Biological activities of lignin hydrolysate-related compounds

• Published in: BMB reports Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 265 - 274
• Main Authors: Lee, S.S., Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea, Monnappa, Ajay Kalanjana, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea, Mitchell, Robert J., Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 01-05-2012; 생화학분자생물학회
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - metabolism; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - metabolism; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Antioxidant; ANTIOXIDANTES; ANTIOXIDANTS; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - metabolism; Antioxidants - pharmacology; ANTIOXYDANT; Humans; Hydrolysates; Hydrolysis; Lignin - analogs & derivatives; Lignin - chemistry; Lignin - metabolism; Lignin - pharmacology; Lignocellulosic biomass; Models, Biological; Phenolics; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - metabolism; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; 화학
• ISSN: 1976-6696; 1976-670X
• DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2012.45.5.265

Lignin hydrolysates contain many different chemical species, including ferulic acid, coumaric acid, vanillic acid, vanillin, syringaldehyde and furfural. From the perspective of biofuels, these compounds are problematic and can cause downstream loss of product if not removed prior to beginning the fermentative process. In contrast, a search for these compounds within the literature turns up many papers where the same compounds have beneficial properties pertaining to human health, including as antioxidants and in cancer prevention, or are involved in bacterial cell-to-cell signaling. Consequently, this article reviews the dual nature of these and other compounds found in lignin hydrolysates, highlighting both their detrimental and beneficial activities.