Agroindustrial Plant Wastes: Novel Source of Antimicrobial Peptides

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained attention of the researchers not only because of their efficiency against pathogenic bacteria, but also, because their multiple action mechanisms which makes them less susceptible to the development of bacterial resistance. The main sources where AMPs have been obtained are mammalian, amphibian, insects, microorganisms, and plants, however, these sources present different disadvantages among them complex treatment of samples, leading to costs that can be up to ten times more expensive compared to sources such as plant waste. This complexity often makes the use of conventional sources challenging due to the infrastructure required for the extraction and distribution of AMPs, complicating development and maintenance. In addition to high costs, conventional sources of AMPs contribute a significant environmental footprint, including carbon emissions and biological waste generation. They also tend to have short-lived samples, as well as low yields. In this regard, agroindustrial plant wastes have been explored with the aim of considering them as valuable sources of AMPs. Several raw materials such as bark, stalks, leaves, pods, roots, pellets, fruit peels to pulps and seeds have been studied and their use represents less costs following principles of circular economy. Nevertheless, AMPs from agroindustrial wastes also represent some challenges such as selection of purification methods, toxicity, efficacy of biomolecules produced, and the specific type of AMP obtained. Despite these challenges, the potential benefits of using agroindustrial plant wastes as AMPs sources warrant further research to address these drawbacks and enhance their applications. For these reasons, the aim of this review was to highlight the main plant wastes where AMPs have been obtained while discussing their advantages, challenges, and opportunities for improving extraction processes, purification methods, sustainability practices, economic impact, and practical applications.