Chestnut shell: not only a source of antioxidant compounds.

In the last few years, strong attention has been devoted to the utilization of agronomic residues also termed "lignocellulosic biomass". This feedstock is very attractive because it is renewable, and it is not in competition with food sources. The exploitation of lignocellulosic biomass is expected to produce a doublebeneficialeffect:1)theeliminationofwastethatrepresents a source of pollution; 2) the production of useful by-products like monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and antioxidant molecules1. Because in lignocellulose, the carbohydrates are embedded in a lignin matrix which hinders the enzymatic action, to achieve an effective saccharification, a pretreatment aiming to destroy this complex structure is required2. Here, we report on data about the saccharification of chestnut shell by blends of commercially enzymes.