PANACEA
Pleurotus residues as an alternative for customized Advanced Nutraceuticals source .
♦ Funding Entity: Program for the promotion of partnership in actions of research and development+i between Autonomous Communities. Complementary Agrifood Plan - Agroalnext.
♦ ♦ researcher principal: Dr. Paula Aranaz Oroz
Edible mushrooms have received increasing attention as they constitute a great source of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and proteins. In particular, certain polysaccharides present in mushrooms, the β-glucans, for which a great variety of health properties have been described. The growing knowledge of the health properties of certain mushrooms has led to an increase in their production and consumption, but also to an increase in the waste generated by the industry (the substrate containing the mycelia and peduncles or feet, mainly).
Among the most cultivated species, several species of the genus Pleurotus stand out, whose β-glucans have been described as potential bioactives for the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals against metabolic diseases.
However, the functional activity of these β-glucans depends on their structure Chemistry (molecular weight, Degree branching, types of linkages), at the same time influenced by the extraction method. Therefore, it is essential to know the relationship between the structure of these polysaccharides and their beneficial properties, in addition to achieving sustainable production.
The project PANACEA (Pleurotus Residues as Alternative Advanced Nutraceuticals source ) aims to use mushroom by-products to obtain β-glucans with healthy properties for development as nutraceutical ingredients of high quality added value, and at the same time be sustainable and accessible to the population.
To this end, it proposes a circular Economics strategy to revalue fungal by-products by combining different research technologies among the participating centers.
1- Optimize mushroom cultivation in bioreactors to improve their polysaccharide composition.
2- Optimization of β-glucan extraction from mushroom and mycelia residues.
3- Structural and functional characterization of the extracts obtained.
4- assessment security of the extracts.
5- Characterization of functionality against obesity / metabolic syndrome.
6- Dissemination and publication of results.
7- Consolidation of the partnership among AGROALNEXT groups to strengthen the links between Autonomous Communities.
Funding:
