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Solid-state fermentation as a strategy for improvement of bioactive properties of the plant-based food resources

Summary

This review explains how fermentation—a natural biological process—can enhance the health-promoting compounds in plant-based foods. By using specific fungi and bacteria on solid plant materials, scientists can increase beneficial antioxidants and proteins that may help prevent chronic diseases. This method is more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than traditional extraction techniques, making nutritious plant foods even healthier.

Background

Plant-based materials contain bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds and peptides that have significant health-promoting potential. However, these compounds are present in low concentrations and often in inactive forms within plant tissues, limiting their therapeutic effects. Solid-state fermentation offers a promising alternative to traditional extraction methods for enhancing bioactive compound production.

Objective

This review examines solid-state fermentation as a bioprocess strategy to enhance the generation and recovery of bioactive compounds from plant-based materials. It comprehensively covers the production of both phenolic compounds and nitrogenous bioactive compounds through solid-state fermentation, with emphasis on the biorefinery concept for multi-product recovery.

Results

Solid-state fermentation effectively enhances phenolic content through enzyme production and lignin degradation, and improves protein digestibility through protease secretion. Fungi such as Aspergillus oryzae, Rhizopus species, and white-rot fungi demonstrate superior capability for bioactive compound production. Multiple case studies demonstrate increased total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and improved protein hydrolysis across various plant substrates.

Conclusion

Solid-state fermentation represents a superior bioprocess strategy compared to conventional extraction methods for enhancing bioactive properties of plant-based resources. The process simultaneously produces multiple valuable metabolites including enzymes, phenolic compounds, and bioactive peptides, making it particularly valuable within a biorefinery framework for sustainable production of health-promoting compounds.
  • Published in:Bioresour Bioprocess,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 41335307
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