An innovative methodology patented by Enea to transform lemon processing waste into supplements and nutraceuticals to be used in the prevention of certain diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and cardio-vascular disorders The innovation, developed with the Sicilian companies Navhetec srl and Agrumaria Corleone spa, is based on the use of "membrane separation" technology, developed by the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, combined with subsequent encapsulation and drying phases using spray technology -drying or spray drying.
The technique allows to obtain nanovesicles, that is spheres rich in bioactive compounds such as nucleic acids, polyphenols, lipids and proteins, from the waste and by-products obtained during the processing of lemon. The research body reports that some in vivo and in vitro studies carried out by the start-up Navhetec already in 2015 have shown a strong action of reducing the growth of cancer cells, while ongoing studies highlight its anti-inflammatory properties. In 2019, following the experimentation of the patented system on some healthy volunteers, a reduction in some cardiovascular risk factors emerged, such as cholesterol-LDL and waist circumference. The patent is also applicable to other plant matrices.
