Extraction Methods of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Its Use in Foods and Evaluation in Food Supplement Field

Abstract

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) have come to the fore in the last two decades with the increasing interest of consumers in natural nutrition and life. Turkey has an important place in terms of MAPs thanks to its geographical location, climate, and plant diversity. MAPs, which show a wide variety, are available in various forms (whole, ground, powder, extract (liquid extract), extract (dry extract), hydrosol or essential oils) due to their flavor, odor, taste, antimicrobial, antioxidant and therapeutic effects. Due to the secondary metabolites in their composition, their use as a functional food ingredient and food supplement besides medicine and pharmacy is also important. In recent years, globalization, urbanization, changing living conditions and divergence of nutritional habits have led consumers to supplementary foods. Necessary regulations have been made in this field with the use of more MAPs in the food supplements market. In this review, some information about MAPs and their use in the production of food supplements are included.