Abstract

SANCHEZ-RANGEL, J.C.; BENAVIDES, J.  and  JACOBO-VELAZQUEZ, D.A.. Abiotic stress based bioprocesses for the production of high value antioxidant phenolic compound in plants: an overview. Rev. Mex. Ing. Quím [online]. 2014, vol.13, n.1, pp.49-61. ISSN 1665-2738.

Phenolic compounds (PC) are secondary metabolites produced by plants that have diverse applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, nutraceutical and food industries. Therefore, the design of bioprocesses for their production, extraction and purification is of major relevance. The application of postharvest abiotic stresses (i.e., wounding, modified atmospheres, UV radiation) can be used as an approach to increase the concentration of PC during postharvest of diverse plant tissues. Herein, we propose an abiotic stress based bioprocess for the production of high commercial value antioxidant PC. The strategy proposed was exemplified with experimental data showing how abiotic stresses can be applied to produce resveratrol and quercetin-3-O-glucoside in grapes, and chlorogenic acid in carrots. Finally, different procedures to extract and purify PC produced in the stressed plant tissue are discussed.

Keywords : abiotic stresses; phenolic compound; wounding; UV-C light; plant tissue; by-products; downstream processing.