Background

Tricin (5,7,4’-trihydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxyflavone) is a high-value flavonoid with potential pharmaceutical applications. Currently, no efficient and economical way of isolating tricin currently exists. The complex chemical structure of tricin renders chemical synthesis prohibitively expensive. The lack of a source of tricin has largely restricted the development of tricin as a pharmacologically relevant compound (chemopreventative).

Technology Overview

Researchers at the University of York have developed a biocatalytic process to selectively extract tricin from natural sources of lignocellulose. The process uses a newly discovered enzyme that cleave tricin from lignin within the lignocellulosic complex of inexpensive and abundant agricultural waste residues. This process is fully scalable and can deliver highly pure quantities of tricin that are not currently available in the market.

A sustainable biocatalytic process that overcomes the current bottleneck in the production of flavonoid tricin that is fully scalable to meet market demand. The process selectively releases tricin using a patented enzyme from natural feedstocks of lignocellulosic waste.

Benefits

Compared to current technologies, this process provides:

Scalable quantities of tricin not previously attainable with chemical extraction or chemical synthesis
Inexpensive production of tricin owing to the low-cost feedstocks required
Sustainable feedstocks contribute to the circular economy

Applications

Scalable production of high purity tricin from natural and sustainable feedstocks.

Opportunity

Pharmaceutical industry or intermediary partner to develop the supply chain and market internationally.

Scaleable Production of Tricin

Patents

IP Status

Seeking