Health-protecting phytochemicals

Plants contain an enormous diversity of secondary metabolites, which can be classified into groups such as flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, carotenoids, sterols and so on. There is an increasing evidence that many plant secondary metabolites are potentially beneficial for human health. In light of the ageing European population there is a growing need for food products rich in such health-protecting phytochemicals. However, breeders have not incorporated such 'health' traits into their breeding programs yet.
We use omics approaches to unravel the metabolic pathways leading to the production of health-protecting phytochemicals. We use our technologies and knowledge to:

• Screen the genetic diversity in crop plants and their wild relatives for variation in the levels and/or composition of health-related compounds;
• Determine the effect of pre- and postharvest conditions or processing treatments on the levels and composition of health-related phytochemicals;
• Use functional assays to screen plant extracts for potential health effects, such as antioxidant activity;
• Isolate key genes involved in the biosynthesis or degradation of health-related phytochemicals. These genes can be used to develop molecular markers for breeding or applied in genetic engineering strategies;
• Use genetic engineering of plants and microorganisms as a tool to elucidate the function of candidate genes involved in the production of health-related phytochemicals;
• Produce health-related phytochemicals in a microbial production platform, This is geared toward the production of those metabolites which are difficult to obtain through chemical synthesis;
• Produce funtional foods with optimised levels and/or composition of health-related phytochemicals.

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