Production of immunostimulants for acquaculture through extraction and encapsulation of bioactives found in mango peel

• Grant number: 24/11121-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Support Program for Fixating Young Doctors
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Agreement: CNPq
• Principal Investigator: Wanderley Pereira Oliveira
• Grantee: Guilherme Henrique Alves Pinto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/01880-9 - Production of immunostimulants for acquaculture through extraction and encapsulation of bioactives found in mango peel, AP.R

Abstract

Mango peels have a high potential for reuse due to the presence of several phenolic compounds, such as mangiferin and quercetin, which possess immunostimulating and antioxidant properties. Aiming at the use and valorization of this by-product, this project aims to evaluate the feasibility of obtaining products rich in phenolic compounds with high antioxidant capacity and to evaluate their potential as a fish food supplement, aiming to improve the immune response and reduce the demand for medicines. The proposal will be developed in a few stages, starting with the processing of mango peels; development of methods for the determination and extraction of compounds of interest, including mangiferin, quercetin, and total phenolic compounds; drying the extract using both a spray dryer and freeze drying, with a comparison of the equipment performance; micro and nanoencapsulation techniques will then be employed for the effective retention of mangiferin and quercetin; characterization of encapsulated compounds regarding morphology, humidity, and phenolic content; assessments of the antioxidant potential; evaluation of the in vitro antibacterial activity of bioactive compounds; incorporation of bioactives into animal feed; finally, the assessment of immunomodulatory properties in tilapia exposed to infections. Each stage will be conducted with due technical and scientific rigor, utilizing experimental planning and multi-response analysis techniques. This proposal is included in the Research Aid - Thematic entitled "Desafio do uso de medicamentos na piscicultura no contexto One Health: avaliação da eficácia, segurança e análise de risco" with the purpose of adding the reuse of agro-industrial waste to the results obtained within the improvement in the immune response of fish with the use of medicines. (AU)