Biological Activity and Biotechnological properties of biomolecules recovered from vegetable wastes

Vegetable biomass is one of the most promising renewable source of energy and chemicals. Indeed, its exploitation for biofuel and commodity chemicals has been the focus of research over the last years and the gradual shift toward the so-called bio-based economy (an economy system based on exploitation of renewable resources) has determined a global increasing demand for goods mainly derived from vegetable biomass. In order to ensure a more sustainable productivity and the global food security, wastes coming from cultivation, harvesting and processing of vegetables have been recently considered as an alternative source for biomolecules and bioenergy that can find application in several industrial areas. According to this global scenario, the possible exploitation of the residual biomass coming from the industrial processing of lemon (Citrus limon), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. ''Hybrid Rome''), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. Dulce) and carrot (Dacus Carota), were studied. These by-products were used as a source of two distinct classes of biomolecules: polysaccharides and polyphenols.