Projects / Programmes
Funkcionalna živila in prehranska dopolnila (Slovene)
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2014
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.04.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Chemistry |
|
| 2.02.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Chemical engineering |
|
| 4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.04 |
Natural Sciences |
Chemical sciences |
Researchers (19)
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0104 |
National Institute of Chemistry |
Ljubljana |
5051592000 |
20,996 |
Significance for science
Acquired scientific findings and achievements in the fields of analytics of bioactive compounds, extraction of bioactive compounds from plant materials, modification of properties of chosen bioactive compounds, and characterization and function of new materials, are crucial for the development of many areas of basic and applied sciences (chemistry, biology, pharmacy, medicine, agronomy, food and environmental sciences, etc.). These new tools (methods, procedures) will be adopted and used by these disciplines in their own research. Our findings influence the quality and credibility of results from other laboratories in the world. They make quantitative extraction, stabilization of analytes during extraction and separation, and determination of analytes in different matrices and in various concentration ranges possible. Besides the new scientific findings in the area of natural compound analysis, we made our contribution in the field of spectral and other properties of these compounds (MS, NMR, etc.). We were the first to identify some phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, pentacyclic, triterpenoids, phytosterols, and naphtoquinone and anthocyanin derivatives in plant materials. New derivatization procedures and optimized detection reagent render lower detection and quantitation limits possible. The new optimized TLC detection reagent for flavanols enabled the discovery of an error in declaration of (+)-catechin instead of (-)-catechin in the standard reference material certificate (SRM 2384 of edible chocolate) from National Institute of Standards and Technology-NIST. With this, we contributed to accurate indication of this analyte in scientific publications. The results from our studies of protein separations on monolithic chromatographic stationary phases enable rational optimization and manufacture of new functionalized materials with better separation characteristics. The developed procedures of modification of coenzyme Q10 properties and shikonin, by their inclusion in different cyclic carbohydrates and proteins, and characterization of these complexes render the design of new materials, which are interesting for functional foods and food supplements as well as for feed. These intermolecular interaction studies present groundwork for future research in the field of pharmacy, biomedicine, food sciences, and phytomedicine. Our achievements enable collaborations on suitable levels of Slovenian and European research sphere, which results in joint national, bilateral, and European projects, collaboration in Centre of Excellence EN-FIST and in establishing partnerships with foreign centres for the research of these bioactives. With this, we contribute significantly to the development of science via exchange of researchers and knowledge in international area. Our laboratory registered an increase of incoming foreign researchers, which are advancing their research skills in the field of natural compound analytics. The gravity of our scientific achievements was also acknowledged by a privilege to organize the 21st International Symposium on Separation Sciences (www.isss2015.si, 30.6.-3.7.2015, Ljubljana, Slovenia).
Significance for the country
Our results are aligned with a unique direction, which unites knowledge from the fields of analytical chemistry, food sciences, and pharmacy, and open new possibilities in the Slovenian and world market of functional foods, and food and feed supplements. Developed analytical methods will be helpful to the producers in creating new products in all developing phases, from the choice of raw materials, extraction and synthesis control, stability studies, to final product control. There is a lack of legal regulation and analytical methods not only in Slovenia, but also all over the world, due to the complexity and intensive production of these new products. Our developed and validated methods will empower state regulatory and supervisory agencies, to determine lutein in food supplements, or flavanols in imported raw material, for instance. By means of media, we informed the wider public on the quality of food supplements with lutein on the Slovenian market and as a consequence, some inappropriate products were revoked. Our analytical methods are useful for routine laboratory analyses in food industry (control of raw materials and final products), agronomy (selection of cultivar), pharmacy, medicinal chemistry and in related fields. This claim is strengthened by numerous analyses which are performed for different customers, mainly from industry (food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industry) and from other research groups and state supervisory agencies. Our expert knowledge in the field of separation techniques is useful in development projects which are initialized by external customers, which have in most cases already optimized technological processes, developed new products, etc. based on our previous work. Giving technical and research solutions in collaboration with our local and international companies will continue to be a relevant aspect of our work. We are directly or indirectly involved in the manufacturing and marketing of highly-technological industrial products (functional foods, food supplements, medicines, chromatography products, etc.). This way we do and will contribute to the competitiveness and recognition of these products domestically and globally, which will promote the Slovenian economic growth. With the developed procedures for isolation and modification of selected compounds, their characterization and the development of analytical methods (based on separation and hyphenated techniques) we considerably contributed to the development of chemistry. The research results of our programme group from previous and current programme period come to light mainly in the form of appearance and marketing of new functional foods, food supplements and cosmetic products with the patented water-soluble coenzyme Q10, which is marketed by Valens Int. based on a license agreement. Complex of ß-lactoglobulin and a secondary metabolite – shikonin and encapsulated xanthophyll extract form the foundation for future products intended for human as well as animal use. Within the sphere of the program, undergraduate and postgraduate students (MSc and PhD – young researchers) from Slovenia and abroad were mentored by our researchers, contributing to an increase in the number of trained specialists. Every individual that was part of our guidance (unfortunately we cannot grant this to everyone) found employment in research institutions or in the industry, whether this be in Slovenia or abroad. We were also engaged in popularization of science and research by managing different educational workshops for primary and secondary schools. In collaboration with Slovenian Chemical Society and Central European Group for Separation Sciences we started the organization for the “21th International Symposium on Separation Sciences”, which will be in Slovenia in 2015. This symposium will be a remarkable opportunity for the promotion of Slovenia, our scientific achievements and achievements of our industrial partners and exhibitors.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
