SMARTHEALTH: chemical composition and bioactive potential of native fruits and edible fungi

Abstract

SMARTHEAL TH will provide the Brazilian and Chilean efficient use of natural resources that add-value and minimize waste. Considering the Brazilian and Chile biodiversity, their potential use and the necessity of a model of sustainable economic development, research involving products truly national take significant importance. This is very important because the native fruits are mostly restricted to communities where the spread occurs spontaneously. The development of bilateral projects, such as the one proposed here, might bring improvements to this field and generate knowledge and experience exchange between the two countries. The proposed project will allow a range of synergistic activities and added value between the both teams and newly funded projects and other international activities involving the applicant groups. SMARTHEALTH will combine expertise within chemistry, biological activities and drug discovery to ensure the achievement of the overall objectives. Complementary expertise in the Brazilian and Chile teams, joint supervision of PhD students, courses and workshops will guarantee close collaboration and maximize synergy. The research will further integrate and strengthen the Brazilian and Chile public and private research sectors to achieve one common objective: efficient use of natural resources that add-value and minimize waste. The expected results are: a) Identification of new bioactive compounds with promising antioxidant effects; b) Polyphenols with promising anti- inflammatory potential identified; c) Polyphenols from native fruits and edible fungi with promising antimicrobial and fertility control potential effects identified; d) Technology and processing conditions defined for preservation of the polyphenols antioxidant of the native fruits and edible fungi e) institutional links among project partners strengthened and further consolidation of the work on natural bioactive compounds from native fruits and edible fungi in both Brazil and Chile. (AU)