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CLOSEFUNglucan
Development of a novel functional food enriched with β-glucans isolated from edible mushrooms of Greek habitats
The aim of the present proposal is to characterize the health-promoting properties of β-glucan-enriched extracts from edible mushrooms of the Greek flora in order to develop innovative functional foods that contribute to the prevention of pathologies and improve quality of life, particularly for the elderly.
The company E.I. PAPADOPOULOS S.A., with extensive experience in producing nutritionally valuable products, will collaborate with Harokopio University, the Agricultural University of Athens, and the National Hellenic Research Foundation to develop a new functional biscuit enriched with β-glucan mushroom extracts.
The project includes:
Screening edible mushrooms for β-glucan content (AUA).
Assessing prebiotic and immunomodulatory properties of the extracts through in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies (AUA, HU, NHRF).
Evaluating toxicity in experimental animal models and studying the effects on intestinal barrier function.
Developing pilot-scale products at laboratory and industrial scales (E.I. PAPADOPOULOS S.A.).
Conducting a clinical study in healthy elderly volunteers to confirm the beneficial effects of the product (HU).
This proposal adopts a holistic approach linking agri-food research with health improvement, leveraging the biodiversity of Greek mushrooms to produce high value-added functional foods that support nutrition and well-being.
