Introduction to glutathione
Glutathione (GSH) is a non-essential amino acid that is widely present in the body and plays an important role in maintaining the normal function of cells.
It is not only an important antioxidant, but also a compound involved in a variety of biochemical reactions.
Source of glutathione
Glutathione is mainly found in plants and animals, including various grains, animal livers and so on.
It can also be synthesized by microbial fermentation, enzyme method and other biotechnological ways.
These methods can all be used as a source of glutathione.
Extraction method of glutathione
(1) Extraction by microbial fermentation
Microorganisms containing glutathione synthesis gene were cultured by fermentation to obtain glutathione rich fermentation solution.
Glutathione was extracted from the fermentation broth by centrifugation and filtration.
(2) Enzymatic extraction
Glutathione was separated from the raw material by enzymatic catalysis.
This method has the advantages of mild reaction condition and simple operation.
(3) Plant extraction method
The extraction of glutathione from plants usually requires crushing, extraction, purification and other steps.
Due to the low content of glutathione in plants, the extraction process is relatively complicated.
Key steps in the extraction process
(1) Crushing and extraction
First, the raw material needs to be broken to facilitate the subsequent extraction operation.
In the extraction process, suitable solvent and extraction conditions should be selected to improve the extraction rate of glutathione.
(2) Purification and crystallization
The extracted glutathione solution needs to be purified to remove impurities and unreacted raw materials.
The purified glutathione solution can be crystallized to obtain solid glutathione.
(3) Quality testing and evaluation
In the extraction process, quality inspection and evaluation of each step are needed to ensure that the quality and purity of the final product meet the requirements.
Challenges and prospects of extraction technology
Although the extraction technology of glutathione has made some progress, it still faces some challenges, such as raw material source, extraction efficiency, cost and so on.
In the future, further research is needed to optimize the extraction technology, improve the yield and quality of glutathione, and reduce the production cost to meet the market demand.
Application areas of glutathione
Glutathione is widely used in medicine, food, cosmetics and other fields.
In the field of medicine, glutathione has the effects of anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-aging.
In the field of food, it can be used as a nutritional additive;
In the field of cosmetics, it can be used as an antioxidant and moisturizer.
With the continuous development of science and technology, the application field of glutathione will continue to expand.
As an important bioactive substance, glutathione has a wide range of application prospects.
Through continuous research and optimization of extraction technology, it is expected to provide more possibilities for the wide application of glutathione.
