Background and Aims: More and more, consumers are trying to counterbalance their active, hectic lifestyles by seeking for foods and beverages that contribute to healthier living. In response to consumer demand, there is a need for healthful products for products enriched in plant-derived bioactive, health promoting micronutrients, which activity is confirmed on the basis of scientific studies.
Examples: chemopreventive N-methylpyridinium ions (NMP) in roasted coffee (A in Figure),  antioxidant and biotransformation enzyme modulating pronyl-L-lysine in bread crust melanoidins (B in Figure); cytotoxic Maillard reaction products formed from carbohydrates and amino acids; stomach irritating roast substances in roast coffee beverages etc.

  • Bioactivity-directed screening of complex foods and fractions obtained thereof
  • Structure determination by means of LC-MS/MS and 1D-/2D-NMR spectroscopy
  • Chemical synthesis of target compounds
  • Clarification of reaction pathways leading to formation/degradation of bioactive compounds by means of 13C-labelling experiments in combination with LC-MS/MS and/or 13C NMR spectroscopic detection

Bioaktive Verbindungen

  

Figure Chemical structures of the biotransformation phase II inductor NMP (A) and of the antioxidant pronyl-L-lysine (B).