Valorización de residuos agroindustriales como fuente de antioxidantes y sus aplicaciones en la industria alimentaria: revisión sistemática (2021–2026)

Abstract

The valorization of agro-industrial waste has gained importance due to its potential as a source of antioxidant compounds and its contribution to environmental sustainability. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze scientific evidence published between 2021 and June 2026 regarding the recovery of antioxidants from agro-industrial by-products and their applications in the food industry. The methodology was based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines; searches were conducted in Scopus, SciELO, and ScienceDirect, ultimately resulting in the selection of 35 scientific articles. The results showed that fruit waste was the most frequently studied material. Phenolic compounds were the predominant substances, appearing in over 70% of the studies, followed by flavonoids and anthocyanins. Among sustainable extraction technologies, ultrasound-assisted extraction was the most common (40% of cases), followed by the use of green solvents and fermentation processes. The recovered compounds were applied in functional foods, enriched flours, natural preservatives, beverages, and biodegradable packaging. It is concluded that agro-industrial waste represents a promising source of natural antioxidants, fostering the circular economy by reducing waste and generating value-added products.