The Brassica genus (Brassicaceae family) is a large group of primarily herbaceous plants, one of the most important crops after soybean in world oilseed production, and as fresh vegetables, they are widely consumed throughout the year as part of salads or after cooking. This genus includes various types of well-known species such as cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, pak choi, rape, turnip, mustard, and cress. Brassica plants are also distinguished from other vegetable plants by their high functional (phenolic and organosulfur compounds) and nutritional properties. Food losses and waste reduction are a worldwide challenge involving governments, researchers, and food industries. Therefore, by-product revalorization and the use of key extracted biocompounds to fortify innovative foods seems an interesting challenge to afford.
1. Introduction
In the last few decades, sustainable and non-thermal techniques have been optimized to reduce costs due to conventional technologies’ high energy consumption and the degradation of thermolabile nutritional compounds and the thermal instability of several bioactive compounds during the process. Therefore, it is essential to focus on innovative non-thermal ‘Green Technologies’ such as USAE, MWAE, and EAE, among others.
Most studies are focused on fruit by-products
[1], finding a lack of clear evidence related to horticultural commodities, including Brassica by-products. Due to the interest in the effect of green and non-thermal treatments on Brassica by-products for phytochemical extraction, a compilation of the scientific evidence is needed to establish the optimum treatments and conditions (extraction, addition, processing, storage, and shelf-life). Additionally, the effect of processing, including blanching, drying, homogenization, and/or grinding into powder, should be studied as pretreatments of extraction techniques.
2. Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction from Brassica By-Products
USAE consists of the propagation of ultrasonic waves in a liquid medium, inducing a longitudinal displacement of particles that create cavities in the liquid, which is called acoustic cavitation
[1]. This can occur with less solvent consumption, energy, and extraction time, making it an environmentally friendly and economical technique
[2].
Table 1 shows the main conditions used for USAE of bioactive compounds from Brassica by-products. According to the research found, broccoli is the main Brassica studied, followed by cabbage, radish, cauliflower, and kale. The revalorization of Brassica by-products is mainly concentrated on leaves and stems, although there are articles focused on seeds. The frequency of USAE equipment ranged from 20 to 50 kHz. Power units depended on the equipment used, reporting values from 100 to 500 W, 50 W/L, or 0.228 W/cm
2. The best results were achieved with an aqueous solvent. Water was used as the extractant in ten of the studies found, and in seven of them it was combined with an organic solvent (ethanol, methanol, and acetonitrile), with ethanol being the main one
[3][4][5][6]. In fact, Liu et al.
[7] reported a better SFN extraction with a ratio of 1:10 for water compared to 1:50 for ethyl acetate. The solid:liquid ratio in most of the studies ranged between 1:2 and 1:50, and just one of the studies found that it worked with a more diluted extract (0.06:30)
[8]. The extraction temperature used was determined by the target compound or the function to be achieved by the extraction. An extraction temperature below 30 °C was best for the GLS and SFN extractions
[5][6][7][9][10][11]. However, MWAE pretreatment for a short time favored SFN extraction due to the inactivation of the myrosinase enzyme and GLS-SFN conversion. Temperatures above 45 °C were used for the extraction of phenolic compounds
[2][6], and in the case of protein extraction, USAE was carried out in some studies
[4][12][13].
Table 1. Ultrasound conditions (frequency, power parameters, solvent, time, and temperature) for the extraction of bioactive compounds from Brassica by-products.
By-Product Characteristics |
F (kHz) |
Power Parameters |
Solvent |
S:L Ratio (w:v) |
T (min) |
T (°C) |
Other Information |
Main Findings |
Ref. |
Radish seeds cv. IPR 11 Particle size information NA |
25 |
165 W |
EtOH |
1:12 |
20–60 |
30–60 |
USAE bath with indirect contact. After the extraction, seeds were separated by filtration, and the excess solvent was removed until reaching a constant weight. |
The maximum yield (25%), a greater amount of phytosterols and tocopherols, and, consequently, greater oxidative stability. |
[14] |
Red radish cv. information NA Freeze dried 1–2 mm pieces |
NA |
138–358 W |
H2O |
0.06:30 |
30–120 |
45 |
Before USAE by pulse cycles of 5 s on and 1 s off, extraction of anthocyanins was performed. |
High-energy USAE treatment (120 min at 286–258 W) is adequate to enhance TAC but does not preserve anthocyanins. |
[8] |
Broccoli leaves, stems, and inflorescences cvs.: ‘TSX 007′, ‘Monaco’, ‘BRO 2047′, ‘Parthenon’, and ‘Summer Purple’ Dried (45 °C, 48 h) Particle size information NA |
NA |
NA |
80% EtOH |
10:60 |
60 |
45–50 |
Excess EtOH was removed by heating it at 37 °C in a rotary evaporator under vacuum. The resulting aqueous extracts were combined and lyophilized. |
Extraction yield of 13.4–16.3% dw. High TAC and chlorophylls and phenolics (mainly kaempferol and quercetin glucosides) in leaf extracts (‘Summer Purple’) and high GLS content in inflorescence extract. |
[15] |
Broccoli leaves, stems, and inflorescences cv. Parthenon Dried (45 °C, 24–48 h) Particle size information NA |
NA |
220 V 360 W |
H2O |
1:50 |
60 |
NA |
Before USAE, the mixture was heated for 16 min at 121 °C. After US, four times its volume of ethanol was added, and after 12 h of incubation, it was dried at 45 °C in a forced-air oven. |
USAE did not manage to modify the neutral sugar profile. |
[16] |
Broccoli by-products cv. information NA Dried (35 °C, 48 h) Particle size information NA |
25 |
50 W/L |
H2O |
1:10 |
60 |
15 |
The extract was dried at 30 °C in a vacuum oven. The residue was mixed with water and recovered by centrifugation (6000 rpm × 10 min). |
USAE extracted more bioactive compounds than supercritical fluids but not as many as pressurized liquid. |
[13] |
Cauliflower by-products cv., drying, and particle size information NA |
NA |
175 W |
H2O (pH 11) |
1:4 |
15 |
NA |
The crude fiber and insoluble protein were removed from the extract first with 3 layer gauze and then by centrifugation (4000 rpm × 30 min). |
Extraction yield of 53.1% and 12.066 g of soluble leaf protein kg−1. |
[9] |
Cauliflower by-products Blanching cv. information NA Dried (50–55 °C overnight) Particle size 0.5 mm |
24 |
400 W |
H2O 70% MeOH 80% Ac |
50:100 |
0–10 |
NA |
Amplitude USAE from 20–100%. After US, centrifugation at 1500× g for 15 min, and the pellet was centrifuged with 100 mL of solvent. Both supernatants were collected, combined, and filtered under vacuum conditions. |
The amplitude affected the extraction of isothyocyanates (80% amplitude for 3 min) and phenolics (100% amplitude for 3 min). |
[12] |
Rapeseed meal cv., drying, and particle size information NA |
28 |
0.228 W/cm2 |
H2O |
1:30 |
41.48 |
NA |
Other extraction conditions were pH 11.71 and USAE power 40%. |
High protein yield of 43.3% and nitrogen solubility of 18.1%. |
[3] |
Broccoli cv., drying, and particle size information NA |
40 |
500 W |
Ch 80% EtOH Ac |
100:500 |
60 |
40 |
Extracts were combined to metal-organic framework nanocubes. They were dispersed by an ultrasonic probe in 100 mL, then triethylamine as a capping agent was added, and the mixture was agitated and heated for 12 h at 130 °C. |
Broccoli extract combined with MOF-5-NCs showed synergistic activity against P. aeruginosa bacteria in standard and clinical strains. |
[2] |
Kale cv. information NA Convective dryer (39 °C) Particle size information NA |
20 |
100 W |
80% EtOH |
2:40 |
60 |
60 |
USAE in two cycles of 30 min Extracts were filtered, combined, and evaporated. The residues were dissolved in methanol and filtered. |
High isolation of phenolic acids and high yield of biocompounds in short time and reduced solvent volume with easy handling. |
[4] |
Broccoli seeds cv., drying, and particle size information NA |
NA |
200–500 W |
H2O EA |
1:10–1:50 |
5–40 s |
25–35 |
Before USAE, broccoli seeds were treated in a MWAE oven for 1–4 min at low power. |
The highest SFN formation was under a MWAE pretreatment of 3 min and a US treatment of 20 s, 500 W, and 1:10 for water or 1:50 ethyl acetate. |
[7] |
Broccoli stems and leaves cv. information NA. Dried (30–35 °C, 48 h). Particle size information NA |
25 |
50 W/L |
H2O |
1:10 |
60 |
NA |
After homogenization, the extract was dried at 30 °C in a vacuum oven. The residue was mixed with water (25 mL) and recovered by centrifuging at 6000 rpm for 10 min. |
High-quality extract in terms of antimicrobial efficacy against Pseudomonas spp. and Candida krusei. |
[17] |
White cabbage cv. information NA Oven-dried (60 °C, 72 h) Particle size information NA |
40 |
132 W |
60% EtOH |
2:10 |
120 |
30–70 |
Ultrasonic intensity of 0.46 W/cm2. The obtained extracts were hydrolyzed before analyzing. |
Richer extract at 30 °C. Antimicrobial activities only of the hydrolyzed extracts. |
[5] |
Broccoli heads cv., drying, and particle size information NA |
23 |
NA |
H2O |
1:20 |
1–12 |
25–60 |
Amplitude was set at 135 µm. |
Higher myrosinase inactivation and SFN content at 60 °C for 4 min. Activation energy was 3.6-fold lower regarding traditional blanching. |
[10] |
Camelina sativa oil cv., drying, and particle size information NA |
35 |
60–120 W |
40–80 EtOH |
1:5–1:15 |
10–20 |
30 |
USAE in 2–4 cycles of 5 min each. A solid-phase extraction procedure to obtain an extract rich in GLS and to perform cellular assays. |
High-GLS extraction with 65% EtOH, 1:15, and 10 min. The purified extract (800 mg from 10 g) showed chemopreventive action against colorectal cancer cells. |
[6] |
Thirty-six Brassica oleracea var. acephala accessions Dried in an oven (105 °C) or freeze-dried Particle size information NA. |
40 |
300 W |
80% MetOH |
0.03:1.5 |
30 |
20 |
After USAE, extracts were centrifuged at 15,000× g for 5 min. |
Higher GLS content, TAC, TPC, and sugars with freeze-dried samples and USAE compared with hot extraction. |
[11] |
Cabbage leaves, fresh and steamed (100 °C, 2 min) cv., and drying info NA Particle size 1.7–2.55 mm. |
37 |
320 W |
H2O |
5:50 |
40 |
NA |
Absorbed US power of 0.03 W/g extraction + MWAE or vaccum. |
Higher glucoraphanin content with USAE + vacuum or MWAE More effective (87%) when leaves were steamed, presenting higher myrosinase inactivation. |
[18] |
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/foods12030561