Antimicrobial, antioxidant and phyto-chemicals from fruit and vegetable wastes: A review

Food processing industry including fruit and vegetable processing is the second largest generator of wastes into the environment only after the household sewage. The generation of biodegradable waste increased linearly with the growth and development of food processing industry. A huge amount of waste in the form of liquid and solid is produced in the fruit and vegetable processing industries is valuable but biodegradable natural resources with large economic potential. It causes pollution problem if not utilized or disposed-off properly. The waste obtained from fruit processing industry is extremely diverse due to the use of wide variety of fruits and vegetables, the broad range of processes and the multiplicity of the product. Different fruits and vegetable possess various quantities of waste. Waste product which is thrown into the environment has a very good antimicrobial and antioxidant potentiality. These are novel, natural and economic sources of antimicrobics and antioxidants, which can be used in the prevention of diseases caused by pathogenic microbes. These all benefits will open up as a scope for future utilization of the waste for therapeutic purpose. However, lack of pilot testing of the developed technologies, negative attitude of the industrialists and perhaps, less helping hand from the government sector are the major constraints in utilization of the waste. © 2012 New Delhi Publishers. All rights reserved