Plant extracts and essential oils in the dairy industry: A review

Abstract

Plants have been used as food additives worldwide to enhance the sensory qualities of foods and extend their shelf life by reducing or eliminating foodborne pathogens. They also serve as therapeutic agents due to their beneficial effects on human health through their anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulatory properties. 
 Plants can be added to food as a dry powder, grated material, paste, juice, or as an extract that can be produced by a variety of methods. Plant extracts and essential oils are concentrated sources of bioactive phytochemicals that can be added to food in small amounts in a variety of forms. These forms include liquid, semi-solid, or dry powder for easy and uniform diffusion. Encapsulation can protect bioactive compounds from temperature, moisture, oxidation, and light, as well as allow for controlling the release of the encapsulated ingredients. Nanoemulsions can enhance the bioactivity of active components. 
 This review explains how plant extracts and essential oils are used in the dairy industry as antimicrobial materials, analyzing their impact on starter bacteria; as natural antioxidants to prevent the development of off-flavors and increase shelf life; and as technological auxiliaries, like milk-clotting enzymes, stabilizers, and flavoring agents. Therefore, plant extracts and essential oils are a better choice for the dairy industry than plants or their parts due to a wide range of applications, homogeneous dispersion, and ability to control the concentration of the bioactive ingredients and enhance their efficiency.

Optimizing Milk Production, Quality and Safety Through Essential Oil Applications

“…However, as El-Aziz et al point out, despite the tantalising potential of EOs in the dairy sector, widespread adoption remains elusive. This is largely attributed to the challenges associated with controlling the concentration of bioactive ingredients within these oils and optimising their efficiency [23]. The inherent variability in plant extracts and EOs, compounded by their sensitivity to factors such as source, extraction methods and storage conditions, poses formidable hurdles.…”

Evaluation of the In Vivo Anti-Atherosclerotic Activity of Quercetin Isolated from the Hairy Roots of Hedysarum neglectum Ledeb

“…It is known that plants are a promising source of BAS-cardioprotectors [9,10] and that one of the potential cardioprotectors is quercetin, a flavonoid with extensive biofunctional effects [5,[11][12][13][14][15] (Figure 1). Details about the importance of nutrition in the prevention of atherosclerosis (diet, biologically active substances (BAS)-cardioprotectors) are reflected in the work of A. Vesnina et al [5].…”

“…It is known that plants are a promising source of BAS-cardioprotectors [9,10] and that one of the potential cardioprotectors is quercetin, a flavonoid with extensive biofunctional effects [5,[11][12][13][14][15] (Figure 1). Quercetin exhibits anti-atherosclerotic activity.…”