TY - JOUR
T1 - Agaves as a raw material
T2 - Recent technologies and applications
AU - Narváez-Zapata, J. A.
AU - Sánchez-Teyer, L. F.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Agave plants are a valuable source of raw material due to its fibrous and complex sugar content of their leaves and core, and their bagasse waste can be use for several aims. This plant genus belongs to the Agavaceae family and until now more than 200 species have been described. A large number of Agave species are currently used as raw material in several biotechnological processes. This review shows the reported applications and patents on fields like alcoholic brewages with special reference to Tequila and Mezcal, the isolation and use of compounds such as saponins and agave fructans, and their potential biotechnological application on several human demands. The process to obtain fibers and cellulose, stock feeds, and several miscellaneous extractives are also reviewed. Some possibilities and problems of cultivation are discussed.
AB - Agave plants are a valuable source of raw material due to its fibrous and complex sugar content of their leaves and core, and their bagasse waste can be use for several aims. This plant genus belongs to the Agavaceae family and until now more than 200 species have been described. A large number of Agave species are currently used as raw material in several biotechnological processes. This review shows the reported applications and patents on fields like alcoholic brewages with special reference to Tequila and Mezcal, the isolation and use of compounds such as saponins and agave fructans, and their potential biotechnological application on several human demands. The process to obtain fibers and cellulose, stock feeds, and several miscellaneous extractives are also reviewed. Some possibilities and problems of cultivation are discussed.
KW - Agave fructans
KW - Agaves
KW - Saponins
KW - Sisal
KW - Tequila
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70449091558&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2174/187220809789389144
DO - 10.2174/187220809789389144
M3 - Artículo de revisión
SN - 1872-2083
VL - 3
SP - 185
EP - 191
JO - Recent Patents on Biotechnology
JF - Recent Patents on Biotechnology
IS - 3
ER -