Olive Mill Wastewater as Renewable Raw Materials to Generate High Added-Value Ingredients for Agro-Food Industries

Olive oil production represents an agro-industrial activity of vital economic importance for many Mediterranean countries. However, it is associated with the generation a huge amount by-products, both in solid and liquid forms, mainly constituted by olive mill wastewater, pomace, wood, leaves, stones. Although years by-products have only been considered as relevant environmental issue, last decades, numerous studies deeply described their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, anticancer, anti-hyperglycemic activities. Therefore, increasing interest natural bioactive compounds new challenge mills. Studies focused on optimizing methods to extract phenols from pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications attempts made describe microorganisms metabolic involved treatment such complex variable by-products. few investigated order produce added-value ingredients and/or preservatives food industries. This review provides overview prospective source high nutritional value functional additives explore potential future research opportunities.