Valorization of Selected Plant Raw Materials and Processing By-Products Commonly Found in Georgia Using Circular Economy Principles

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the chemical composition of several endemic plant species of Georgia, including Prunus laurocerasus, Senecio platyphyllus, Rhododendron L., Juglans regia, as well as residues generated during wine production from different grape varieties, using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with various detection systems (UPLC-PDA-MS, Waters UPLC Acquity QDa). For each raw material, environmentally friendly (“green”) technologies were developed for the production of biologically active compound preparations using supercritical water extraction (SWE) with different cosolvents. The bioactive compound profiles of each raw material were investigated, and protocols for their identification and standardization based on active constituents were developed. The proposed technologies ensure not only the production of valuable preparations from the studied raw materials but also the almost complete valorization of production residues generated during processing. The antioxidant activities of the obtained preparations were evaluated, and correlations between antioxidant potential and the content of biologically active compounds were established.