Advances in Extracting Bioactive Constituents From Medicago Sativa L. (Alfalfa): A Systematic Approach of Green and Conventional Techniques

Advances in Extracting Bioactive Constituents From Medicago Sativa L. (Alfalfa): A Systematic Approach of Green and Conventional Techniques Publisher

Joolaei Ahranjani P ; Rashidi Nodeh H ; Esfandiari Z ; Ferrentino G

Source: Applied Food Research Published:2026

Abstract

Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) is increasingly recognized as a rich source of health-promoting phytochemicals whose efficient, sustainable recovery remains technically challenging. This systematic review revises current extraction strategies and associated bioactive profiles, providing an evidence-based roadmap to obtain extracts valuable for the food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors. A PRISMA-guided search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (literature up to March 2025) yielded 80 eligible studies. These investigations collectively report 124 distinct bioactive constituents—classified into 13 chemotypes (alkaloids, amino-acid derivatives, carbohydrates, carotenoids, coumarins, coumestans, flavonoids, phenolics, pigments, saponins, sterols, terpenoids and vitamins)—isolated from alfalfa leaves, stems, roots or seeds. Extraction technologies were grouped as conventional (maceration, Soxhlet, hydrodistillation) or innovative (ultrasound-, microwave-, enzyme-, pulsed-electric-field and supercritical-fluid-assisted methods). Meta-comparison shows that innovative technologies—particularly ultrasound-assisted extraction, supercritical CO₂ (with ethanol as co-solvent) achieves equal or superior yields of key flavonoids, phenolics and triterpene saponins while reducing solvent consumption (30–90 %), energy use (40–70 %) and thermal degradation relative to conventional techniques. Copyright © 2026. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Style	Citing Format
MLA	Joolaei Ahranjani P, et al.. "Advances in Extracting Bioactive Constituents From Medicago Sativa L. (Alfalfa): A Systematic Approach of Green and Conventional Techniques." Applied Food Research, vol. 6, no. 1, 2026, pp. -.
APA	Joolaei Ahranjani P, Rashidi Nodeh H, Esfandiari Z, Ferrentino G (2026). Advances in Extracting Bioactive Constituents From Medicago Sativa L. (Alfalfa): A Systematic Approach of Green and Conventional Techniques. Applied Food Research, 6(1), -.
Chicago	Joolaei Ahranjani P, Rashidi Nodeh H, Esfandiari Z, Ferrentino G. "Advances in Extracting Bioactive Constituents From Medicago Sativa L. (Alfalfa): A Systematic Approach of Green and Conventional Techniques." Applied Food Research 6, no. 1 (2026): -.
Harvard	Joolaei Ahranjani P et al. (2026) 'Advances in Extracting Bioactive Constituents From Medicago Sativa L. (Alfalfa): A Systematic Approach of Green and Conventional Techniques', Applied Food Research, 6(1), pp. -.
Vancouver	Joolaei Ahranjani P, Rashidi Nodeh H, Esfandiari Z, Ferrentino G. Advances in Extracting Bioactive Constituents From Medicago Sativa L. (Alfalfa): A Systematic Approach of Green and Conventional Techniques. Applied Food Research. 2026;6(1):-.
BibTex	@article{ author = {Joolaei Ahranjani P and Rashidi Nodeh H and Esfandiari Z and Ferrentino G}, title = {Advances in Extracting Bioactive Constituents From Medicago Sativa L. (Alfalfa): A Systematic Approach of Green and Conventional Techniques}, journal = {Applied Food Research}, volume = {6}, number = {1}, pages = {-}, year = {2026} }
RIS	TY - JOUR AU - Joolaei Ahranjani P AU - Rashidi Nodeh H AU - Esfandiari Z AU - Ferrentino G TI - Advances in Extracting Bioactive Constituents From Medicago Sativa L. (Alfalfa): A Systematic Approach of Green and Conventional Techniques JO - Applied Food Research VL - 6 IS - 1 SP - EP - PY - 2026 ER -

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