Animal Science and Food Technology

Evaluation of the physicochemical composition of aqueous plant extracts

Taisia Ryzhkova, Olena Isayenko, Svitlana Danylenko, Valerii Bondarchuk, Iryna Heida
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Abstract

Despite the wide availability of raw materials, scientific data on the physicochemical properties of aqueous extracts of many promising plants remain limited. Most studies focus on alcoholic or combined extracts, whilst aqueous extracts are often considered only in the context of traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the protein and mineral composition of aqueous extracts from selected medicinal plants and to evaluate their potential as sources of functional ingredients for the food industry. Aqueous extracts were prepared from 12 types of plant materials, including Laminaria (Elamin), cherry leaves and twigs, liquorice root, rosemary leaves, dill (leaves and seeds), chamomile, angelica root, beggarticks, fireweed, and stevia, using the method developed by V. Filatov. The physicochemical analysis involved the determination of total protein, albumin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and zinc using a biochemical analyser. The results demonstrated significant variability in protein (1.31-17.54 g/L) and mineral content depending on the botanical origin of the raw materials. The highest protein concentrations were found in extracts from rosemary, stevia, beggarticks, and fireweed leaves. Laminaria extract showed the highest potassium content, whilst rosemary extract had the highest zinc content. Chamomile, angelica, and fireweed extracts also exhibited high levels of essential microelements, particularly phosphorus and zinc. All samples showed significantly higher concentrations of bioactive compounds compared to tap water, confirming the efficacy of the extraction method. The findings support the feasibility of using such extracts to enrich functional dairy products

Keywords

protein content; mineral composition; functional ingredients; functional dairy products; plant enrichment

Suggested citation
Ryzhkova, T., Isayenko, O., Danylenko, S., Bondarchuk, V., & Heida, I. (2026). Evaluation of the physicochemical composition of aqueous plant extracts. Animal Science and Food Technology, 17(2), 7-17. https://doi.org/10.31548/animal.2.2026.7
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