging, and anti-diabetic properties. The extract obtained under optimal extraction conditions exhibited potent tyrosinase inhibition (80%) and moderate to low inhibition of α-glucosidase (15%) and α-amylase (20%) activities. The IC₅₀ for DPPH radical scavenging was 0.44 μL extract/mL while the extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli growth (79% inhibition). These findings suggest that the extract, obtained through EAE, has promising biological properties with potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

BACKROUND: The pseudo‐fruit of Rosa canina L. is a rich source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐cancer, anti‐diabetic, anti‐aging, and antimicrobial activities. The aim of the present study is the optimization of a green process based on the action of two hydrolytic enzyme preparations, namely Pectinex® Ultra Color (pectinolytic) and Viscoferm® (hemicellulolytic), for the extraction of bioactive compounds from the pseudo‐fruit of Rosa canina L. of Greek origin. A Box–Behnken Design (BBD) was employed to optimize extraction conditions by evaluating the effects of enzyme loadings and extraction time on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity. The optimum extract was evaluated for its biological activities, anti‐aging (inhibition of tyrosinase activity), antidiabetic (inhibition of α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase activity), and for its antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli cells.RESULTS: The optimal conditions were determined using Derringer's desirability function and were found at 0.59% v/v Pectinex® Ultra color, 0.51% v/v Viscoferm®, and approximately 97 min (96.23 min) extraction time. The optimum extract yielded 123.22 ± 2.50 mg GAE/g DW TPC, 49.13 ± 0.92 mg CAE/g DW TFC, and exhibited antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ of 0.98 ± 0.02μL_extract/mL. The biological activities of the extracts revealed strong inhibition of E. coli growth, moderate α‐glucosidase inhibition, and weak tyrosinase inhibition and α‐amylase inhibition.CONCLUSION: The proposed process offers a rapid approach for the effective extraction of bioactive compounds from the pseudofruit of Rosa canina L., with promising biological activities, thus demonstrating its potential for applications in various industries. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Enzyme-Assisted Extraction (EAE) in Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NaDES) was investigated as a green approach to extract bioactive compounds from the pseudofruit of Rosa canina L. Initially, the thermal stability of protease (Neutrase^®) was evaluated at different temperatures (30–80 °C) in the NaDES Choline Chloride: Glycerol (1:2 molar ratio) (ChCl: Gly) with 20% (w/w) water as a cosolvent and in a buffer solution of the same pH. Kinetic and thermodynamic analyses revealed that ChCl:Gly markedly enhanced enzyme stability, extending half-life by up to 13-fold at 30–50 °C by increasing the enthalpic barrier to deactivation. EAE in NADES parameters, including enzyme loadings and extraction time, were optimized based on total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC), yielding maximum values of 135.75 ± 0.33 mg GAE/g DW and 65.05 ± 0.58 mg CAE/g DW, respectively. Extracts obtained under optimal conditions exhibited enhanced antioxidant, antidiabetic (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition), anti-aging (tyrosinase inhibition), and antibacterial (inhibition of Escherichia coli growth) activities, outperforming enzyme-free extracts in all cases. The optimum extract also significantly reduced A431 cell viability (27–40%, p < 0.05). Overall, EAE in NaDES improved both enzyme stability and extraction efficiency, offering a sustainable and effective alternative for producing bioactive plant extracts.

Enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) was applied to extract bioactive compounds from the leaves of Origanum dictamnus L. using the commercial enzyme preparation Cellic^® CTec3 HS. A Taguchi experimental design was applied to determine the optimal EAE conditions. The variables were enzyme loading, solid-to-liquid ratio, extraction time and the responses of total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). Under optimized conditions, EAE achieved TPC yield of 164.8 ± 5.2 mg GAE/g and TFC yield reached 92.5 ± 5.7 mg CAE/g. The results support the potential of EAE as an efficient method for extraction of bioactive compounds from Origanum dictamnus L.