Thursday, June 15, 2023
Leaves stems, roots: the Dutch agro sector generates approximately 9.5 megatons of residual and byproduct streams annually. Wouldn't it be great to utilize the plant compounds from these streams for healthcare purposes?
With this goal in mind, a transdisciplinary collaboration was established between Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Leiden University of Applied Sciences, and other partners affiliated with the Medical Delta Living Lab Integrative Medicine Technology. Within the research lines of "Infectious Diseases and Antibiotic Resistance" and "Chronic Diseases and Common Ailments," both universities, along with Erasmus MC and Leiden University, are developing methods to screen plant extracts from the agro sector for antimicrobial and antitumor properties. The active plant compounds are identified from the bioactive extracts.
Valorization of Agricultural Residual Streams for Medical Applications
Dutch growers are actively seeking solutions to maximize the value of their abundant residual and byproduct streams. The healthcare sector is one of the areas being explored, as the medical field is constantly searching for new therapies. For instance, plant compounds with bioactive properties may offer potential solutions for infectious diseases, where antibiotic resistance is becoming a growing problem, and for bone-metastasized cancer, a condition that lacks adequate treatment options. Plant compounds can potentially address both conditions due to their bioactive properties.
Wouldn't it be great to utilize the plant compounds from these residual and byproduct streams for healthcare purposes?
The research project aims to generate knowledge regarding the antimicrobial and antitumor activities of plant constituents. In addition to scientific publications, the consortium hopes to share the results with a large (inter)national network of growers and breeders. By utilizing residual and byproduct streams, these raw materials retain their value. With further optimization of production processes for new applications, the product cycle will be even more closed-looped, contributing to the sustainability of the agro sector. Ultimately, by using the acquired knowledge to develop "biobased" products and new business models, this project contributes to a biobased and circular economy.
Extract Library in Leiden
For this research, samples were obtained from the "Extract Library" through a KIEM subsidy from Regieorgaan SIA. The Extract Library, established by Leiden University and the province of South Holland, facilitates research on innovative applications of plant compounds to add value to residual streams or cultivate plants for new purposes. The library contains over 2,200 plant extracts from Dutch horticulture.
Several plant compounds are known to exhibit antimicrobial and/or anticancer activities. The various partners in the Medical Delta Living Lab Integrative Medicine Technology connect the medical and agro sectors by developing and implementing innovative methods to investigate the extracts from the library. The research focuses on antimicrobial activities in bacterial test systems and tests the antitumor effects using an in vitro human cell culture model that mimics bone metastases. Innovative methods are also being developed to identify bioactive plant compounds from the extracts.
Extensive and Diverse Research Consortium
The research will continue until at least the first quarter of 2024. Collaboration is taking place across various disciplines and companies in the agro sector. The research is incorporated into the education programs at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and Leiden University of Applied Sciences, such as through third-year student projects and internships with project partners, providing students with the opportunity to engage in authentic professional research settings. Approximately 35 students are involved in the research project.
In collaboration with growers (including Gova, De Ruiter Innovations BV, and InnoGrowers) who cultivate pesticide-free products for the research project, extractions are being optimized at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences under the leadership of Barbara Schrammeijer and Eddy van der Linden. The constituents of these extracts are separated, allowing for the investigation of both the extracts and their distinct fractions. At Erasmus MC, the extracts are tested for antimicrobial activity under the guidance of Willem van Wamel (Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases), while a research group led by Marjolein van Driel (Department of Internal Medicine) examines the extracts' anticancer effects.
Simultaneously, Leiden University (Young Hae Choi; Institute of Biology Leiden) and Leiden University of Applied Sciences (Peter Lindenburg; Leiden Centre for Applied Bioscience) contribute to determining the identity of the bioactive components. Theo Luider (Department of Neuro-oncology, Erasmus MC) investigates the mechanisms of action of these bioactive components. At Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, under the leadership of Jan de Jong and Monique van der Wardt-Kester, research is conducted on antimicrobial activities. This acquired knowledge and skills are transferred to Gova-VARTA (Valorization Lab for Residual Streams in Horticulture and Agriculture) as part of the KIEM subsidy, enabling them to conduct similar research in the future.
Seeking New Approaches to Combat Bacterial Infections
"As antibiotic-resistant microorganisms continue to increase, we are constantly searching for new possibilities to combat bacterial infections," says Dr. Van Wamel. "In collaboration with Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, we are turning to the world of plants to expand our knowledge of strategies that plants have developed to counter bacteria. Simultaneously, we are training a new generation of analysts who can continue this quest in the future."
In the search for an effective medicine, plant extract compounds may offer a long-term solution.
"The collaboration is pleasant and stimulating due to the extensive knowledge exchange," says Dr. Van Driel. "The plant compound project is crucial for our research, which focuses on finding effective therapies for cancer metastasizing to the bone. Once cancer cells from different types of tumors are established in the bone, they become resistant to conventional therapies. In the search for an effective medicine, plant extract compounds may offer a long-term solution. Moreover, it will provide us with valuable insights into the biological mechanisms involved in bone metastases. The involved students learn laboratory techniques and gain knowledge in a complex biological research setting. It is also important to raise awareness among young people about the significance of valorizing green residual streams."
The initial results are expected by the end of 2023.
Name: Valorization of Agricultural Residual Streams for Medical Applications
Objective: Investigate potential medical applications of plant extracts from residual and byproduct streams in the agro sector
Intended Outcome: Development of medicines from plant extracts derived from residual and byproduct streams in the agro sector
Partners: Medical Delta Living Lab Integrative Medicine Technology, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Leiden University of Applied Sciences, Erasmus MC, Leiden University, LCAB, De Ruiter Innovations BV, GOVA-VARTA, Dubbel Doel Flora, Cooperative InnoGrowers U.A.: Greenport West-Holland; KIEM subsidy
Status: The research started in September 2022 and will continue until February 2024
