Critical analysis of green extraction techniques used for botanicals: Trends, priorities, and optimization strategies-A review

How do we capture the health-boosting powers of nature without harming the planet in the process? The answer lies in replacing heavy organic solvents with smart green chemistry.

Botanicals—derived from plants, algae, fungi, or lichens—are massively popular in food supplements and cosmetics. Because these products feature a complex mixture of molecules known as a phytocomplex, standardization is vital for safety and reproducibility. Traditional extraction methods protect product integrity, but they rely on large volumes of organic solvents, dragging along high costs, long timeframes, and a heavy environmental toll.

Enter the green chemistry approach. Modern techniques like microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, and pressurized liquid extraction step up to the plate. When combined with Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) or unconventional options like natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES), these methods vastly improve consumer safety and environmental preservation.

Because extraction is the stage most responsible for a natural product's environmental footprint, precision is everything. Rather than relying on outdated trial-and-error methods, advanced optimization through the Design of Experiments approach is essential to master the complex variables at play.

Key Points

• Botanicals require standardized methods to ensure safety and reproducibility.
• Traditional extraction methods use large amounts of harmful organic solvents.
• Green technologies and NADES improve extraction sustainability and consumer safety.