Over the years, brown algae bioactive polysaccharides laminarin, alginate and fucoidan have been isolated and used in functional foods, cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical industries. The extraction process of these polysaccharides includes several complex and time-consuming steps and the correct adjustment of extraction parameters (e.g., time, temperature, power, pressure, solvent and sample to solvent ratio) greatly influences the yield, physical, chemical and biochemical properties as well as their biological activities. This review includes the most recent conventional procedures for brown algae polysaccharides extraction along with advanced extraction techniques (microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction and enzymes assisted extraction) which can effectively improve extraction process. The influence of these extraction techniques and their individual parameters on yield, chemical structure and biological activities from the most current literature is discussed, along with their potential for commercial applications as bioactive compounds and drug delivery systems.(APS) is determined by algae species however it is also influenced by other factors causing inter-species variation, e.g., growth location and harvesting season [8]. Vast structural variation between the APS therefore presents a challenge in terms of pre-treatments application, extraction techniques and optimization, characterization of isolated fractions and determination of their biological properties.Chemical structure and yield of APS isolated from marine macroalgae by conventional extraction (CE) techniques can be affected by various experimental conditions (pH, time, temperature, pressure, particle size, solvent, sample to solvent ratio, agitation speed etc.). In addition, different advanced techniques such as microwave assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), enzyme-assisted extractions (EAE) are assessed and applied for APS extraction [9][10][11].In general, the chemical structure of polysaccharides determines its physical, chemical and biochemical properties as well as its biological activities [12]. Several studies have reported that their biological activity is strongly associated with their chemical structure [9]. Due to very complex mechanisms that are affected by many factors, the correlation between polysaccharide structure and biological activity is still not sufficiently clarified.In order to improve isolation of APS, pre-treatments are usually applied to the algal biomass prior to the extraction process with the two aims: (i) to prevent co-extraction of interfering bioactive compounds with similar solubility; and (ii) to disrupt cell walls and improve mass transfer of APS into extraction solvent. The first type of pre-treatments is therefore used to remove compounds which are highly bound to the APS such as proteins, phenols and lipids, as well as mannitol and chlorophyll [13]. For that purpose, the application of various pr...

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This study evaluated the presence of bioactives in wild nettle leaves and stalks during the phenological stage and in the context of natural habitat diversity. Thus, wild nettle samples collected before flowering, during flowering and after flowering from 14 habitats situated in three different regions (continental, mountain and seaside) were analyzed for low molecular weight polyphenols, carotenoids and chlorophylls using UPLC-MS/MS and HPLC analysis, while the ORAC method was performed for the antioxidant capacity measurement. Statistical analysis showed that, when compared to the stalks, nettle leaves contained significantly higher amounts of analyzed compounds which accumulated in the highest yields before flowering (polyphenols) and at the flowering stage (pigments). Moreover, nettle habitat variations greatly influenced the amounts of analyzed bioactives, where samples from the continental area contained higher levels of polyphenols, while seaside region samples were more abundant with pigments. The levels of ORAC followed the same pattern, being higher in leaves samples collected before and during flowering from the continental habitats. Hence, in order to provide the product’s maximum value for consumers’ benefit, a multidisciplinary approach is important for the selection of a plant part as well as its phenological stage with the highest accumulation of bioactive compounds.

Ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE) was optimized for fast and effective isolation of blackthorn flower polyphenols. The effects of ethanol concentration (50% and 70%) in extraction solvent, ultrasound amplitude (50%, 75%, and 100%) and extraction time (3, 6, and 9 min) were evaluated. UPLC‐MS2 was used to determine phenolic profile of blackthorn flowers extracts. A total of 28 different phenolic compounds were identified, belonging to the classes of hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonol glycosides and flavanols. Kaempferol and quercetin derivatives were the most abundant compounds represented by kaempferol‐pentoside and rhamnoside in concentrations up to 494.94 and 436.62 mg/100 g and quercetin‐pentoside in concentration up to 226.75 mg/100 g. Observed parameters of UAE did not affect the qualitative phenolic composition of blackthorn flower extracts. On the contrary, the concentration of polyphenols increased with higher ethanol concentration in solvent, higher ultrasound amplitude and prolongation of extraction time. The established conditions for optimal extraction of blackthorn flower polyphenols using ultrasound were: 70% ethanol as extraction solvent, 75% of ultrasound amplitude and 9 min extraction time, resulting in extract rich in polyphenols with a great potential for use in pharmaceutical and food industry. Practical Application In this study, ultrasound‐assisted extraction (UAE) was optimized in order to establish fast and effective method for production of crude blackthorn flower extract rich in polyphenols. UPLC‐MS2 analysis showed 28 different phenolic compounds belonging to the classes of hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonol glycosides, and flavanols with quercetin and kaempferol glycosides in the highest concentrations, implicating high potential of blackthorn flowers’ extract for use in food and pharmaceutical industries.