Review on Novel Approach to Food Shelf Life Extension: Fruit Peel Polyphenols as Eco-Friendly Photosensitizers

Polyphenols, a group of phytochemicals, have a vast spectrum of biological activities, including activities against microbes and photosensitizing properties. Their antimicrobial activity is attributed to mechanisms, including the disruption of the membrane, enzyme binding and disruption of microbial signaling pathways. Photosensitizers of polyphenols plays significant role in photodynamic therapy in generating reactive species after light activation, showing a marked ability to target microorganism and cancer cells. Because of the bio functional character of polyphenols, they are, in principle, effective players as medicines, food and environmental purposes. This review highlights the chemical diversity of polyphenols, their interactions with microbial systems, and their photodynamic properties, providing insights into their potential applications in combating antibiotic resistance and improving photodynamic therapies. The presentation also addresses the problems and directions of the future applications of polyphenols in these new functions.