Aspects of complex processing of far eastern berry crops

Abstract

The species diversity of wild berry plants of the Far East is presented. Promising sources of biologically active substances, as well as gentle and effective methods of extraction of these substances are considered. A significant number of renewable plant bioresources grow annually in the Far Eastern region, most of the berry plants described in this paper have the potential for industrial harvesting. Scientists of the region carry out breeding works on preservation and increase of the varietal diversity of Kamchatka honeysuckle. The transfer of valuable forms of honeysuckle from the wild to culture for inclusion in the breeding process is in progress. The obtained honeysuckle varieties, their characteristics and yields are presented. There is growing interest in the anthocyanin pigments of the berries and the possibility of using them as natural food colors. Wild plant species of the Magadan region and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug that represent potential sources of anthocyanins include bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), various currant species (Ribes fragrans P., R. acidum, R. dicuscha, R. triste Pallas), honeysuckle (L. chamissoi Bunge ex kirillon, L. edulis Turezaninow ex Freyn) and other wild berries. A significant task is the modification and development of new methods of extraction of bioactive compounds from plant raw materials. The use of a highly efficient and environmentally safe extraction method – supercritical fluid CO2 extraction – is proposed. The use of supercritical carbon dioxide in combination with other solvents allows for a more complete extraction of biologically active compounds from plant matrices. Studies devoted to the intensification of the processes of extractive compounds extraction from wild berries of the Far East and their subsequent identification will allow to form a scientifically grounded complex approach to the processing of wild fruit and berry raw materials for food and biotechnological industry.