In western countries, due to unreasonable diet structure, excessive intake of fat and protein, overweight and hyperlipidemia, hypertension patients are more common, so Europe and the United States have been very emphasis on the development of low calorie, low-fat food and additives. Sugar and alcohol sugar substitutes are used to produce sugar free food, inulin and other products are used to replace fat food, as well as low heat fat synthesized by medium carbon chain fatty acids, etc., which all occupy a leading position in the world. In China, there is a tradition of homology of medicine and food, which focuses on the development of health care and functional food. Functional food additives, especially some natural extracts, have been recognized internationally. Therefore, a large number of health functional foods enter the U.S. and international markets in the form of food supplements. In recent years, under the influence of environmental protection, safety and return to nature, China has paid more and more attention to the development and utilization of plant-derived functional food.
Some achievements in the development and utilization of plant-based functional food in China. Firstly, it is in the leading position in the research of tea polyphenols. As early as the 1980s, China entered the market with tea polyphenol antioxidants, with a small number of exports, but the domestic sales volume is not large. Modern medicine has proved that tea polyphenols have the functions of anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, anti radiation, lipid-lowering, blood pressure reduction, caries prevention, deodorization and so on. At present, it has been approved to use tea polyphenols as raw materials to produce health care products, including regulating blood lipid, immunity, regulating blood sugar, hypoxia tolerance, weight loss, caries prevention and so on. Zhejiang Province has developed green tea extract into a quasi brand drug for cardiovascular disease prevention. In foreign countries, green tea extract is publicized more than polyphenol. China's tea polyphenols, after more than 20 years of research and development, as a food antioxidant, both water-soluble and oil soluble. It can also produce high purity products as pharmaceutical raw materials. For example, the content of tea polyphenols developed by a company in Hangzhou is less than 90%, which is called tea polyphenols; the purity of tea polyphenols is more than 90%, which is 98%, which is called catechins, and has been exported abroad. In addition, the company has also developed tea polysaccharides, tea pigments, and ultra micro health green tea powder, which retains the nutrition and flavor of green tea and can be used as ingredients for various foods. In a word, the antioxidant and health care function of green tea extract has been recognized by all countries in the world. Today, with the development of functional food and drink in the world, as a big tea country in the world, there should be a lot to do.
Secondly, the grape skin extract is grape skin red. The main components are malvacaine, paeoniflorin, Delphine, anthocyanin, etc. According to the health standard of our country, the maximum dosage is 1g / kg, which can be used to make wine, drink, popsicle, etc. At that time, it was only used as a colorant without considering its function. Recent studies have shown that polyphenols extracted from grapes, including anthocyanins and flavonoids, have better antioxidant function and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases caused by oxidation. It is beneficial to prevent coronary heart disease and arteriosclerosis. In addition, it is found that there is a kind of resveratrol in grape, which is a plant antitoxin produced by grape itself due to the invasion of microorganisms. It has the activity of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation and anti-cancer. It also has the function of preventing LDL from oxidation and inhibiting platelet aggregation. It is mainly contained in grape skin, with piceid glucose gametophyte. Through solvent extraction, vacuum concentration and macromolecular resin adsorption separation and purification, more than 90% baililu alcohol can be obtained. Grapes are mainly fresh food in China. The annual output of wine is about 300000 tons. The extraction of grape skin and seed from the waste of grape processing belongs to the rational utilization of grape resources and has a good prospect. Shandong is rich in grapes, there are several professional production enterprises, the products are mainly exported to foreign countries. Now in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xi'an, Shandong and other major cities, grape extracts are listed as health products.
Last but not least, lycopene: both lycopene and carotene are carotenoids. It is a straight chain hydrocarbon composed of 11 conjugated and 2 non conjugated carbon carbon double bonds. It mainly exists in tomato, watermelon and other foods. In the past, lycopene was not valued because it did not convert into VA. In recent years, lycopene has been found to have a very strong antioxidant, which can eliminate free radicals in vivo, and its rate constant of eliminating singlet oxygen is 100 times. It has many superior physiological functions, such as preventing the oxidation of LDL (low density cholesterol), preventing the skin from being injured by ultraviolet rays, inhibiting the increase and spread of cancer cells, and preventing the occurrence of prostate cancer. Generally, the lycopene content of tomato is only 3-8mg / 100g, and that of good varieties is only about 40mg / 100mg.
The climate and geographical conditions in Xinjiang are suitable for tomato growth. The content of lycopene in tomato sauce is 35mg / 100g, and that in tomato powder is 500mg / 100mg. The production capacity of ketchup in Xinjiang is 600000 tons, so it is the best production base of lycopene. Other regions are also developing lycopene products, such as Guangzhou Youbao, which uses Xinjiang tomato powder and develops lycopene capsules, which have been approved by the Ministry of health as anti oxygen, beauty and health food.
In addition, China also has good research, development and utilization of soybean isoflavones. In recent years, the research and development speed of soybean isoflavones is very fast in China. There are dozens of enterprises producing soybean isoflavones, such as Shandong Sanwei, Shijiazhuang Huabei pharmaceutical, Harbin high tech soybean enterprise food company, etc. It is estimated that the annual capacity will reach 200 tons, with some exports. The purity of the product is generally in the range of 10% ~ 40%, up to 95%. Among them, 50% daidzein and 40% genistein. The market price of low purity products is 1500 yuan / kg.
China has a vast area, cold in the north and hot in the south. There are mountains, seas and many kinds of plants. All over the country, there are some traditional ideas that they are not only edible plants, but also healthy food for disease prevention and disease resistance. We need to study their functional factors, develop edible plant extracts with Chinese characteristics, and greatly enrich the varieties and markets of plant-based functional food in China. To create a natural environment of green food for the people of our country.
