Compost Tea as a Natural Bioactive Solution: Unlocking the Antimicrobial and Antiviral Potential of Bell Pepper and Citrus Wastes.

ABSTRACT: The growing demand for sustainable medical applications has sparked interest in the valorisation of agro-industrial waste for bioactive compounds. Compost teas (CTs) from agrifood waste, rich in phenolics and lignin derivatives, offer promising biological properties. This study analysed CTs from bell pepper (CT-BP) and citrus (CT-C) composted waste, assessing their antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial activities. NMR spectroscopy and thermochemolysis revealed that CT-BP had more oxidised lignin derivatives, while CT-C contained intact lignin structures. Both CTs effectively inhibited Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis), with CT-BP showing greater efficacy. However, Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were more resis

SUBMITTER: Verrillo MV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12841596 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature