Authors : Rohan P. Bhosale

Volume/Issue : Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 10 - October

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/7uy4nyr8

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/4bnpse4p

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10016186

Abstract : Plant-based bioactive molecules such as polyphenols, curcumin, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, and carotenoids were reported to offer immunity against coronavirus. Increasing population can pressure agricultural land to grow more of these plants. Hence, it’s important to look at alternative sources. Fruit peels also contain these bioactive molecules but are usually thrown as waste as the production of bioactive from fruit peels is not economical owing to the high cost of extraction. In this study, an inexpensive airlift bioreactor was designed which can help reduce the price of extraction and make the best use of waste fruit peels. The bioreactor was easy to operate and economical to carry out the pretreatment of peels and extract antiviral bioactive molecules from waste fruit peels. Further, the study also demonstrated its utility using citrus peels and pomegranate peels which were recently reported to be active against Coronavirus.

Keywords : Airlift Bioreactors, Bioactives, Fruit Peels.