Recent advances in the enzymatic synthesis of lipophilic antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds

Abstract

Due to the increase in the consumption of highly processed food in developed countries, as well as, a growing number of foodborne diseases, exploration of new food additives is an issue focusing on scientific attention and industrial interest. Functional compounds with lipophilic properties are remarkably desirable due to the high susceptibility to the deterioration of lipid-rich food products. This paper in a comprehensive manner provides the current knowledge about the enzymatic synthesis of lipophilic components that could act as multifunctional food additives. The main goal of enzymatic lipophilization of compounds intentionally added to food is to make these substances soluble in lipids and/or to obtain environmentally friendly surfactants. Moreover, lipase-catalyzed syntheses could result in changes in the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, amino acids (oligopeptides), and carboxylic acids. The review describes also the implementation of a new trend in green chemistry, where apart from simple and uncomplicated chemical compounds, the modifications of multi-compound mixtures, such as phenolic extracts or essential oils have been carried out.

Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis, Antioxidant Activity, Antimicrobial Properties and Molecular Docking Studies of Butyl Dihydrocaffeate

“…Enzymes can act in mild conditions, but they are still active in high temperatures and in organic solvents. One of the twelve principles of green chemistry indicates the preference for catalytic reactions, and moreover, enzymes are biodegradable and in comparison with chemical catalysts cause lower energy consumption, less pollution, and produce fewer by-products [ 7 , 9 ].…”

“…The basic enzymatic method of modification of phenolic compounds is their esterification with the use of lipases. In many cases, the esterification of chemical compounds apart from improving their solubility in organic environments ameliorates their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties [ 8 , 9 ].…”

The Use of Immobilised Enzymes for Lipid and Dairy Processing and Their Waste Products: A Review of Current Progress

“…Lipase, a widely studied enzyme, stands out as a key biocatalyst in this context (Table 5). Immobilised lipases can hydrolyse the triglycerides present in the lipid-rich waste, breaking them down into valuable fatty acids and glycerol [179]. This process not only facilitates the conversion of lipid waste into potentially valuable materials for various applications but also reduces the environmental burden of untreated lipid wastes [180].…”

Dihydrocaffeic Acid—Is It the Less Known but Equally Valuable Phenolic Acid?

“…The main goal of lipophilization should be to increase compounds' solubility in organics, but simultaneously, very frequently, their biological activity changes. Moreover, enzymatic reactions in comparison to conventional chemical processes are more environmentally friendly, which is due to less energy consumption and waste generation [62,63]. Examples of such modifications relating to dihydrocaffeic acid are shown below, and the chemical structures of the described derivatives are presented in Figure 4.…”