Beyond natural aromas: The bioactive and technological potential of monoterpenes

Autor(es)

Paulino, Bruno N. ; Silva, Gloria N. S. ; Araujo, Fabio F. ; Neri-Numa, Iramaia A. ; Pastore, Glaucia M. ; Bicas, Juliano L. ; Molina, Gustavo

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY; v. 128, p. 14-pg., 2022-08-26.

Resumo

Background: Monoterpenes are natural aroma compounds that can be found in plants and processed foods, being used as flavoring agents in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industry. Essential oils are liquid mixtures of volatile and semi-volatile compounds, mainly monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, from plant secondary meta-bolism and have showed great diversity in terms of chemical composition. Several in vitro and in vivo biological properties have been reported to these compounds demonstrating that may be useful, not only as aroma com-pounds, but also as bioactive molecules due to different biological activities such as antimicrobial and antioxi-dant. In this sense, these compounds have been employed for functional and technological purposes, including in diet supplementation, as animal feed additives, bioactive food packing development, and bioinsecticides. Scope and approach: In this review are highlighted the main concepts regarding monoterpenes and monoterpene-rich essential oils (MREO) as well as their biological activities and applications. A critical approach based on the analysis and discussion of the most relevant studies on these substances is used. In this sense, the influence of chemical features in the biological activities are analyzed as well as the safety and toxicological concerns are discussed. Additionally, the functional and technological applications of monoterpenes and MREO are high-lighted and discussed. Key findings and conclusions: The profile of biological activities is relevant to guide the use of monoterpenes and MREO for health or technological purposes. The knowledge of the physicochemical properties, through in silico drug-likeness study, and the correlation with the structural characteristics can be considered as important tools to understand the biological activities these compounds and consequently their applications. Thus, monoterpenes or MREO have been employed as additives in animal feed, in the manufacture of bioactive food packaging, as nutraceutical in diet supplementation, and as biocontrol agent for agri-food purpose demonstrating their versatility of application in food industry and related sectors. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/21619-7 - Avaliação das propriedades biológicas de produtos da biotransformação do limoneno
• Beneficiário: Juliano Lemos Bicas
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 20/06814-3 - ENZITERP: biotransformações enzimáticas de terpenos para a produção de bioaromas
• Beneficiário: Juliano Lemos Bicas
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 20/15163-6 - Determinação da composição química, bioacessibilidade e avaliação das atividades antidiabéticas e prebióticas dos frutos de Xique-Xique (Pilosocereus gounellei) e Mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru)
• Beneficiário: Fábio Fernandes de Araújo
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado