Ionizing radiation technology to improve the physicochemical and biological properties of natural compounds by molecular modification: A review

Bioactive substances derived from nature are valuable ingredients for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. In recent years, several bioactive compounds have been subjected to molecular modification to enhance their efficacy. Among modification methods, ionizing radiation is a useful technology with many benefits compared to chemical or microorganism-based tools. This review focuses on the application of ionizing radiation to improve the physicochemical and biological properties of natural compounds through molecular modification. Ionizing radiation can decrease the molecular weight of polysaccharides, providing valuable properties for industrial applications. Ionizing radiation is also capable of modifying the antigenicity of food allergens. Furthermore, ionizing radiation can improve the yield of active compounds and color attributes of plant extracts. In particular, ionizing radiation can be applied to obtain novel derivatives from polyphenols, which are important antioxidant compounds found in plants and foods. Importantly, many novel polyphenol derivatives produced by irradiation possess enhanced biological activities compared to the original molecule. The information presented in this review supports that ionizing radiation has the potential to be developed as a tool for molecular modification in the field of drug discovery.