The productivity of Helianthus annuus has increased exponentially through the creation of new varieties and hybrids. By-products of the H. annuus processing industry show a high content in natural bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the project is to obtain new value-added products through the optimisation of mixtures of bioactive compounds obtained by the valorisation of H. annuus by-products with biochemical and biological properties useful for the biopharmaceutical industry. The novelty consists in: (i) the analysis of new varieties of sunflower and new sources for the extraction of bioactive compounds; (ii) environmentally friendly, sustainable extraction technologies; (iii) the optimisation by mathematical analysis of mixtures of bioactive compounds with synergistic action; (iv) the demonstration of the usefulness of the new products in modulating the in vitro activity of endothelial and immune cells. The project will use modern techniques such as HPLC chromatography, GC, spectrometry, SEM microscopy, TEM, ultrasonography, histology, immunohistochemistry on experimental cell culture models, flow cytometry, RT-PCR, linear regression analysis, statistics.
Results will be disseminated in open access journals and international congresses. The project will strengthen the collaboration between institutions from Romania and Moldova and will allow PhD students to access to modern complementary infrastructure for obtaining valuable results and increasing international visibility.