Quince biowaste valorization into targeted drug delivery components and innovative health-promoting agents

Project/agreement No.

lzp-2024/1-0255

Project funding

300 000.00 EUR, Cooperation partner's share of project funding 117.565 EUR

Project manager

Līga Pētersone

Project realization

01.01.2025. - 31.12.2027.

Aim

The project objective is the creation of new knowledge for obtaining innovative non-toxic and multifunctional drug delivery systems (DDSs), including with health-promoting agents, based on different combinations and modifications of isolated compounds from quince and/or Chaenomeles waste biomass as well as in vitro evaluation of their pharmacokinetics in corresponding media and efficiency on cancer cells.

Description

With the increasing demand in the herbal medicine sector for natural drug delivery components and innovative health-promoting compounds, there is a significant need to diversify the portfolio of natural products. On the other hand, there is a vast amount of agricultural waste rich in bioactive compounds.The Project investigates and analyzes the valuable compounds (such as pectins, oligomers, and low-molecular polyphenols) obtained from quince and/or Chaenomeles pomace, twigs, and leaves.The most significant scientific innovations will be the identification and expansion of the possibilities of applications of quince and/or Chaenomeles waste biomass focused on the field of health promotion. The adaptation of innovative analytical methods for the analysis of quince and/or Chaenomeles compounds will ensure qualitative chemical characterization of the obtained compounds in order to analyze the relationships between individual compounds and biological activities, which can be used to ensure a health-promoting effect. A new strategy with the incorporation of quince polyphenol compounds into pectin matrices will allow modifying drug delivery systems for desired target properties.

Outcomes

Original scientific articles published, submitted or accepted for publication in the Q1 or Q2 quartile publications included in Web of Science Core Collection or SCOPUS databases - 3;
Original scientific articles, published, submitted or accepted for publication in the scientific publications or conference symposia, included in Web of Science Core Collection or SCOPUS databases, for social, human and art sciences included in ERIH PLUS database - 3;
Other peer-reviewed original research articles in other scientific journals and collections of articles (including conference article collections), with an international editorial board - 1;
Project proposal submitted in a Latvian call for research and development projects - 1.

Project-related activities

Collection of Japanese quince twig and leaf samples was initiated in cooperation with EcoAgroForest Ltd. for project research on biowaste valorisation (March 2025).
A popular science article “Innovative Approach: Transforming Quince Processing Residues into Health-Promoting Agents”. (28 May 2025)
Japanese quince and apple pomace was supplied by SIA “Very Berry” for research on pectin extraction and the development of drug delivery systems (June 2025).
Additional collection of Japanese quince leaf and twig samples was carried out in cooperation with EcoAgroForest Ltd. to support further experimental activities of the project (September 2025).
Collection of Japanese quince biomass (twig) samples was continued in cooperation with EcoAgroForest Ltd. to support further research activities on biowaste valorisation (March 2026).
Participation in the 10th Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference (Dresden, Germany) (18 May 2026).
- Petersone L., Zaharova N., Mahinovs R., Mohylyuk V., Janceva S., Andersone A. Poster presentation: “Preformulation studies of sustainable drug delivery systems for bioactive compounds based on pectin isolated from Chaenomeles japonica fruits and pomace”. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31783.92328.
- Andersone A., Petersone L., Zaharova N., Nikolajeva V., Rieksts G., Janceva S. Poster presentation: “Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica L.) Waste Biomass after Harvesting as a Source of Valuable Biologically Active Compounds with Nutraceutical and Antimicrobial Potential”. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.26750.75842.

Datasets

Petersone L., Žogota M., Mahinovs R., Mohylyuk V. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) of Japanese Quince Biomass (29 April 2026). DOI: 10.48510/FK2/ARNQ6J.
Petersone L., Mahinovs R. FTIR Spectral Data of Japanese Quince Biomass and Extracts (7 June 2026). DOI: 10.48510/FK2/KT2PIA.

Media

Researchers: Quinces Are Highly Beneficial for Health and Worth Including in Everyday Diets, introducing project results and the health-promoting properties of Japanese quince biowaste. Published in Latvian language by LSM / Latvian Television (28 October 2025).