A Better Destination for Food Industry Waste: An Assessment of the Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Extracts for Wound Care Applications

In this study, natural extracts derived from food industry wastes were evaluated for their effectiveness against microorganisms commonly associated with wound infections ( Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermidis , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Malassezia furfur ). Extracts from orange, mango, apple, grape, and coffee peels, as well as melon seeds, exhibited no antimicrobial activity against the four tested microorganisms. Mango leaf and spent coffee grounds inhibited only S. epidermidis , while lime peel was active just against S. aureus . In contrast, guava leaf and pomegranate peel extracts showed the most promising antimicrobial effects, with activity against S. aureus , S. epidermidis , and M. furfur. Among them, pomegranate peel extract stood out, presenting the lowest MIC and MBC, which was associated with its higher TPC than the other extracts. The pomegranate peel hydroethanolic extract presented ellagic acid (13.75 ± 0.33 mg/g dry matter) as the predominant phenolic compound, which was associated with its higher antimicrobial activity. Thus, COSMO‐RS was employed to screen green solvents for the enhanced extraction of ellagic acid, aiming to improve antimicrobial activity against the four microorganisms tested. The simulations enabled the screening of green extraction solvents based on the CHEM21 list, that is, ethanol, acetone, and isopropyl alcohol, along with a 20% water content ( v / v ) in each. The resulting extracts, acquired with acetone–water sequential extraction (PM‐AC50), isopropyl alcohol 80% sequential extraction (PM‐ISOT), and acetone 80% sequential extraction (PM‐ACOT), presented higher antimicrobial activities, especially against P. aeruginosa and S. epidermidis , demonstrating promising potential for wound treatment. The computational predictions by COSMO‐RS revealed to be a useful tool to select solvents aiming to alter the composition of extracted compounds and, consequently, the functionality of natural extracts. Consequently, this allows an alignment of environmental, technological, and economic concerns with the extraction process. Furthermore, this study evidenced pomegranate peels, an agroindustrial by‐product, as a promising option for obtaining a high‐value‐added antimicrobial product.