Mapping bioactive response pathways to cold plasma processing in food matrices: mechanisms, hybrid processing, and...

Cold plasma-assisted extraction (CPAE) is a promising non-thermal technology for the efficient recovery of bioactive compounds from complex food matrices. By generating reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), ultraviolet (UV) photons, and electric fields at temperatures near ambient, CPAE can selectively disrupt cellular walls and permeabilize membranes, avoiding thermal degradation of heat-sensitive compounds. This review critically synthesizes recent advances in CPAE, emphasizing interaction mechanisms between plasmas and food matrices, process parameter-response relationships, and matrix-dependent outcomes across fruits, vegetables, cereals, animal-derived foods, and agri-food waste. A comparative analysis against conventional and emerging extraction methods highlights the potential of CPAE for enhanced extraction yields (up to 2-5-fold increases reported for phenolic compounds and anthocyanins), reduced solvent consumption (by up to 50% in some applications), and improved sustainability. Emerging hybrid strategies that integrate plasma with ultrasound, pulsed electric fields, microwaves, enzymes, natural deep eutectic solvents, membrane processes, and fermentation are examined for their ability to improve extraction selectivity and performance. Analytical issues, validation, and potential risks of chemical modification are discussed. Finally, the scalability, regulation, and perspective of CPAE are addressed, demonstrating its potential as a major tool for developing sustainable, circular, and clean-label food ingredients.