LACCASE AND CELLULASE TREATMENTS BOOST THE ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF MODIFIED LIGNIN

Lignin utilization is gaining significance as it is the most prevalent polyphenol in the environment. Lignin includes numerous polyphenolic compounds, exhibiting potent antioxidant activity. Although the high number of phenolic hydroxyl groups (p^H-OH) and low molecular weight (M_w) of lignin have promoted its applications as a natural antioxidant, the outcomes must be improved to suit diverse prospects. The present review describes in detail the boosting effects of enzymatic treatments with laccase and cellulase on the functional properties of modified lignin, particularly antioxidant potential under environmentally sound technologies. In addition, the mechanism of lignin-enzyme interaction (lignin with laccases and cellulases) is discussed and also described widely used the 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH^•) scavenging free radical method to measure the antioxidant activity. Understanding the effects of modified lignin structure on its antioxidant activity is important for developing more beneficial antioxidants and revealing their scavenging mechanisms to realize various applications.