Sustainable production of nutraceuticals and bioactives from food waste: application to cashew nutshell liquid

The global generation of millions of tonnes of biowaste highlights the need for sustainable valorisation strategies that tackle environmental and health challenges. In alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is growing interest in environmentally friendly solutions within the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors. Green chemistry promotes the use of renewable, less harmful raw materials, but the integration of biomass-derived compounds in drug development remains an open challenge. Agro-industrial by-products like food waste, offer a promising source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical applications. Cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), an abundant by-product of the cashew industry, is rich in phenolic lipids, characterised by a unique pentadactyl alkyl side chain. Due to its chemical properties, CNSL holds great promise for sustainable drug development. This thesis explores CNSL’s potential through the lens of green chemistry and the One Health approach, which emphasizes the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. The aim is to develop sustainable pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals while contributing to the circular economy. Based on these considerations, CNSL has been investigated for its potential applications in four complementary projects. Chapter 2 presents novel CNSL-derived mitochondria-targeting phosphonium and ammonium salts with potent antiparasitic activity against Trypanosoma and Leishmania species. Chapter 3 investigates biocatalysis as a green method for CNSL functionalisation to create pharmaceutical precursors. Chapter 4 evaluates CNSL’s application in nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals, particularly in liposomal formulations aimed at treating skin disorders. Chapter 5 explores CNSL-derived CRBN binder-linker constructs as E3 ligase ligands for the development of Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs), a cutting-edge drug discovery platform. In summary, this work demonstrates CNSL’s potential as a renewable, sustainable resource for therapeutic innovation. The findings advance the integration of waste valorisation into pharmaceutical research, supporting the global shift toward green chemistry and sustainable development in both human and veterinary medicine.