Sustainable production of betanin-rich extracts from Beta vulgaris leaves in SETIS® Bioreactor

Beta vulgaris (beetroot) is a valuable source of phytochemicals, in particular betanin, which are increasingly studied for their potential health and industrial applications. In this study, B. vulgaris shoot explants were successfully cultivated in vitro using SETIS temporary immersion bioreactor, producing biomass and an efficient metabolite accumulation. The biomass showed vigorous and rapid growth in this system, confirming the suitability of the SETIS bioreactor for B. vulgaris cultivation. Unlike most studies that focus on the root juice, this work employs an extract obtained from leaves, which are a less explored but faster-to-grow source of bioactive compounds. The extracts obtained from the leaves showed a high content of betanin, as confirmed by preliminary phytochemical analyses. Furthermore, antioxidant activity assessed through the ABTS assay revealed a remarkable radical scavenging capacity. Notably, both betanin content and antioxidant activity were similar or higher to values reported in the literature. Furthermore, the SETIS bioreactor system offers a scalable, rapid, and reproducible platform for the sustainable production of B. vulgaris biomass rich in highvalue compounds, supporting its application in the development of natural antioxidant ingredients for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. “Funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, Project ANASTASIA (Applicazione delle NAnotecnologie per l’incremento Sostenibile della sTAbilità di prodotti del Settore cosmetica e Analitico), CUP: B89J23001360005, Prog n. F/310253/05/X56”