Metabolites as bioactive, Indonesia

Project name:  Valorization of Selected Exotic Fruits Pomace as a source of Bioactive Compounds and Functional Food Product Development to Contribute to SME (Small Medium Enterprise) Productivity

Project location: Indonesia

Project description:

The consumption of fruit is not just for a taste and also consumer’s personal preference, but it has become a concern of a health due to the fruit nutrient contents. Several essential nutrients, most in the fruits feature considerable amounts of micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fibers and other secondary metabolites as bioactive compounds (Metafa & Economou, 2013). This evidence showed the importance of several nutrients in fruits for human health. Consumption fruits rich in several bioactive compounds associated with a reduced of several non-communicable diseases as certain types of cancer, inflammation cardiovascular diseases, cataracts, macular degeneration and also neurodegenerative disease. Recently consumption of tropical fruit is increasing on domestic and also international markets due to growing recognition of its nutritional and also therapeutic value. In Indonesia several underexploited native and exotic fruit species of potential interest to the agroindustry and a possible future source of income for the local population. These several exotic fruits represent an opportunity for local growers especially to gain access to special markets where consumers lay emphasis on exotic character and the presence of nutrients for preventing several non-communicable diseases. On the other hand, there is also the potential use of these several exotic and tropical fruit pulps and their by-products to isolate specific phytochemicals as bioactive compounds for application in nutraceutical supplements, dietary additives, new food and pharmaceutical products, contributing to the recovery of agro-industrial process waste. So that the identification of and also quantification of several bioactive compounds in pulps and by-product of exotic fruit are most importance to substantiate and contribute their potential health benefits in human nutrition. The purpose of the research is to investigate several tropical fruits with their nutritional values and also to provide selected information to promote several by-product from selected tropical fruits.

Goal and purpose of the project:

The aim of our research is focusing on the use of food waste coming from exotic fruits by-products, screening ofr different bioactive compounds in food waste, and also isolation of crude enzymes from selected pomace with carotenoid-cleavage activities that can be applied for natural flavor production.

Motivation of the applicant / applicant team:

I am a junior lecturer in one of state university in Indonesia. As a lecturer, we are inherently of a professional nature and are wide ranging. They include direct teaching, tutorial guidance to students’ learning, research and other forms of scholarly activity, curriculum development, educational management and administration, participation in the democratic processes of the institution (committee membership etc.), participation in quality assurance procedures.
Indonesia is one of developing countries that are still facing several issues, especially food security and food safety. Food security and food safety are two key points which contribute to prosperity in one nation. Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards. Food can transmit disease from person to person as well as serve as a growth medium for bacteria that can cause food poisoning. As one of developing countries, we still have to give so much effort for food security and food safety in our nation.
I really interest to join the seminar “youforG20 Reserch Grant“, since Indonesia is one of developing country and we are try to enhance knowledge in this field to support food safety and food security. By joining this grant , I hope that I can broad my knowledge regarding several aspect and can get more information about how to face several problems related to this topic in Indonesia. And I hope that I can increase my networking so hopefully by this cooperation we can make future collaboration
 

Use of prize money:

For supporting research and community development