Bioenergy and Biofuels

Through photosynthesis, solar radiation is transformed into plant products that can be used as fuel, either directly or after processing. Bioethanol is produced from sugar cane or corn being an example of bioenergy. The use of Bioenergy is a renewable energy source alternative to fossil fuels able to mitigate serious environmental problems.

Plant productivity mainly depends on climatic conditions (water availability, sunlight and temperature) and the fertility of cultivated land varying according to plant species. Among the plants used for purposes bioenergy grasses stand out, such as sugar cane, photosynthetic efficiency of which is the highest among all vegetables. Taking into consideration such budgets, the humid tropics, especially Latin America and Africa are undoubtedly the most promising for bioenergy, to be promoted on a sustainable course.

The production of bioethanol is made in a commercial and two-way technology, using fresh raw materials directly fermentable, such as sugar cane and beet sugar, or starchy raw materials such as corn and wheat, the starch must be converted into sugars (saccharified) before fermentation. A third way, using the available biomass materials such as bagasse and straw hydrolyzed chains cellulose and produces a fermentable sugar solution, showing great interest due to low raw material costs.

There is certainly plenty to do and challenges ahead for the expansion of bioenergy systems, but the benefits are proportional to the extent a healthy, consistent energy development is crucial to consolidate a new relationship between nature and society.




Plants with commercial interest

Catharanthus roseus is one of the most investigated medicinal plants and is known for its pharmacologically alkaloids. Among the alkaloids by Catharanthus are ajmalicina and serpentine, which are important components of medicines for controlling high blood pressure and other types of cardio-vascular diseases. However, the plant is known for the production of bisindole alkaloids, vinblastine and vincristina, which are potent antineoplastic agents and indispensable constituents of most cancer chemotherapies. Paclitaxel is other medicine to come from a tree (Taxus brevifolia), its antitumor activity in a wide range of tumors. Since 1970 this compound has been used extensively to treat patients with lung cancer, ovarian and breast.

Something you need to know about plants

There are three big groups of secondary metabolites, which are classifieds according to their biosynthetic orogins:

1. Terpenoids: Plant terpenoids are used for their aromatic qualities. Play an important role in the traditional medicine and thera are scientific research about their possible antibacterial effects and other pharmaceutical applications. They are present, for example, in the essences of eucalyptus, the flavors of clove and ginger. Also in the menthol and camphor.

2. Phenols: Flavoniods are a type of phenolic compounds. They are consumed by human to protect it from damage by oxidants such as UV light, air pollution and some chemicals in the food. The human body lacks the ability to synthesize these chemicals, you can get it from the food that you eat.

3. Alkaloids: The biological activity of them is wide, the most studied is the euphoric effect of the cocaine had, although there are others that have effects in the central nervous system such as morphine.

Why plants produce compounds with pharmaceutical activity?

Plants produce a variety of compounds, which are used for reproduction and growth. Moreover, plants produce a variety of substances, products of secondary metabolism, some responsible for the color and aromas of flowers and fruits, others lonked with ecological interactions, such as the attraction of pollinators. Recent studies have demonstrated that most of them are involved in the defense mechanism of plants. These metabolites also called phytochemicals, allows a range of applications in agriculture and medicine. Additionally, the multiple functions that occur in the plant allow the search for new natural chemicals such, insecticides, herbicides, growth regulators.