Biotransformation of natural compounds to create useful medicinal products

Abstract

Bioconversion holds significant value across global industries, particularly in commercializing food and drug waste. The biotransformation of chitosan into valuable food products underscores its versatile applications. This process involves microbial fermentation and enzymatic pathways, pivotal in achieving effective bioconversion. Natural compounds, integral to pharmaceutical sciences, are identified and extracted from diverse plant and animal sources. These compounds are crucial in medicine, industrial applications, and raw material production. This article focuses on microbial conversion techniques applied to natural products, which are increasingly pivotal in medicinal applications. The structural diversity resulting from microbial transformation enhances the functionality of these compounds beyond those found in animals and plants. Such compounds are utilized as renewable resources across the food and pharmaceutical sectors, serving as thickeners, gelling agents, moisture regulators, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and medicinal components. This study reviews current methodologies and emphasizes the growing importance of bioconversion in enhancing sustainability and innovation within these industries. The article explores the biotransformation of natural compounds into valuable medicinal products. It emphasizes microbial conversion techniques, highlighting their pivotal role in enhancing the functionality and sustainability of the pharmaceutical and food sectors.

Graphical abstract