Unlocking the biomedical potential of coffee pulp: Extraction methodologies and mechanistic insights of non-bean derivatives for health

Coffee pulp (CP), a major by-product of wet coffee processing, represents an underutilized biomass that contributes to environmental burden amid increasing global coffee production. Emerging evidence identifies CP as a rich reservoir of bioactive compounds, including chlorogenic acids (CGA), flavonoids, caffeine, and dietary fibers, with demonstrated antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antimetabolic, and anticancer activities. This review critically integrates current knowledge on the mechanistic basis of CP bioactivities highlighting reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, modulation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, improvement of insulin sensitivity, and disruption of microbial integrity together with a comparative evaluation of extraction technologies such as solid liquid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and fermentation. By systematically linking extraction strategies with compositional recovery and bioactivity outcomes, this review provides a mechanistically informed framework for valorizing CP as a sustainable functional ingredient in biomedical and nutraceutical applications. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd