A research team from Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), including Prof. Richard Maroun and Prof. Nicolas Louka from the Faculty of Science (FS) and Dr. Hiba Rajha from the Faculty of Engineering (FI-ESIB), conducted several types of research in collaboration with industrial partners, in synergy with the BESTMEDGRAPE Project, an innovative trans-Mediterranean project launched in September 2019 by the European Union (EU) as part of the Mediterranean Sea Basin Cross-Border Cooperation Programme (ENI CBC Med) in five Mediterranean countries: Italy, France, Jordan and Tunisia, and carried in Lebanon by USJ and Berytech, and which proposes to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and start-ups concerned in the creation of new cosmetic, food and parapharmaceutical products.

Research was conducted on the application of polyphenols, extracted from co-products of the wine industry, in the cosmetic industry, in collaboration of a local industry to incorporate grape seed extract in anti-aging skin products. Product stability was tested along with its antioxidant capacity. Findings showed very promising applications of natural extracts as anti-aging actives. A research was carried out to incorporate grape seed extract into anti-acne cream. Findings showed very promising applications of natural antioxidant extracts as anti-acne actives. Another research was carried out by the team on the application of polyphenols in the food industry.

Initially, natural grape skin extract was added as food coloring to burger buns to replace synthetic pigments. Findings showed good rheological properties of the dough and high antioxidant activity of the baked bun. Adding polyphenols to the bun can be used as a natural pigment while also improving the bioactive properties of the food product.

In a second experiment, natural grape skin extract was added as food coloring to salt to increase its antioxidant value. Findings showed that polyphenols can be added to salt, making it more attractive while also increasing its antioxidant activity.

As a result, research has shown the potential applications of polyphenols extracted from grape waste, both as food coloring agents and as antioxidant compounds for cosmetic and food applications.

In addition to having published more than a hundred papers in conferences and international journals in this area, the team holds three patents related to this research area and has received several national and international awards.

Patents:

- Dispositif de mise, des installations, sous pression de vapeur élevée avec une Élévation de la Pression Ultra Rapide « ÉPUR ». Application à l’Intensification de la Vaporisation par Détente vers le Vide « IVDV ». Espérance DEBS, Hiba N. RAJHA, Rami A. RIZK, Helga FRANCIS, Rachelle MRAD, Richard G. MAROUN et Nicolas LOUKA. Numéro du brevet: 2019/05/-11666L, mai 2019.

- New Deep Eutectic Solvents “USJ-DES-FS” for the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds (Nouveaux solvants eutectiques profonds « USJ-DES-FS » pour l’extraction des composés biologiques). Richard G. MAROUN, Sally EL KANTAR, Hiba N. RAJHA, Nicolas LOUKA. Patent n° 2018/10-11547L. 10/2018.

- Système d’extraction, de séparation ou de prétraitement assisté par rayonnement infrarouge. Adéquation entre les caractéristiques du rayonnement et celles de la matière traitée. Hiba N. RAJHA, Espérance G. DEBS, Richard G. MAROUN et Nicolas M. LOUKA. Patent n° 2017-11 11296L; 29/112/2017.

Awards:

- Best Scientific Contribution in the Field of “Innovative Technologies for Antioxidants Extraction from Food and Food Byproducts”. Pr. Nicolas LOUKA, International Society of Antioxidants in Nutrition and Health. The 1st ISANH - Middle East World Congress - Dubai, 2016.

- Best Scientific Contribution in the Field of Polyphenols. Pr. Richard Maroun, International Society of Antioxidants in Nutrition and Health. The 9th ISANH World Congress on Polyphenols Applications, Porto 2016.

- First Place Professional Prize of the Lebanese Industrial Research Achievements “LIRA” program 2016. 12th Forum of Technology & Industrial Innovation. “Valorization of Industrial Wastes. Polyphenol Extraction from Viticulture and Wine-Making Byproducts”. Hiba RAJHA, Richard MAROUN and Nicolas LOUKA.

- First Sciences Doctorate Award of the Lebanese Industrial Research Achievements “LIRA” program 2017. 13th Forum of Technology & Industrial Innovation. “Extraction of Polyphenols and Essential Oils from Citrus Byproducts Using Innovative Technologies”. Nicolas LOUKA, Richard MAROUN, Hiba RAJHA and Sally EL KANTAR.

- Berytech Incubation and Business Support Prizes of the Lebanese Industrial Research Achievements “LIRA” program 2017. 13th Forum of Technology & Industrial Innovation. “Green Valorization of Industrial Byproducts: Bioenergy Production from Grape Pomace”. Zeina HOBAIKA, Richard MAROUN, Nicolas LOUKA and Jean EL ACHKAR.

- First Innovation Award of the Lebanese Industrial Research Achievements “LIRA” program 2019. 15th Forum of Technology & Industrial Innovation. “New Generation Machine for Extraction of Bioactive Compounds Using Infrared Irradiation – Ecofriendly and Flexible Industrial Scale Up”. Hiba RAJHA, Espérance DEBS, Richard MAROUN and Nicolas LOUKA.

- L’Oréal UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talent Levant Region award 2021 : Hiba RAJHA.

- Member in the Arab German Young Academy of Sciences AGYA 2021 : Hiba RAJHA.

- Winners of the IP Valorization Grants Program under the ACT Smart Innovation Hub, a new out-of-the-box approach by Berytech 2020, Hiba RAJHA, Anna-Maria ABI-KHATTAR, Richard MAROUN and Nicolas LOUKA.

- 2017 Innovation Prize at the 18th ISANH Middle East World Congress on Antioxidants in Beirut, Hiba RAJHA.

Read also : La recherche scientifique au service de la valorisation industrielle