SUNFLOWER AND ALMOND BY-PRODUCTS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND BIOACTIVE POTENTIAL

Angela RUDACOVA,Angela PORT,Ala CHERDIVARA,Alexandra GASPAR-PINTILIESCU,Oana CRACIUNESCU,Universitatea de Stat din Moldova,Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Științe Biologice, București, România

Abstract

The by-products resulting from the processing of sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus L.) and almonds (Pru- nus dulcis) represent valuable plant resources with potential applications in agriculture, the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. This study provides a comparative analysis of the types of by-products, their biochemical composition, and associated biological effects. Literature results indicate that sunflower by-products are characteri- zed by a relatively homogeneous composition, with moderate concentrations of proteins and fibers, while cakes and hulls are valuable sources of phenolic acids, particularly chlorogenic acid. In comparison, almond by-products exhi- bit greater biochemical diversity, with the tegument and green hulls concentrating polyphenols, complex flavonoids, triterpenoids, and sterols, conferring a broad biological spectrum. Biological, agricultural, and technological factors significantly influence the biochemical profile of these by-products, and the optimization of extraction and valoriza- tion processes remains essential for the development of functional ingredients. The study emphasizes the importance of valorizing agro-industrial by-products within the framework of a circular economy. Keywords: biochemical composition, sunflower, almonds, bioactive compounds, by-product valorization. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59295/sum1(191)2026_32