BrainHealthFood

Bioactive compounds from blackcurrant processing waste for brain health (FP7-SME project number 222503)

In this European Union funded two year project, we will address key biochemical compounds present in blackcurrants that may possess neuroprotective properties, and thus provide novel functional ingredients to formulate berry and fruit juices and other food products which may have potential to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease development.

In this consortium, we have collected leading experts from different European countries representing strong experience from bioactive chemistry, metabolomics and neurology. Our aim is to identify which polyphenolic compounds and fractions from blackcurrant possess the strongest neuroprotective properties, and to determine the ability of the fractions and polyphenolic compounds to improve cognitive behaviour in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, as well as to determine the bioavailability of major polyphenols from the polyphenolic enriched blackcurrant material. Furthermore, direct fractionation of a CO2 extract to obtain pure polyphenolic target compounds from blackcurrant processing waste will be developed.

Eventually, this project helps SMEs in the development of special berry and other juice products for European and international markets for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease development.