Böcker i Food Bioactive Ingredients-serien

Plant bioactive compounds are plant-based natural products that display a variety of pharmacological applications. These bioactive compounds are important as medicines, pigments and flavorings since most of the pharmaceutical industries are highly dependent on medicinal plants and their extraction. The types and concentrations of bioactive compounds produced by plants are determined by the species, genotype, physiology, developmental stage and environmental factors during growth, determining the physiological adaptive responses employed by various plant taxonomic groups in coping with the stress and defensive stimuli. In the past two decades there has been a renewed interest in the study of conventional aspects such as elicitors and biotic and abiotic stress factors that influence secondary metabolism during in vitro and in vivo growth of plants. the application of molecular biology tools and techniques are facilitating increased understanding of the signaling processes and pathwaysinvolved in the bioactive compounds production in subcellular, cellular, organ and whole plant systems during in vivo and in vitro growth, with application in the metabolic engineering of biosynthetic pathways intermediates. Biosynthesis and Manipulation of Bioactive compounds in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants provides a comprehensive introduction and review of the state-of-the-art biotechnological tools used in enhancement of bioactive compounds in medicinal and aromatic plants. Readers will find a systematic overview of techniques such as Omics, Crisper /Cas9 and RNAi to enhance plant bioactive contents including various in vitro techniques, hairy root culture and transgenic technology to enhance plant bioactive contents using plant tissue culture approaches. The chapters provide an overview of the role of induced mutation, biotic and abiotic stress to increase the bioactive contents in plants, plus the role of endophytes to enhance the contents of plant bioactive compounds and standard operating procedures using hydroponics system of cultivation for significant enhancement of bioactive compounds.This book serves as a single source for researchers working in plant secondary metabolites and the pharmaceutical industry.

Bioactive compounds in food, known for their positive health effects, can be lost during handling after harvest, processing and storage. While most foods are exposed to processing to increase shelf life and edibility and to ensure microbial safety, conventional processing methods may have disadvantages, such as decreasing the nutritional quality of foods, long processing times, high temperature and high energy uses. For these reasons, novel non-thermal food processing technologies (including HPP, ultrasound) and novel thermal food processing technologies (including microwave/Ohmic heating) have become widespread.This book provides a critical evaluation of the effects of conventional, novel non-thermal, and thermal food processing techniques on the retention and bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds in food materials. Within these three categories, many different processing methods are included: fermentation/germination, drying, extrusion, and modified atmosphere packaging, as well as novel technologies, such as microwave heating, ultrasound, high pressure processing, ozonation, and membrane separation processes. 

Valuable progress has been made in food packaging over the past two decades, reflecting advancements in process efficiency, improved safety and quality throughout the supply chain, and the need to reduce product loss and environmental impact. A new generation of food packaging systems, including active and intelligent packaging, is emerging, based on technological breakthroughs that offer the possibility of extending shelf-life, reducing food loss, and monitoring changes in the food product.Releasing Systems in Active Food Packaging closely examines such a technological breakthrough, active releasing systems, which add compounds such as antimicrobials, antioxidants, flavors, colorants, and other ingredients to packaged food products. Chapters detail examples of recent innovations in active releasing systems, and the authors systematically address their application to different food groups. Such an in-depth approach makes this a useful reference researchers, health professionals, and food and packaging industry professionals interesting in innovative food packaging technologies. 

Most bioactive compounds have antioxidant activity, particularly tocochromanols, phenolics (flavonoids and phenolic acids), methylxantines and capsaicinoids.

Special emphasis is placed on the antioxidant activity of the carriers being the key advantage of these emulsion-based systems.The main aim of the book is to inspire and to guide fellow scientists and students in this field.