Production of Food Aroma Compounds: Microbial and Enzymatic Methodologies

María Asunción Longo and María Angeles Sanromán*

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Vigo, Campus Universitario As Lagoas – Marcosende, E-36310 Vigo, Spain

Article history:
Received December 1, 2005
Accepted March 10, 2006

Key words:
aroma compounds, biotransformation, microorganisms, enzymes, food, plant cell cultures

Summary:
Over the past few years, the increasing demand for natural products in the food industry has encouraged remarkable efforts towards the development of biotechnological processes for the production of flavour compounds. The present paper reviews the recent major achievements reported in this field, with a special emphasis on the potential lying in plant cell, microbial cultures and enzyme technology for the production of a wide range of flavours. The use of solid-state fermentation as a means to improve economical feasibility of these processes is also considered.

*Corresponding author:           sanroman@uvigo.es
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