Full use of andiroba for technological prospecting of biomolecules for potential applications

• Grant number: 23/05455-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Acordo de Cooperação: CONFAP - National Council of State Research Support Foundations
• Principal Investigator: Rosiane Lopes da Cunha
• Grantee: Priscila Dayane de Freitas Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos (FEA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/10347-7 - Biorefinery of Amazonian fruit: an approach to intensify the recovery of essential oils, bioactive molecules and high-value products to amplify the economic and social impact for producers in Pará, AP.R

Abstract

Andiroba (Carapa guianensis Aubl.) is a plant from the Amazon rainforest, mainly explored for oil extraction, which is well recognized for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticide properties, but it is poorly studied regarding the potential applications of its co-products. In addition, the oil extracted from andiroba seeds presents low oxidative stability, so it is necessary to employ extraction processes that cause minimal degradation and/or the use of delivery systems in order to preserve its functional properties. On the other hand, andiroba co-products have not been fully characterized and studied, and are sources of interesting macromolecules for a range of applications, including proteins and polysaccharides. Such macromolecules have high technological potential to be used as thickening agents, emulsion stabilizers, ingredients for production of composite biodegradable films, and as carrier materials of delivery systems containing bioactive compounds for incorporation into food products, cosmetics, and drugs. In this sense, the use of biorefinery and circular economy approaches to aggregate value to andiroba oil and co-products is a great opportunity to enable the cited applications and to promote social and economic development of the Amazon region in a sustainable way. Thus, the aim of this project is the full use of andiroba fruits, through the recovery and characterization/identification of components with technological and functional potential to develop high added value products. (AU)