Plant-derived antioxidants: Biosynthesis, refining and applications

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Food Science
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Growing demand for health-promoting, plant-derived antioxidants (PDAs) as alternatives to synthetic antioxidants (SAs).
• PDAs possess significant health benefits, including immune boosting and scavenging reactive oxygen species.
• PDAs are crucial in preventing chronic diseases like neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in PDAs, covering classification, sources, and antioxidant properties.
• To summarize the functional applications of PDAs in food and biomedicine.
• To highlight strategies for overcoming challenges in PDA extraction and industrial application.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on recent research in PDA classification, biosynthesis, regulation, extraction, and refining.
• Analysis of PDA applications as food additives and biomedicines.
• Exploration of emerging technologies like synthetic biology and nano-delivery for PDA development.

Main Results:

• PDAs exhibit antioxidant, coloring, and preservative effects, enhancing food quality and shelf-life.
• PDAs demonstrate therapeutic potential in treating NDDs, viral diseases, CVDs, diabetes, and cancers.
• Challenges in PDA production include low abundance, impurities, and instability during isolation.

Conclusions:

• PDAs offer a safer and effective alternative to SAs in both food and healthcare industries.
• Integration of synthetic biology, green purification, and nano-delivery can address industrial challenges.
• PDAs provide novel strategies for chronic disease prevention through multi-target regulation of oxidative stress.