The search for natural, sustainable, and efficient sources of bioactive compounds has intensified in recent years due to the rising demand for functional foods and nutraceuticals. Underutilized plants, often referred to as orphan or neglected crops, represent a vast yet largely untapped reservoir of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids, saponins, and dietary fibers with significant health-promoting potential. However, the recovery of these compounds is often limited by the complexity of plant cell wall structures, which restricts accessibility and reduces extraction efficiency when conventional solvent-based methods are applied. Enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) has emerged as a promising green technology that overcomes these limitations by employing hydrolytic enzymes, such as cellulases, pectinases, hemicellulases, and proteases, to selectively degrade cell wall polymers and release bound metabolites.EAE offers several advantages over traditional extraction methods, including higher yields, improved selectivity, reduced solvent and energy requirements, and better preservation of the structural integrity and bioactivity of target compounds. Applications of EAE in underutilized plants include the extraction of polyphenols from Moringa and Amaranthus leaves, carotenoids from wild fruits, dietary fibers from baobab, and protein hydrolysates from legumes, all of which can be incorporated into functional food formulations. The technique also allows valorization of agricultural residues and wild edible plants, contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable food systems. Despite its potential, challenges remain in the large-scale application of EAE, including the high cost of enzymes, variability in phytochemical content among plant species and growing conditions, lack of standardized extraction protocols for neglected crops, and regulatory concerns regarding enzyme residues in food products. Computational modeling and artificial intelligence are expected to aid in process optimization, while policy support is needed to promote the use of underutilized plants in functional food industries. Overall, enzyme-assisted extraction represents a powerful, eco-friendly strategy to unlock the nutritional and therapeutic potential of underutilized plants, supporting the development of innovative functional foods and contributing to global food security and sustainable health solutions.
