Herminia Dominguez - Böcker

Water Extraction of Bioactive Compounds: From Plants to Drug Development draws together the expert knowledge of researchers from around the world to outline the essential knowledge and techniques required to successfully extract bioactive compounds for further study. The book is a practical tool for medicinal chemists, biochemists, pharmaceutical scientists and academics working in the discovery and development of drugs from natural sources.

The discovery and extraction of bioactive plant compounds from natural sources is of growing interest to drug developers, adding greater fuel to a simultaneous search for efficient, green technologies to support this. Particularly promising are aqueous based methods, as water is a cheap, safe and abundant solvent. Water Extraction of Bioactive Compounds: From Plants to Drug Development is a detailed guide to the fundamental concepts and considerations needed to successfully undertake such processes, supported by application examples and highlighting the most influential variables.

Beginning with an introduction to plants as sources of drugs, the book highlights the need for a move towards both more rational and greener techniques in the field, and presents multiple innovative water-based strategies for the discovery and extraction of bioactive constituents of botanicals. A broad range of available techniques are reviewed, including conventional and pressurized hot water extraction techniques, intensified processes such as microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted processes, and enzyme assisted extraction, and processes using combined techniques.

Sustainable Seaweed Technologies: Cultivation, Biorefinery, and Applications collates key background information on efficient cultivation and biorefinery of seaweeds, combining underlying chemistry and methodology with industry experience. Beginning with a review of the opportunities for seaweed biorefinery and the varied components and properties of macroalgae, the book then reviews all the key steps needed for industrial applications, from its cultivation, collection and processing, to extraction techniques, concentration and purification. A range of important applications are then discussed, including the production of energy and novel materials from seaweed, before a set of illustrative case studies shows how these various stages work in practice.

Drawing on the expert knowledge of a global team of editors and authors, this book is a practical resource for both researchers and businesses who currently work with macroalgae.