A BIODIVERSIDADE COMO FONTE DE COMPOSTOS BIOATIVOS: MOLÉCULAS E APLICAÇÕES

Abstract

The present work "Biodiversity as a source of bioactive compounds: molecules and applications" brings together the literature review that covers the areas of Food Technology, Technological Chemistry, Chemistry of Natural Products, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology. It is composed of five chapters, in which the first two chapters focus on the definition, obtainment, stability, and benefits associated with bioactive compounds (carotenoids and phenolic compounds) obtained from plant sources. These chapters focus on the Brazilian biodiversity as a plant source of carotenoids and phenolic compounds. The first chapter describes the definition, application, and stability of carotenoids, as well as their availability in native fruits from the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga. The second chapter discusses phenolic compounds, flavonoids and anthocyanins, their chemical identity and native Atlantic Forest fruits that are considered sources of these compounds, as well as their beneficial effect on human health. The production of natural pigments by bioprocesses was contemplated in the third chapter, since this is a growing strategy as it allows obtaining compounds such as chlorophyll, phycobiliproteins and carotenoids in high demand and improved logistics. This chapter specifically dealt with chlorophyll from Spirulina platensis and carotenoids from Dunaliella salina. In the approach to essential oils, the fourth and fifth chapter of the work, emphasis was placed on the extraction, isolation, and in vitro testing of their potential against pathogens with or without the application of encapsulation technology. All this knowledge and experience demonstrated in the five chapters of this work is the result of the dedication to scientific research and discussions of the expertise of the group of researchers that compose the authorship of the chapters.