Nutraceutical potential of Mediterranean agri-food waste and wild plants: Green extraction and bioactive characterization.

The agricultural waste and wild plants of the Mediterranean region offer significant nutraceutical potential, rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolics, carotenoids, lipids and volatile organic compounds. These compounds exhibit health-promoting properties, including antioxidant, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Advanced analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC-MS and NMR are essential for the accurate chemical characterization of these bioactives. Green extraction methods, including ultrasound-assisted, enzyme-assisted and cold plasma-assisted extractions, provide efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives to classical techniques for the isolation of bioactive compounds. The valorization of Mediterranean agricultural by-products, such as olive pomace, grape seeds, and citrus peels, exemplifies sustainable approaches to the utilization of these underutilized resources. This chapter explores the bioactive characterization and green extraction methods that contribute to unlocking the nutraceutical potential of Mediterranean plant waste and wild plants, highlighting their role in the development of functional foods and natural health products.