Aprofood's food bioactive component analysis service focuses on the precise detection of key active substances in food and natural products. The goal is to provide scientific and reliable analytical data for functional food manufacturers and research institutions, supporting new product development, quality control optimization, and functional claim verification.

Overview of Food Bioactive Compounds

Food bioactive compounds (FBACs) are bioactive molecules widely present in plant, microbial and animal-derived foods. They include, but are not limited to, polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, terpenoids, organic sulfur compounds, etc. These compounds not only form the basis of food flavor and color, but are also closely related to human health. Their functions go beyond basic nutritional functions and their role in preventing chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders is increasingly being recognized. Currently, these components have been widely used in functional foods, health supplements or medicines.

Fig 1. Health-promoting properties and value of bioactive compounds in food. (Câmara J S, et al., 2021)

Our Service

Aprofood has established standardized procedures and is capable of identifying samples despite the interference from complex matrices. It can efficiently and accurately detect the contents of various active compounds in the samples.

Alkaloids

Alkaloids are alkaline nitrogen-containing organic compounds found within organisms. Common sources include coffee, tea, cocoa, tobacco, tomatoes, etc., and they possess pharmacological activities such as stimulation, pain relief, or antibacterial properties.

Testing Items: α-Solanine, Lomatine, Betaine, Theophylline, Caffeine, Theobromine, Capsaicin, Dihydrocapsaicin (DHC), Matrine, Neferine, Atropine, Verticine, Imperialine-3-O-glucoside, Nicotine, Colchicine, Ephedrine, Strychnine, Magnoflorine, Sanguinarine, Coptisine, etc.

Sterols

Phytosterols are a type of plant-derived compound structurally similar to cholesterol (such as β-sitosterol), and they are mainly found in plant germplasm and seed oils.

Testing Items: Ergosterol, Stigmasterol, β-Sitosterol, Campesterol, Cholesterol, Free Cholesterol (FC), Desmosterol, Lanosterol, Plant Sterol Esters, etc.

Plant Polyphenols

Plant polyphenols are a type of secondary metabolite with a polyphenolic structure that are widely present in plants. They are mainly found in tea, red wine, and fruits and vegetables.

Testing Items: Protocatechuic acid (PCA), Resveratrol, Epicatechin (EC), Catechin (C), Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Chlorogenic acid (CA), Caffeic acid, Emodin, Eugenol, Catechol (Pyrocatechol), Sinapic acid, Isochlorogenic acid, Grape Procyanidins (Grape Polyphenols), Gallocatechin, Carnosic acid, etc.

Plant Flavonoids

Flavonoids are a large group of phenolic compounds with a flavonoid ring as their core structure. They are widely distributed in various parts of plants and possess multiple physiological activities, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, heat dissipation and detoxification, analgesic and sedative effects, etc.

Testing Items: Phloretin, Phlorizin, Limonin, Nomilin, Isoquercitrin, Hyperoside, Paclitaxel, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Isorhamnetin, Apigenin, Naringin, Hesperidin, Baicalin/Baicalein/Baicaloside, Puerarin, Daidzin, Daidzein, Dihydromyricetin, Naringenin, etc.

Herbal Bioactive Compounds

Traditional herbal medicines contain a variety of active ingredients. The effective components in the herbs obtained from different growth sites, regions, and harvesting seasons may vary.

Testing Items: Oleanolic acid, Ursolic acid, Ferulic acid, Isoferulic acid, Apigenin, Danshensu (DSS), Rosmarinic acid (RosA), Syringaldehyde, Syringic acid, Cinnamic acid, Cinnamaldehyde, Benzoic acid, Notoginsenosides, Ginsenosides, Coumaric acid, Vanillin, Allicin, Salidroside, Astragaloside I, etc.

Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments that give deep-colored fruits and vegetables such as blueberries and purple sweet potatoes their purple or red color. They are powerful antioxidants that can protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and improve vision.

Testing Items: Cyanidin, Delphinidin, Pelargonidin, Peonidin, Petunidin, Malvidin, etc.

Lignans/Linolenoside

Lignans are a type of plant estrogen that is very similar to human estrogen. They are mainly found in flaxseeds, sesame seeds, schisandra berries, and olives.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland (also present in cherries, milk, and walnuts), which regulates the sleep cycle and has antioxidant and neuroprotective effects.

Aprofood can meet diverse needs through standardized procedures and customized solutions. If you would like to know the applicable scope of specific items, technical parameters, or obtain customized analysis plans, please feel free to contact us. Our experts will provide one-on-one technical guidance based on your requirements and assist you in exploring the potential value of bioactive components.

Reference:

1. Câmara J S, et al. Food Bioactive Compounds and Emerging Techniques for Their Extraction: Polyphenols as a Case Study[J]. Foods. 2021; 10(1):37.

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