Current Green Chemistry - Volume 12, Issue 1, 2025

Concerns over environmental contamination have been raised by the use of non-biodegradable and non-renewable materials such as glass, plastics, and metals in packaging applications. With the goal of lessening the environmental impact of petroleum-based packaging materials, an extensive amount of research has been conducted to find alternative packaging materials. Due to their biodegradability, studies have shown that using bio-polymer-based materials can reduce the amount of packaging waste produced, which could partially address the issue of trash disposal. This review article is mainly focused on eco-friendly biodegradable material that can replace non-biodegradable pharmaceutical packaging material. These materials come from natural resources like proteins, carbohydrates, etc. that have negligible to no negative effects on the environment and organisms that depend on it. This article depicts how we can replace the existing non-biodegradable plastics with eco-friendly material as the use of pharmaceutical packaging material also plays a crucial role in the therapeutic performance of pharmaceutical products.

The study aims to discuss innovative extraction approaches as compared to available traditional methods to optimize the yield and quality of pectin by eco-friendly techniques and emphasizes purification and analytical techniques for quality toward sustainable development of pectin-based products. Pectin is a complex polysaccharide present in plants, forming a protective barrier and providing mechanical strength to the plant cell. Therefore pectin, a by-product of the food industry, can be an efficient waste valorization product for utilization in the food and pharmaceutical industry as a thickener, stabilizer, and gelling agent. Pectin complex chemistry provides a wide scope for modification of monomers that can alter the properties of pectin and thereby add to the varied applications of pectin enlisted in the review. The review synthesizes findings from meticulously conducted research investigations and authorized scholarly articles. Information retrieval used reputable academic search engines, including PubMed, Elsevier, and Bentham publications with keywords such as “pectin” “chemical modification of pectin”, “drug delivery”, “green methods” and “agro-industrial residues” for a comprehensive exploration. The comprehensive review delves into pectin chemistry and extraction methods, modification, and characterization techniques are discussed along with versatile applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and other industries. Pectin abundantly present in the outer coat or peels of fruits and vegetables has been the best example of a circular economy and has led to zero waste in agricultural industries. The review has elaborated modifications in pectin for its use as an excipient in the pharmaceutical industry, therapeutic use, targeted drug delivery, and food industries.

GAC is one of the crucial emerging platforms in the analytical field focusing on the environmental impact of various extraction procedures. There are various principles on which GAC is based, including the use of DESs, a miniaturized platform for extraction, the integration of extraction steps, operator safety, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing solvent wastage. Pesticide residue analysis is one of the most important factors affecting food safety and the health of society. Pesticides were used extensively to improve the production of crops and other food stuff, which is essential to meet the demands of society. This led to an accumulation of pesticide residues in various agricultural products, including fruits and vegetables, which are important to be detected and quantified. Different techniques were employed for extraction or sample preparation prior to detection by instrumental techniques, including GC, HPLC, and hyphenated techniques. Various software programs are available online to evaluate the greenness of any developed method, including GAPI, NEMI, Agree, AMVI, etc. This manuscript describes the impact of various extraction procedures like SPE, LLE, and TFME on sensitivity and extraction efficiency, along with the greenness evaluation used in the detection of pesticide residue in fruits and vegetables using Agree software.

Plant-aided biosynthesis of palladium nanoparticles is a necessity nowadays to avoid toxic chemicals used in the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles in traditional methods. Palladium nanoparticles are used as a catalyst in the Suzuki coupling reaction. Traditional synthesis of palladium nanoparticles uses harmful chemicals, reducing agents, and solvents, creating toxic byproducts. The Suzuki coupling reaction is a key step in the formation of C-C bonds in organic synthesis. The Suzuki coupling reaction has numerous applications in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, etc. So, there is scope for developing an environmentally friendly and low-cost palladium nanoparticle catalyst for the Suzuki coupling reaction that reduces environmental pollution. The traditional Suzuki coupling reaction requires expensive and toxic ligands, solvents, and bases and also produces toxic byproducts. In this review article, we focus on plant-assisted biosynthesis methods for the production of palladium nanoparticles and their applications for the Suzuki coupling reaction.