Tradicionalmente, la agricultura familiar ha presentado un papel importante para la sociedad por diferentes motivos: la agricultura familiar es un proveedor relevante de alimentos para el consumo básico de la población; este emplea a un número significativo de familias para actividades productivas y es el custodio de prácticas tradicionales y patrimonio cultural que se ha mantenido en el tiempo ^[1][ 1 ].

La agricultura familiar representa más del 90% de las explotaciones a nivel mundial y produce el 80% de los alimentos del mundo; por ello, en 2017, Naciones Unidas declaró la década de la agricultura familiar (2019-2028). A través de este instrumento de política, la FAO y el Fondo Internacional de Desarrollo Agrícola (FIDA) esperan crear entornos apropiados para la agricultura familiar a fin de asegurar su posición y maximizar sus contribuciones a la seguridad alimentaria y la sostenibilidad de la agricultura en el mundo.

Fruit and vegetable products represent the main food group grown under family farming approaches. These have been traditionally cultivated for culinary purposes whose leaves, stems, fruits, roots and other parts of the plant are a relevant source of dietary micronutrients [2]. However, the global consumption of fruits and vegetables is a challenge regarding food security since the minimum average daily consumption of fruits per person has not yet been reached. Among the reasons why the minimum fruit consumption has not been reached is the lack of knowledge about the nutritional and functional importance of these foods.

Fruit and vegetable production is practiced in many countries as a family farming model, mainly in developing countries; fruit and vegetable production contributes significantly to the economy and population health [3]. According to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2020) [4], it was estimated that around 800 million people practice family farming, prioritizing the typical fruit and vegetable crops of each region. In the case of countries in the Andean region, legume, root and tuber crops were relevant; all of these have exceptional nutritional characteristics and biological value compounds. However, current research is focused on the study of new sources of biocomposites, neglecting research related to accessible food and easy management of crops.

Rutin, (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxy-flavone-3-rutinoside), also known as vitamin P, rutoside, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside and sophorin, is a flavonol glycoside that was first detected in Ruta graveolens, commonly known as rue, and has been found naturally in some commonly consumed plant species ^[5][6][5,6]. Rutin has wide relevance to the scientific field due to its pharmacological potential. A lot of reviews have reported about its anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, cardiovascular, hepatoprotective, anticancer and neuroprotective activity ^{[7][8][9][10][11]}[7,8,9,10,11].

Other reviews have compiled information about rutin extraction sources from medicinal plants and exotic fruits, whose cultivation method depends on the conditions specific to the geography of each region. It has also been established in the literature that correct comparisons between extraction methods are difficult due to the variance in plant origin and extraction conditions ^[12][13][12,13]. However, research related to foods for daily consumption, that is, foods that can be easily grown in family settings and complement food security approaches, has often been overlooked. The routine can be obtained through fruits and vegetables for daily consumption that are grown in family farming.

Rutin extraction from horticultural foods is relevant for fundamental research and, subsequently, for future applied research. However, the industrial application of rutin has remained challenging due to the physicochemical characteristics of rutin, such as its low solubility due to its configuration of phenolic rings; therefore, it cannot be absorbed using a simple diffusion process. Furthermore, rutin has little miscibility with lipids, which limits solubility in the cell membrane [7]. One way to reduce this limitation and, consequently, increase the action of the compound is based on encapsulation methods, where structures loaded with the active compound are designed and the formulation characteristics depend strictly on the encapsulated active.

Different research has been published on the encapsulation of rutin with polymers and lipids to improve stability and solubility. Encapsulation techniques include spray drying, coacervation, liposome entrapment, nanoemulsions, complexation, co-crystallization, nanoencapsulation and aqueous lyophilization, among others ^{[14][15][16][17][18][19][20]}[14,15,16,17,18,19,20]. These investigations, mostly in vitro industrial applications of both a pure rutin compound and an encapsulated extract, are limited, with priority given to pharmacological formulations, while food applications have been neglected.

2. Structure and Physicochemical Properties of Rutin Flavonol

Physicochemically, rutin has a molecular weight of 610.518 g/mol, pKa: 4.3 and log p value: −1.97 measured in acetonitrile at 50 °C. Rutin has poor water solubility in acidic and neutral environments but has greater solubility in an alkaline environment. This condition is due to the change in its electric charge and hydrophobicity (log D) with the change in pH [21] (Figure 1). Rutin has a strong negative charge and is highly hydrophilic under alkaline conditions, and is uncharged and slightly hydrophilic under acidic conditions [9]. The low solubility of rutin has limited its industrial applications. This condition is related to the ring structures, which are too large to be absorbed via a simple diffusion process [22]. The route for the synthesis of rutin is via the phenylpropanoid route [6]. Phenylalanine is transformed into cinnamic acid for the action of the ammoniacal phenylalanine enzyme, then cinnamic acid is catalyzed to form coumaric acid and then 4-coumaryl CoA by 4-coumarate: CoA ligase. The chalcone is made up of 4-coumaryl CoA. Subsequently, calchona isomerase catalysis leads to naringenin and the flavonol is formed under flavanone 3-hydroxylase catalysis. Flavonol is catalyzed to dihydroquercetin, quercetin formation comes from flavonol synthase catalyzing dihydroquercetin and finally rutin is formed by quercetin under the action of glycosyltransferase and two-step glycosylation ^[23][24][23,24].

3. Sources of Rutin Obtained in Family Farming Products

Fruits and vegetables are a fundamental component of the regular diet and are among the most commonly consumed products worldwide. They are generally affordable and represent traditional agricultural practices within communities and families [25]. Although global initiatives such as the declaration of 2013 as the international year of Quinoa have highlighted the health benefits associated with the consumption of certain crops, many other fruit and vegetable crops have yet to receive comparable attention in terms of global consciousness [26]. Many consumers are unaware of the presence of bioactive compounds in fruits and vegetables. While nutritional components such as proteins and carbohydrates often receive the most attention, the added value of phytochemicals and other bioactive compounds in promoting health is frequently overlooked. It is crucial to disseminate information about the beneficial properties of these compounds to raise awareness and promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables as staples of a balanced diet. By means of identifying rich sources of phytonutrients and exploring appropriate extraction methods for these compounds, the production, marketing and consumption of horticultural products can be improved to benefit all sectors of the production chain. Antioxidants such as rutin flavonol are found in fruit and vegetable products of plant species including: Polygonaceae, Solanaceae, Capparaceae, Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Celastraceae, Asparagaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Lamiaceae and Rosaceae ^{[27][28][29][30]}[27,28,29,30]. In addition, the search for sustainable sources of rutin extraction allowed the study of raw materials generated from agro-industrial waste. Rutin has been found in stems and calyx of fruits; these have been found after the harvest of varieties such as Physalis peruviana, some of the genus Fagopyrum and in banana leaves ^[31][32][33][31,32,33]. Leafy vegetables like lettuce are regularly consumed in salads and are a source of rutin. A rutin content of 750.82 µg/g has been reported in lettuce leaves, which varied in phenolic compounds depending on the season of cultivation, with winter-grown lettuce showing the highest rutin content [34]. Different parts of the lettuce plant have been studied to quantify rutin. For instance, it was found that the roots of lettuce had a higher rutin content (172.09 μg/g) than the leaves in the vegetative stage [35]. Meanwhile, a rutin content of 128 µg/g was reported during the harvest stage [36]. The content of rutin in species of the Brassicaceae family, such as broccoli, has been investigated to promote their consumption. In this case, rutin was quantified in broccoli stored in bulk and a concentration of 102.14 µg/g was found [37]. The authors linked the presence of antioxidant compounds in broccoli with health benefits, such as the prevention of degenerative diseases. Within the same Brassicaceae family, cauliflower sprouts were studied to quantify rutin, and the authors reported concentrations of 300 µg/g, a concentration close to the daily recommended intake of this type of compound [38]. Fruits and vegetables that belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, namely watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.), pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and melon (Cucumis melo L.), are globally significant crops often utilized as salad ingredients, juice bases, desserts and in other culinary preparations. Additionally, melon has been traditionally used to treat liver inflammation, coughs and kidney disorders, such as urinary tract ulcers; it has also been indicated as a source of rutin [39].  The Chenopodiaceae family includes several significant tubers among fruit and vegetable crops, with beets being an example. In the culinary industry, beets are recognized for their striking purple–red hue and are incorporated into salads, entrees such as chips and purees and others. Additionally, beets are a rich source of nutrients that include complex B and C vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and bioactive phenolic compounds such as betalains. Flavonoids such as rutin, kaempferol, rhamnetin and astragalin are among the most significant found in beets [40]. Pharmacologically, beetroot has been found to exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic and anti-inflammatory properties [41]. On the one hand, aromatic plants are often used in the culinary industry as seasonings and condiments to enhance the sensory properties of food. Additionally, these plants have been cultivated by humans since ancient times and are widely used in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries as a source for treating a range of disorders. Aromatic plants contain active compounds that make them useful for treating physical and mental ailments, such as having anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious and sedative properties, among many others. They are effective against influenza, gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety, seizures, rheumatic pain, muscle spasms, ulcerations and hemorrhoids, and function as antiseptics, disinfectants, bactericides and fungicides [42]. Las plantas aromáticas son conocidas por su capacidad de prosperar en una amplia gama de condiciones de crecimiento y son relativamente fáciles de cultivar. Además, desempeñan un papel natural en la protección contra plagas de los cultivos cercanos, lo que los convierte en una opción ideal para los enfoques de agricultura familiar. Por lo tanto, los huertos que cuentan con una amplia gama de plantas aromáticas son comúnmente promovidos ^[43][ 43 ]. Varios estudios han reportado la extracción y cuantificación de rutina en varias especies aromáticas. Por ejemplo, los investigadores extrajeron la rutina de la caléndula utilizando una técnica asistida por ultrasonido y reportaron un porcentaje de rendimiento del 2,28 % ( p / p ) ^[44][ 44 ]. En un estudio separado, se demostró un contenido de rutina del 8,9 % en el orégano mediante extracción hidroetanólica ^[45][ 45 ]. Además, se encontró que la albahaca contenía una concentración de rutina de 15 mg/100 g, mientras que el cilantro exhibió una concentración significativamente mayor de 115 mg/100 g [46 ] ^[46]. En consecuencia, los métodos eficientes de extracción de rutina involucran el modelado y la optimización de variables operativas, además del uso de enzimas y solventes seguros que permitan la extracción selectiva. Debido a la estructura esquelética del flavonoide de rutina y los numerosos grupos hidroxilo, los compuestos próticos como el etanol, el glicerol o el 1,3 butanodiol se utilizan a menudo para extraer la rutina. El proceso de extracción se maneja a temperaturas que oscilan entre 30 y 70 °C, como se informó ^[47][ 47 ]. Las tecnologías alternativas como alta presión (fluidos supercríticos, líquido presurizado), ultrasonido, microondas y metodologías emergentes como NADES se informan en la investigación actual sobre la extracción de rutina.

3. Encapsulación de rutina en sistemas coloidales y heterodispersos

Si bien las técnicas de encapsulación de rutina han arrojado resultados prometedores para preservar la actividad biológica de varios compuestos, las propiedades ligeramente lipófilas de la rutina la hacen adecuada para la encapsulación mediante técnicas a nanoescala basadas en sistemas coloidales y heterodispersos que incorporan lípidos o polímeros. Entre estas técnicas se encuentran los complejos de fosfolípidos, los fitosomas, los sistemas liposomales, las nanoemulsiones y las nanopartículas lipídicas y biopoliméricas, que se examinan en esta revisión ^[48][49][50][ 109 , 110 , 111 ]. Las estructuras de diseño con partículas de tamaño nanométrico asociadas a sistemas coloidales representan inherentemente un proceso de formación no espontáneo donde el cambio en la energía libre de Gibbs es positivo y, por lo tanto, se requiere la aplicación de energía externa para ajustar el tamaño de partícula y prolongar la estabilidad del sistema ^[51][ 112 ]. Además, la reducción de tamaño genera un aumento del área superficial que favorece la solubilidad de los compuestos lipofílicos sin descuidar los fenómenos de fuerza que se originan, como el movimiento browniano, que es más significativo que la gravedad y, en consecuencia, tendría una mayor estabilidad cinética debido a la una fuerza gravitacional más débil ^[51][ 112 ]. La estabilidad de los sistemas coloidales se define por el equilibrio de las fuerzas de atracción y repulsión y el impedimento estérico. De acuerdo con la teoría de Deryagin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO), la carga superficial debe mantenerse a una distancia de la neutralidad para mantener estable un sistema coloidal [ 113 ^[52]]. Los parámetros calculables como el índice de polidispersidad y el potencial Z se pueden utilizar para estimar la estabilidad en sistemas coloidales nanoestructurados mediante métodos electroforéticos y electroacústicos. Finalmente, el cálculo del potencial Z ayuda a estimar la carga superficial en función del movimiento electroforético de las partículas ^[53][ 114 ]. Es esencial seleccionar cuidadosamente los componentes del sistema para modular los valores del potencial Z. Esto implica identificar el tipo de surfactante a utilizar, incorporarlo a la interfaz de fase continua y seleccionar compuestos para adsorberse en la superficie estructural, como biopolímeros o compuestos químicos de interés para ser encapsulados [ 115 ^[54] ] .