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Resource-Efficient Use of Residues from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for Production of Secondary Plant Metabolites

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Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology

Abstract

Although people’s interest in green and healthy plant-based products and natural active ingredients in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries is steadily increasing, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) represent a niche crop type.

It is possible to increase cultivation and sales of MAPs, by utilizing plant components that are usually discarded. This chapter provides an overview of studies concerning material flows and methods used for sustainable production of valuable metabolites from MAPs between 2018 and 2023. Additionally, it describes new developments and strategies for extraction and isolation, as well as innovative applications. In order to use these valuable resources almost completely, a systematic recycling of the plant material is recommended. This would be a profitable way to increase sustainability in the cultivation and usage of MAPs and provide new opportunities for extraction in plant science.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) by decision of the German Bundestag and managed by the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) for the financial support of these studies under the program “Renewable Resources,” project number: 22021517.

Special thanks to Larissa Knierim and Colin Herzberger and the whole natural products extraction team, as well as Dr. M. Gahr, PT Jülich, for BMWK funding grant project RUENNA and TPTP. Alexander Uhl for digital twin and autonomous operation studies as well as Thomas Knebel and Mourad Mouellef for process automation concept and realization. ITVP fine mechanics workshop with Volker Strohmeyer and Nils Hoffmann for PHWE combined with UF and NF pilot plant. Frank Steinhäuser for troubleshooting support 24/7.

Language editing of the manuscript by Luca Benazzi has been highly acknowledged. Citation Report graphic is derived from the Web of Science provided by Clarivate, Copyright Clarivate 2023. All rights reserved

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) – Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Ecological Chemistry, Plant Analysis and Stored Product Protection, Berlin, Germany

    Sibylle Kümmritz & Nanina Tron

  2. Clausthal University of Technology, Institute for Separation and Process Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany

    Martin Tegtmeier, Axel Schmidt & Jochen Strube

Authors
  1. Sibylle Kümmritz
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Correspondence to Sibylle Kümmritz .

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Kümmritz, S., Tron, N., Tegtmeier, M., Schmidt, A., Strube, J. (2024). Resource-Efficient Use of Residues from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for Production of Secondary Plant Metabolites. In: Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2024_250

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