Valorization of Tomato Leaves: Optimization of Eco-Friendly Phenolic Extraction and Assessment of Biological Activities

Tomato leaves, typically discarded during harvest, are a rich yet underutilized source of bioactive compounds. This study aimed to valorize tomato leaves by optimizing the extraction of their phenolic compounds using a water-based method and response surface methodology. The optimal conditions, notably heating a mixture of 1:50 solid-to-liquid ratio at 71 ◦C for 29 min, yielded the most total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The biological activities of the lyophilized tomato leaf...