DOI: https://doi.org/10.4316/fens.2021.032 

289 

 

Journal homepage: http://fens.usv.ro/index.php/FENS/index  

Journal of Faculty of Food Engineering,  

Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Romania  

Volume XX, Issue 3 -  2021, pag. 289  - 297 

 

REMOVAL OF TOXIC COMPOUNDS FROM NATURAL EXTRACTS USING 

GREEN TECHNIQUES 

 

*Francisco LORCA
1
, David QUINTÍN

1
, María-Dolores LÓPEZ

1
,  

Presentación GARCÍA
1
 

1AEI CTNC National Technological Centre for the Food and Canning Industry,  

Murcia, Spain, tecnología1@ctnc.es  

*Corresponding author 

Received 17th August 2021, accepted 28th September 2021 

 

Abstract: The aim of the present study was compare two natural bio adsorbent materials with 

different commercial adsorbents, such as Granular Activated Carbon (CAG) and Zeolite, for the 

elimination of pesticides in extracts of interest. Two natural bio adsorbents were developed from rice 

husk and almond skin. Artichoke and lemon extracts were obtained from artichoke by-product and 

citrus by-product respectively. The trend is supported by the potential of these food wastes, which 

could be used for the production of valued products. In fact, peels, seeds, stems, or vegetable pulps are 

considered raw materials to obtain bioactive ingredients with multiple applications, mainly for the 

production of food ingredients, cosmetics, or nutraceuticals. Furthermore, bioactive compounds of 

vegetable wastes have demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial actions. The results obtained show 

the effectiveness of the different adsorbents in the adsorption of pesticides that artichoke and lemon 

extracts contain. Adsorbents from almond and rice by-product were effective, reducing in case of 

almond skin adsorbent by half the concentration of Metalaxyl and reducing a large amount of 

Azoxystrobin and Difenoconazole. Rice bio-adsorbent was less effective than the other adsorbates 

even though it was more effective than zeolite. The use of agri-food waste allows solving not only an 

environmental problem of pollution of high importance, but also a problem of management of large 

amounts of waste generated in the agri-food industry contributing to the promotion of circular 

economy. Two adsorbents have been developed from almond and rice by-products which are effective 

for the elimination of different toxic compounds through adsorption processes such as pesticides.  

 

Keywords: Pesticides, green tehcniques, adsorbents, natural extracts, organic compound. 

 

1. Introduction 

Nowadays, consumption of fruit and 

vegetable is very widespread as they 

provide health benefits. These benefits are 

partly due to the organic compounds that 

products contain. These bioactive 

molecules have antioxidant, antithrombotic, 

anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic 

properties, among others [1–4]. Artichoke 

(Cynara scolymus L.) is an herbaceous 

perennial plant belonging to Cynara genus 

and Asteraceae family. Commonly known 

as globe artichoke, it is traditionally 

consumed in the Mediterranean diet. Their 

cultivation is considered an important 

activity of the agro-economy of the 

semediterranean countries [5,6]. The 

Mediterranean region has an annual 

production of about 770,000 tons. The 

edible portion of this plant includes the 

receptacle of immature flowers and the 

inner bracts, named “capitula” or heads. 

During the artichoke processing, the 

http://fens.usv.ro/index.php/FENS/index
mailto:tecnología1@ctnc.es


 Food and Environment Safety - Journal of Faculty of Food Engineering, Ştefan cel Mare University - 
Suceava Volume XX, Issue 3  – 2021 

 

 
Francisco LORCA, David QUINTÍN, María-Dolores LÓPEZ, Presentación GARCÍA, Removal of toxic compounds 
from natural extracts using green techniques,  Food and Environment Safety, Food and Environment Safety, Volume 
XX, Issue 3 – 2021, pag. 289 – 297 

290 
 

residues, principally external leaves or 

stems, represent approximately 60–80% of 

the total harvested plant material, which is 

translated in more than 460,000 tons of 

wastes generated annually. Nevertheless, 

these by-products possess a great content of 

bioactive phenolic compounds, inulin, 

fibers, and minerals [7–11]. This 

information highlighted the significance of 

the evaluation of artichoke wastes for the 

extraction of bioactive compounds. 

Despite its content in these interesting 

compounds, it is the presence of bioactive 

compounds that has aroused greater 

interest, especially phenolic compounds 

[12, 13]. The interest in their 

phytochemicals has been linked to various 

pharmacological activities exerted on 

humans. Therefore, the artichoke has been 

used for medicinal purposes since antiquity, 

being considered a functional food [14, 15, 

16, and 17]. Consequently, the re-

valorization of food by-products as a 

bioactive source material has experienced a 

great growth due to the economic and 

environmental benefits that it produces. In 

the case of artichoke, recent studies based 

their research on external bracts, leaves and 

floral stems by-products, which are 

considered the principal discarding parts of 

the artichoke processing because they are 

not suitable for human consumption [18]. 

The processing of citrus fruits in the agro-

industry has different phases from the 

collection of raw materials to obtaining the 

desired products. During this process, a 

significant amount of waste is generated. 

The nature of the mentioned waste is low-

quality fruits and, especially, parts of the 

fruits without commercial value (crust) 

removed during the transformation process. 

The huge volume of citrus waste is not been 

managed and eliminated using advanced 

scientific and technical approaches, but it is 

mainly done in an inadequate way implying 

negative environmental effects. 

Discarded parts of citrus fruits have a very 

high content of cell wall polysaccharides 

that are source of dietary fiber and 

constitute up to now the only raw material 

for the production of pectin used by the 

food industry as stabilizers or gelling 

agents. 

This trend is supported by the potential of 

these food wastes, which could be used for 

the production of valued products. In fact, 

peels, seeds, stems, or vegetable pulps are 

considered raw materials to obtain bioactive 

ingredients with multiple applications, 

mainly for the production of food 

ingredients, cosmetics, or nutraceuticals. 

Furthermore, bioactive compounds of 

vegetable wastes have demonstrated 

antioxidant and antimicrobial actions in 

developed food additives used for 

conservative purposes 

The current need of a sustainable food 

chain demands an implementation of a 

circular economy approach in the 

processing industries. The major focus of 

this approach is to revalorize the discarding 

parts of vegetables due to their great 

contents in bioactive compounds [19, 20]. 

The pesticide-based treatments that are 

applied to fruit and vegetables are present 

in the by-products generated after industrial 

processing. These by-products that are 

currently used for their revaluation through 

the extraction of compounds of interest give 

rise to the dragging of these pesticides and 

other toxic substances such as heavy metals 

and mycotoxins, concentrated in the 

extracts, making their use as ingredients in 

the food, nutraceutical and cosmetic 

industry unfeasible because these 

substances are potentially toxic to humans 

being related to various diseases including 



 Food and Environment Safety - Journal of Faculty of Food Engineering, Ştefan cel Mare University - 
Suceava Volume XX, Issue 3  – 2021 

 

 
Francisco LORCA, David QUINTÍN, María-Dolores LÓPEZ, Presentación GARCÍA, Removal of toxic compounds 
from natural extracts using green techniques,  Food and Environment Safety, Food and Environment Safety, Volume 
XX, Issue 3 – 2021, pag. 289 – 297 

291 
 

cancer and decreased fertility, among others 

[21-22]. 

The use and extraction of compounds of 

interest from fruit and vegetable waste 

reduces the risk of accumulation of waste in 

the environment, preventing the negative 

effect on the environment of waste 

treatment such as incineration or landfilling, 

as well as the cost and investment of labor 

in the process. 

The adsorption of toxic compounds on the 

surface of adsorbent materials is presented 

as a promising, effective, sustainable and 

low-cost measure, compared to other types 

of treatments, looking for low-cost and 

environmentally friendly adsorbents 

obtained from biomass. [23-25]. 

The possibility of using agri-food waste as 

potential precursors for the preparation of 

adsorbents provides the opportunity to have 

a wide range of adsorbents, because they 

are generated on a large scale and have a 

low cost compared to commercial 

adsorbents. 

The use of bio-adsorbents allows solving 

not only an environmental problem of 

pollution of high importance, but also a 

problem of management of large amounts 

of waste generated in the agri-food industry 

contributing to the promotion of circular 

economy. Therefore, in this study, bio-

adsorbents have been developed from agri-

food residues for the elimination of 

pesticides in extracts containing compounds 

of interest and the result of adsorption has 

been compared with commercial adsorbates 

such as Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) 

and zeolite. 

The selection of appropriate substrates in 

adsorption systems for the decontamination 

of pesticides from aqueous streams is of 

utmost importance. Drobeket al. studied a 

natural adsorber from rice by-product 

showing that it has a significantly high 

potential to adsorb the pesticides atrazine 

and imidacloprid. Al-Qodah et al. carried 

out the adsorption of the pesticides 

Deltamethrin and Lambda-Cyhalothrin 

using ash from shale oil as adsorbent, 

proving to be very effective and very low 

cost, compared to other metallic adsorbers 

and activated carbon. 

Currently, the scientific community focuses 

on adsorption as a promising, effective, 

sustainable and low-cost measure, 

compared to other types of treatment, 

seeking low-cost and environmentally 

friendly adsorbents obtained from biomass 

[28-30]. Gupta et al publish a study that 

reveals an alternative approach to the 

management of fruit residues with the 

production of value-added products and 

their use of residues as a bio adsorbent. 

The aim of the present study was 

comparenatural bio adsorbent materials 

with different commercial adsorbents, such 

as Granular Activated Carbon (CAG) and 

Zeolite, for the elimination of pesticides in 

extracts of interest. 

 

2. Materials and methods 

 

Adsorbent materials 

Adsorption experiments were performed 

with granular activated carbon adsorbent, 

with granular size range 0,5-3,13 mm, and 

zeolite adsorbent with granular size range 

0,5-3,13 mm,were supplied by 

Panreacapplichem.  

Production of different bio-adsorbent 

materials  

Two bio-adsorbent were performed in 

adsorption experiments. The natural 

adsorbent of almond by-product and rice 

by-product were activated by treating 

almond skin and rice husk through a 

process of washing, and activation with 

solution of 2% of H2O2thus obtaining two 

natural adsorbents. 



 Food and Environment Safety - Journal of Faculty of Food Engineering, Ştefan cel Mare University - 
Suceava Volume XX, Issue 3  – 2021 

 

 
Francisco LORCA, David QUINTÍN, María-Dolores LÓPEZ, Presentación GARCÍA, Removal of toxic compounds 
from natural extracts using green techniques,  Food and Environment Safety, Food and Environment Safety, Volume 
XX, Issue 3 – 2021, pag. 289 – 297 

292 
 

 

Extracts of interest 

Extracts of interest were prepared as 

follows: artichoke or lemon by product 

were mixed with wáter 1:1 proportion. The 

mixture was heated at 100ºC and have been 

kept in constant agitation for 1 hours. The 

different mixture have been filtered, the 

treated aqueous extract has been frozen and 

dehydrated through a lyophilization 

process. 

 

Use of adsorbent in the food laboratory 

scale system 

200 grams of the different adsorbates 

(CAG, Zeolite, almond and rice adsorbent) 

have been mixed with 1 liter of the aqueous 

extract of artichoke orlemon extract and 

have been kept in constant agitation for 3 

hours.  

After 3 hours, the different adsorbates have 

been filtered, the treated aqueous extract 

has been frozen and dehydrated through a 

lyophilization process. 

HPLC Analysis  

The determination of pesticides were 

carried out by the liquid chromatography 

technique coupled to mass spectrometry 

with a triple quadrupole LC-MS / MS QQQ 

analyzer (QuEChERS method). The 

application range is established between the 

limit of quantification (0.01 mg / Kg) and 

the maximum limit (2 mg / Kg). For 

pesticides with MRLs greater than 2 and 

less than or equal to 6 mg / Kg, the 

maximum limit will be 7 mg / Kg. 

This procedure is based on the SANCO 

Document “Guidance document on 

analytical quality control and validation 

procedures for pesticides residues analysis 

in food and feed”, standard UNE-EN 

15662, UNE-EN 12393-1 / 3 (61,62) and 

Directive 96 / 23 / EC (63). Two stock 

solutions of each of the specified pesticides 

will be prepared from commercial certified 

active ingredients coded by the laboratory, 

using acetonitrile as solvent. 

An internal standard (ISTD), Triphenyl 

phosphate, will be prepared from its 

commercial certified active material, also 

coded by the laboratory, using acetonitrile 

as a solvent in the same way. From this 

stock standard, a 1 ppm concentration is 

prepared, which will be the one added to 

each of the dilutions of the calibration line, 

to have a constant ISTD concentration of 

0.05 ppm in each of the points on the line. 

From said stock solutions, two 

multipatterns will be prepared in 

acetonitrile, the analytes of which will be 

found at a concentration of 1 ppm. 

With one of the multipatterns, dilutions 

with white matrix extracted in acetonitrile 

will be prepared, from which we will obtain 

the calibration line. 

The response factor (FR) of each point of 

the function will be calculated, according to 

the following expression: 

 
FR=(A_pesticide⁄AISTD)/(C_pesticide⁄CISTD) 

 

Next, the mean and coefficient of variation 

of the response factors obtained will be 

calculated, which must be ≤ 20%. 

Both the calibration line and the correlation 

coefficient, r, the FR, mean and coefficient 

of variation of said response factors are 

calculated by the Agilent Mass Hunter 

Workstation software. 

The minimum quantity of sample necessary 

to carry out the test will be 250g. 

The concentrations of the pesticides in the 

test sample will be calculated by 

introducing the ratio of areas between the 

active matter and the ISTD detected in the 

sample, in the calibration line. This process 

is carried out automatically by the 



 Food and Environment Safety - Journal of Faculty of Food Engineering, Ştefan cel Mare University - 
Suceava Volume XX, Issue 3  – 2021 

 

 
Francisco LORCA, David QUINTÍN, María-Dolores LÓPEZ, Presentación GARCÍA, Removal of toxic compounds 
from natural extracts using green techniques,  Food and Environment Safety, Food and Environment Safety, Volume 
XX, Issue 3 – 2021, pag. 289 – 297 

293 
 

equipment software, Agilent Mass Hunter 

Workstation. 

 

Statistical analysis 

All determinations and experiments were 

performed in triplicate andthe presented 

results are the average values of three 

determinations and standard deviation 

3. Results and Discussion 

Content of pesticides and organic 

compounds of interest in artichoke 

extract and lemon extract  

Table 1 presents thevalues of pesticides 

and organic compounds obtained in 

artichoke extracts. 

Table 1.  

Content of pesticides and organic compounds of interest in artichoke. 

Results are expressed as mean values of triplicates ± S.D. 

 

Compounds of interest (mg/kg) 

Chlorogenic acid 25359 ± 378 

Cynarine 19232 ± 138 

Pesticides (mg/kg) 

Azoxystrobin 0.42 ± 0.01 

Difenoconazole 12.2 ± 0.1 

Dimethoate 2.8 ± 0.1 

Metalaxyl 59.5 ± 1.6 

 

Table 1 shows that the artichoke extract 

has compounds of interest such as 

Caffeic Acid, Chlorogenic Acid and 

Cynarin.With respect to its pesticide 

content, the presence of azoxystrobin, 

difenoconazole, metalaxyl and 

dimethoate were detected. 

Table 2 presents the values of pesticides 

and organic compounds obtained in 

lemon extracts. Table 2 shows that the 

lemon extract has compounds of interest 

such as Hesperidin and Limonin.With 

respect toits pesticide content, the 

presence of Imazalil and 

Pyrimetanilwere detected. 

Table 2.  

Content of pesticides and organic compounds of interest in lemon extract. 

Results are expressed as mean values of triplicates ± S.D. 

 

Compounds of interest (mg/kg) 

Hesperidin 16478 ± 178 

Lemonin 2110 ± 44 

Pesticides (mg/kg) 

Imazalil 11.2 ± 0.5 

Pyrimetanil 1.3 ± 0.1 

Adsorption process 

In order to comparethe effectiveness of 

the different adsorbents, artichoke and 

lemon extract were treated with bio 

adsorbents, zeolite andactivated carbon. 

 

After performing the adsorption process 

for the reduction of pesticides with the 

different adsorbates using the procedure 

described above, different pesticides 



 Food and Environment Safety - Journal of Faculty of Food Engineering, Ştefan cel Mare University - 
Suceava Volume XX, Issue 3  – 2021 

 

 
Francisco LORCA, David QUINTÍN, María-Dolores LÓPEZ, Presentación GARCÍA, Removal of toxic 
compounds from natural extracts using green techniques,  Food and Environment Safety, Food and Environment 
Safety, Volume XX, Issue 3 – 2021, pag. 289 – 297 

294 
 

and compounds of interest were 

analized. 

Table 3 shows the values of pesticides 

and organic compounds of interest in 

artichoke extract after adsorption 

process with bio-adsorbents, activated 

carbon and zeolite adsorbents. 

 

 

 

Table 3.  

Content of pesticides and organic compounds of interest in artichoke 

Results are expressed as mean values of triplicates ± S.D. 

 

 No treatment Zeolite GAC Adsorbent 

Rice 

Adsorbent 

Almond 

Determination of Compounds Interest (mg/kg) 

Chlorogenic acid 25359 ± 378 22947 ± 316 18566 ± 122 24186 ± 178 21512 ± 164 

Cynarine 19232 ± 138 18394 ± 101 15081± 92 16654 ± 133 14914 ± 145 

Pesticide determination (mg/kg) 

Azoxystrobin 0.42 ± 0.01 0.32 ± 0.04 0.029 ± 0.01 0.53 ± 0.09 0.12 ± 0.03 

Difenoconazole 12.2 ± 0.1 10.5 ± 0.8 0.44 ± 0.11 6.7 ± 0.2 1.5 ± 0.1 

Dimethoate 2.8 ± 0.1 2.8 ± 0.1 1.1 ± 0.2 2.4 ± 0.3 2.2 ± 0.1 

Metalaxyl 59.5 ± 1.6 46.1 ± 1.3 2.5 ± 0.3 50.0 ± 2.5 25.4 ± 2.1 

 

Granular activated carbon was the most 

efficient adsorbate.Adsorbents from 

almond and rice by-product were 

effective. reducing in case of almond 

skin adsorbent by half the concentration 

of Metalaxyl and reducing a large 

amount of Azoxystrobin and 

Difenoconazole. Rice bio-adsorbent was 

less effective than the other adsorbates 

even though it was more effective than 

zeolite. partly reducing Difenoconazole 

and Metalaxyl. The artichoke extracts 

obtained preserved the compounds of 

interest in similar concentrations and 

pesticides were greatly reduced. 

Table 4 shows the values of pesticides 

and organic compounds of interest in 

lemon extract after adsorption process 

with bio-adsorbents. activated carbon 

and zeolite adsorbents. 

 

 

 

Table 4.  

Content of pesticides and organic compounds of interest in lemon extract. Results are 

expressed as mean values of triplicates ± S.D. 

 

 No treatment Zeolite GAC Adsorbent 

Rice 

Adsorbent 

Almond 

Determination of Compounds Interest (mg/kg) 

Hesperidin 16478 ± 178 15020 ± 

125 

16909 ± 82 15156 ± 96 16703± 120 

Limonin 2110 ± 44 1505 ± 38 958 ± 28 1486 ± 31 461 ± 11 

Pesticide determination (mg/kg) 

Imazalil 11.2 ± 0.5 5.9 ± 0.3 8.9 ± 0.2 6.8 ± 0.2 - 

Pyrimetanil 1.3 ± 0.1 1.5 ± 0.2 0.48 ± 0.03 1.0 ± 0.1 0.24 ± 0.06 

 



 Food and Environment Safety - Journal of Faculty of Food Engineering, Ştefan cel Mare University - 
Suceava Volume XX, Issue 3  – 2021 

 

 
Francisco LORCA, David QUINTÍN, María-Dolores LÓPEZ, Presentación GARCÍA, Removal of toxic 
compounds from natural extracts using green techniques,  Food and Environment Safety, Food and Environment 
Safety, Volume XX, Issue 3 – 2021, pag. 289 – 297 

295 
 

Almond bio-adsorbent was the most 

effective in completely eliminating 

Imazalil and greatly reduced 

Pyrimetanil. With respect to the other 

adsorbents used greatly reduced 

pesticides. The lemon extracts obtained 

preserved the compounds of interest in 

similar concentrations. 

4. Conclusion 

The use of agri-food waste allows 

solving not only an environmental 

problem of pollution of high 

importance. but also a problem of 

management of large amounts of waste 

generated in the agri-food industry 

contributing to the promotion of circular 

economy. In addition. the elimination of 

toxic compounds in extracts with large 

concentrations of compounds of interest 

is one of the key points for the use of 

these extracts in the food. nutraceutical 

and cosmetic industry due to the 

toxicity of these compounds to health. 

Two adsorbents have been developed 

from almond and rice by-products 

which are effective for the elimination 

of different toxic compounds through 

adsorption processes such as pesticides. 

recovering extracts containing 

compounds of interest by reducing the 

concentration of these toxic compounds. 

 

5. Acknowledgments 

This research was financially supported 

by Region of Murcia Development 

Agency. 

 

 

 

6. References 

[1]. SHIRAHIGUE. L.D.; CECCATO-

ANTONINI. S.R. Agro-industrial wastes as 
sources of bioactive compounds for food and 

fermentation industries. Cienc. Rural 2020. 50. 

50.  

[2]. MUÑOZ-JAUREGUI. A.M.; RAMOS-

ESCUDERO. F. Componentes fenólicos de la 

dieta y sus propiedades biomedicinales—

Phenolicscompoundsofthediet and 

hisbiomedicinalproperties. Horiz. Méd. 2007. 7. 

23–38. 

[3]. BATAGLION. G.A.; DA SILVA. 

F.M.A.; EBERLIN. M.N.; KOOLEN. H.H.F. 

Determination of the phenolic composition from 

Brazilian tropical fruits by UHPLC-MS/MS. 

Food Chem. 2015. 180. 280–287.  

[4]. BATAGLION. G.A.; DA SILVA. 

F.M.A.; EBERLIN. M.N.; KOOLEN. H.H.F. 

Simultaneous quantification of phenolic 

compounds in buriti fruit (Mauritia flexuosaL.f.) 

by ultra-high performance liquid 

chromatography coupled to tandem mass 

spectrometry. Food Res. Int. 2014. 66. 396–400.  

[5]. SONNANTE. G.; PIGNONE. D.; 

HAMMER. K. The Domestication of Artichoke 

and Cardoon: From Roman Times to the 

Genomic Age. Ann. Bot. 2007. 100. 1095–

1100.  

[6]. ABU-REIDAH. I.M.; ARRAEZ-

ROMAN. D.; SEGURA-CARRETERO. A.; 

FERNANDEZ-GUTIERREZ. A. Extensive 

characterisation of bioactive phenolic 

constituents from globe artichoke (Cynara 

scolymus L.) by HPLC-DAD-ESI-QTOF-MS. 

Food Chem. 2013. 141. 2269–2277.  

[7]. LATTANZIO. V.; KROON. P.A.; 

LINSALATA. V.; CARDINALI. A. Globe 

artichoke: A functional food and source of 

nutraceutical ingredients. J. Funct. Foods 2009. 

1. 131–144.  

[8]. EL-MESALLAMY. A.M.D.; ABDEL-

HAMID. N.; SROUR. L.; HUSSEIN. S.A.M. 

Identification of polyphenolic compounds and 

hepatoprotective activity of artichoke (Cynara 

scolymus L.) edible part extracts in rats. Egypt. 

J. Chem. 2020. 63. 2273–2285. 

 

 

 

 



 Food and Environment Safety - Journal of Faculty of Food Engineering, Ştefan cel Mare University - 
Suceava Volume XX, Issue 3  – 2021 

 

 
Francisco LORCA, David QUINTÍN, María-Dolores LÓPEZ, Presentación GARCÍA, Removal of toxic 
compounds from natural extracts using green techniques,  Food and Environment Safety, Food and Environment 
Safety, Volume XX, Issue 3 – 2021, pag. 289 – 297 

296 
 

[9]. SANCHEZ-RABANEDA. F.; 

JAUREGUI. O.; LAMUELA-RAVENTOS. 

R.M. Identification of phenolic compounds in 

artichoke waste by highperformance liquid 

chromatography—Tandem mass spectrometry. 

J. Chromatogr. A 2003. 1008. 57–72.  

[10]. PANDINO. G.; LOMBARDO. S.; 

MAUROMICALE. G. Globe artichoke leaves 

and floral stems as a source of bioactive 

compounds. Ind. Crop. Prod. 2013. 44. 44–49. 

[11]. ORLOVSKAYA. T.V.; LUNEVA. 

I.L.; CHELOMBIT’KO. V.A. Chemical 

composition of Cynara scolymus leaves. Chem. 

Nat. Compd. 2007. 43. 239–240. 

[12]. SHALLAN. M.A.; ALI. M.A.; 

MESHRF. W.A.; MARREZ. D.A. In vitro 

antimicrobial. antioxidant and anticancer 

activities of globe artichoke (Cynara 

cardunculus var. scolymus L.) bracts and 

receptacles ethanolic extract. Biocatal. Agric. 

Biotechnol. 2020. 29. 101774.  

[13]. KUKI´C. J.; POPOVI´C. V.; 

PETROVI´C. S.; MUCAJI. P.; CIRI´C. A.; 

STOJKOVI´C. D.; SOKOVI´C. M. Antioxidant 

and antimicrobial activity of ´ Cynara 

cardunculus extracts. Food Chem. 2008. 107. 

861–868. 

[14]. LATTANZIO. V.; KROON. P.A.; 

LINSALATA. V.; CARDINALI. A. Globe 

artichoke: A functional food and source of 

nutraceutical ingredients. J. Funct. Foods 2009. 

1. 131–144. [CrossRef]  

[15]. EL-MESALLAMY. A.M.D.; ABDEL-

HAMID. N.; SROUR. L.; HUSSEIN. S.A.M. 

Identification of polyphenolic compounds and 

hepatoprotective activity of artichoke (Cynara 

scolymus L.) edible part extracts in rats. Egypt. 

J. Chem. 2020. 63. 2273–2285. 

[16]. Aguilera. Y.; MARTIN-CABREJAS. 

M.A.; GONZALEZ DE MEJIA. E. Phenolic 

compounds in fruits and beverages consumed as 

part of the Mediterranean diet: Their role in 

prevention of chronic diseases. Phytochem. 

Rev. 2016. 15. 405–423. [CrossRef] 

[17]. SHEN. Q.; DAI. Z.; LU. Y. Rapid 

determination of caffeoylquinic acid derivatives 

in Cynara scolymus L. by ultra-fast liquid 

chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry 

based on a fused core C18 column. J. Sep. Sci. 

2010. 33. 3152–3158. [CrossRef]  

[18]. REJEB. I.B.; DHEN. N.; GARGOURI. 

M.; BOULILA. A. Chemical Composition. 

Antioxidant Potential and Enzymes Inhibitory 

Properties of Globe Artichoke By-Products. 

Chem. Biodivers. 2020. 17. e2000073.  

[19]. MÁRMOL. I.; QUERO. J.; JIMÉNEZ-

MORENO. N.; RODRÍGUEZ-YOLDI. M.J.; 

ANCÍN-AZPILICUETA. C. A systematic 

review of the potential uses of pine bark in food 

industry and health care. TrendsFoodSci. 

Technol. 2019. 88. 558–566. [CrossRef]  

[20]. CRUZADO. M.; CEDRÓN. J. 

Nutracéuticos. alimentos funcionales y su 

producción. Rev. Química PUCP 2012. 2. 33–

36. 

[21]. LEONEL. A.C.. BONAN. R.F.. 

PINTO. M.B.. KOWALSKI. L.P.. PEREZ. D.E. 

The pesticides use and the risk for head and 

neck cancer: a review of case-control studies. 

Med. Oral. Patol. Oral. 23962. (2020). 

[22]. HU. Y.. ZHANG. Y.. VINTURACHE. 

A.. WANG. Y.. SHI. R.. CHEN. L. Effects of 

environmental pyrethroids exposure on semen 

quality in reproductive-age men in Shanghai. 

China. Chemosphere. 245. 125580. (2020). 

[23]. BERRAZOUM. A.. MAROUF. R.. 

OUADJENIA. F.. SCHOTT. J.Bioadsorption of 

a reactive dye from aqueous solution by 

municipal solid waste. Biotechnology Reports. 

7. 44–50. (2015). 

[24]. MATEEN F.. JAVED I.. RAFIQUE 

U.. TABASSUM N.. SARFRAZ M.. SAFI SZ. 

New method for the adsorption of organic 

pollutants using natural zeolite incinerator ash 

(ZIA) and its application as an environmentally 

friendly and costeffective adsorbent. 

Desalination and Water Treatment. 57(14): 

6230-6238. (2016). 

[25]. MALLEK M.. CHTOUROU M.. 

PORTILLO M.. MONCLÚS H.. WALHA K.. 

BEN SALAH A. Granulated cork as biosorbent 

for the removal of phenol derivatives and 

emerging contaminants. Journal of 

Environmental Management. 223: 576-585. 

(2018). 

[26]. DROBEK M.. FIGOLI A.. SANTORO 

S.. NAVASCUÉS N.. MOTUZAS J.. SIMONE 

S.. ALGIERI C.. GAETA N.. QUERZE L.. 

TROTTA A.. BARBIERI G.. MALLADA R.. 

JULBE A.. DRIOLI E. (2015). PVDF-MFI 

mixed matrix membranes as VOCs adsorbers. 

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. V 207. 

pp 126-133. 

[27]. AL-QODAH Z.. SHAWAQFEH A.T. 

LAFI W.F. (2007). Adsorption of pesticides 



 Food and Environment Safety - Journal of Faculty of Food Engineering, Ştefan cel Mare University - 
Suceava Volume XX, Issue 3  – 2021 

 

 
Francisco LORCA, David QUINTÍN, María-Dolores LÓPEZ, Presentación GARCÍA, Removal of toxic 
compounds from natural extracts using green techniques,  Food and Environment Safety, Food and Environment 
Safety, Volume XX, Issue 3 – 2021, pag. 289 – 297 

297 
 

from aqueous solutions using oil shale ash. 

Desalination. V 208. I 1–3. pp 294-305.  

[28]. BERRAZOUM. A.. MAROUF. R.. 

OUADJENIA. F.. SCHOTT. J. (2015). 

Bioadsorption of a reactive dye from aqueous 

solution by municipal solid waste. 

Biotechnology Reports. 7. 44–50. 

[29]. MATEEN F.. JAVED I.. RAFIQUE 

U.. TABASSUM N.. SARFRAZ M.. SAFI SZ.. 

YUSOFF I.. ASRHAF M.. 2016. New method 

for the adsorption of organic pollutants using 

natural zeolite incinerator ash (ZIA) and its 

application as an environmentally friendly and 

costeffective adsorbent. Desalination and Water 

Treatment. 57(14): 6230-6238. 

[30]. MALLEK M.. CHTOUROU M.. 

PORTILLO M.. MONCLÚS H.. WALHA K.. 

BEN SALAH A.. SALVADÓ V.. 2018. 

Granulated cork as biosorbent for the removal 

of phenol derivatives and emerging 

contaminants. Journal of Environmental 

Management. 223: 576-585. 

[31]. GUPTA. K.. KUMAR. V.. TIKOO. 
K.B.. KAUSHIK. A.. SINGHAL. S.. 2020. 

Encrustation of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles 

into the matrix of biomass derived silanized 

cellulose nanofibers for adsorptive 

detoxification of pesticide and textile waste. 

Chem. Eng. J.385. 123700.