Plant Hormones Preservative
Consumer demand for natural alternatives drives shift from synthetic to plant-based preservatives. Gibberellins, cytokinins, and jasmonates offer biocompatibility and postharvest regulatory functions. CD BioSustainable develops phytohormone-based systems using metabolomics, molecular biology, and advanced delivery to combat spoilage, senescence, and nutrient loss for fresh and processed foods.
Fig 1. Plants with food preservative properties (Oluwole S.O., 2024)
Technical Principles
- Pathogen Suppression: The production of antimicrobial compounds is stimulated by retinherbs or phytoalexins. This is done through the triggering of the localised defence response using jasmonates and salicylic acid.
- Senescence Delay: The quality of fruits and vegetables is maintained by cytokinins and gibberellins which inhibit ethylene biosynthesis and oxidative stress.
- Microbial Quorum Sensing Interference: Derivatives of auxin interfere with the bacterial communication system, thus reducing biofilm formation and virulence.
Technical Features
- High Specificity: Precise control over spoilage pathways is achieved with targeted hormone-receptor interactions, and off-target impact is minimised.
- Low Residue: Naturally occurring hormones that effortlessly comply with strict food safety regulations are the ones that have residues that fade away swiftly.
- Broad-Spectrum Efficacy: Bacteria, fungi, and yeasts are inhibited through synergistic formulations without loss of organoleptic attributes.
- Eco-Friendly: Compared to synthetic materials, biodegradable delivery systems in preservatives lower environmental impact and carbon footprint.
Application Fields
- Fresh Produce: Stimulating abscisic acid and ethylene responses extends the shelf life of tropical fruits, leafy greens, and strawberries.
- Bakery & Dairy: Cytokinin-based films and coatings prevent moisture migration out of bread and cheese while mould growth is inhibited on both products.
- Alternative Protein Products: Jasmonate-infused films are effective at preventing lipid oxidation and microbial growth in alternative protein products.
- Juices and Fermented Drinks: Gibberellin stabilisers maintain the clarity and taste of juices and other fermented drinks.
Environmental Benefits
- Reduced Chemical Runoff: Rapid enzymatic degradation protects aquatic environments.
- Carbon Neutrality: Plant-derived hormones are produced through fermentation or extraction and agricultural by-products, thus synthesised with no environmental harm.
- Preservatives: Plant-based hormones claim non-toxic profiles, preserving biodiversity by protecting pollinators and soil microorganisms.
Our Services
Our clients benefit from full-claim solutions enabling empowerment through the technology of phytohormones.
- Metabolomic Profiling: Precise quantification of endogenous hormones via high-resolution LC-MS/MS in raw materials informs preservative design.
- Formulation Development: Emulsions, coatings, and nano-carriers for edible films tailored to the appropriate pH, temperature, and storage conditions.
- Microbial Challenge Testing: ISO-compliant screenings for Listeria, Aspergillus, and numerous primary pathogens.
- Commercial Viability: Stability testing within planned pilots ensures market aspirations for scale-up.
Company Service Advantages
- Proprietary Patent Databases: R&D cycles benefit from the integration of the engineered microbial genome databases with plant hormone signalling pathways.
- Predictive Preservative Design: Multi-omics approaches implement transcriptomic and proteomic data to define mechanisms at the molecular level strategically.
- Field-to-fork traceability with blockchain ensures sealed integrity for claimed transparency on hormone sourcing and supply chain
Contact Us
With the food industry adopting green chemistry principles, plant hormone-based preservatives mark a groundbreaking change in environmentally friendly food protection. CD BioSustainable is well positioned as a leader in this innovative area due to our extensive knowledge in phytohormones and our biotechnological capabilities that can be scaled. These are the solutions to reducing synthetic food additives and increasing food security that support consumers and the environment. Please contact our team for more information.
How to Place an Order
Reference
- Oluwole S.O., Rokeebat O.A., et al. "Unveiling plants with food preservative properties" Nutrire 2024, 49(36):1387.
Our products and services are for research use only and cannot be used for
any clinical purposes.
