Encapsulation of isoflavone with milk, maltodextrin and gum acacia improves its stability

Characterization and investigation of cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties of coencapsulated limonene and thymol into the Ferula assafoetida gum microparticles

Thymol (Th) and d-limonene (L) exhibit low stability and are prone to oxidation when exposed to air, light, humidity, and high temperatures. This study examined the coencapsulation of Th and L into Ferula assafoetida gum (AFG) microparticles. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) were done to characterize the obtained complexes. Furthermore, the encapsulation efficiency, antibacterial properties, cytotoxicity, and anticancer properties of both the free and encapsulated forms of L and Th were measured. For all samples, by increasing the percentage of bioactive compound (L, Th, and L-Th) from 2.5 to 5 % w/w, the EE was increased. FTIR and XRD analysis results demonstrated that Th and L were successfully incorporated into the AFG. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis showed that in the thermal graphs of all samples, the first weight loss occurred between 30 °C and 160 °C, which was due to the evaporation of water. In the free L and Th graph, a sharp reduction peak was observed in which 80 % of compounds were lost. These reduction peaks disappeared in the thermal graphs of L: AFG and Th: AFG revealing that the thermal stability of Th and L was significantly increased upon their incorporation into the AFG. The inclusion of Th into the AFG also led to an increase in its antibacterial activity, while L exhibited acceptable antibacterial activity, albeit not as high as Th. Additionally, according to the MIC results, Th: AFG had the best antibacterial activity among all compounds, especially on gram-positive bacteria. According to the result of the MTT assay, there was a significant difference between the IC50 of free Th (123.4 μg/ml) and Th: AFG (2312 μg/ml), and free L (1762 μg/ml) and L: AFG (2480 μg/ml) showing that encapsulated Th and L into the AFG has decreased the cytotoxicity of free compounds against L929 cell line. Also, Th: AFG had the best anticancer activity against Hella and CT26 cell lines among all compounds. Finally, the flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the encapsulated particles effectively eliminated cancer cells. The outcomes imply that AFG can be employed as a suitable delivery system to enhance the use of Th and L into the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Potential of White Jack Bean (Canavalia ensiformis L. DC) Kefir as a Microencapsulated Antioxidant

Oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis and progression of noncommunicable diseases. Kefir is a fermented food that has been reported to repress oxidative stress. This study aimed to assess the antioxidant activity, bioactive composition, and encapsulation efficiency of white jack bean (WJB) kefir. The following procedures were conducted: WJB was prepared and converted into juice using water solvent. The sterilized WJB juice was then fermented with kefir grain (10%) for 24∼72 h. Every 24 h, the kefir was evaluated for antioxidant activity, and the dominant bioactive component suspected to be the source of the antioxidant activity was identified. The final stage was the encapsulation process. WJB kefir showed high antioxidant activity, inhibiting DPPH radicals by 90.51±4.73% and ABTS radicals by 86.63±2.34% after 72 h of fermentation. WJB kefir contained 0.35±0.01 mg GAE/g total phenolics and 0.08 mg/g total flavonoids. The LC/MS identification suggested that the bioactive antioxidant components of the WJB kefir were from the alkaloid, saponin, phenolic, and flavonoid groups. The encapsulation with maltodextrin using freeze drying resulted in microencapsulation of WJB kefir with a particle size of 6.42±0.13 μm. The encapsulation efficiency was 79.61%, and the IC50 value was 32.62 ppm. The encapsulation method was able to maintain the antioxidant stability of the kefir and extend its shelf life. WJB kefir, a nondairy, lactose-free kefir, can be used as an antioxidant functional food.

Effects of Maltodextrin and Gum Arabic Composition on the Physical and Antioxidant Activities of Dewaxed Stingless Bee Cerumen

BACKGROUND

Cerumen is a mixture of beeswax and plant resin made by stingless bees. It has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and is often used in biological and therapeutic treatments. However, its adhesive characteristic makes cerumen challenging to process into powder.

METHODS

This study investigated the physical characteristics and antioxidant activity of the encapsulated freeze-dried dewaxed cerumen of Tetragonula laevicpes. The combination of coating materials at concentrations of 20%, 30% and 40% and carrier ratios of maltodextrin to gum arabic of 9:1, 5:5 and 3:7 were used to encapsulate dewaxed cerumen when freeze-dried; the control was maltodextrin at a concentration of 31.25%.

RESULTS

All carrier matrices showed high yields of >80% and similar powder characteristics of low moisture content, low water activity, high glass transition temperature and water dispersibility. Overall, antioxidant activities ranged from 69-80%, while the encapsulation efficiency of total phenolic content ranged from 46-68%. All carrier matrices show higher antioxidant activities than 31.25% maltodextrin, with the lowest antioxidant at 57%.

CONCLUSIONS

The carrier ratio of 5:5 resulted in better physical properties and retained 68% of polyphenolic activity in powders.

Antioxidant and Anti-Cytotoxicity Effect of Phenolic Extracts from Psidium guajava Linn. Leaves by Novel Assisted Extraction Techniques

Phytochemicals (PCs) are gaining popularity due to their antioxidant effects and potential protection against infection, cardiovascular disease, and cellular metabolic activity. These PCs must be retained as much as possible during extraction. This research focused on the extraction of PC from Psidium guajava Linn. leaves due to higher antioxidant potential. Solvent extraction (SE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) using distilled water (DW) or 60% (v/v) ethanol/water (ET) were used for the extraction of PC. ET shows higher total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) as well as higher antioxidant activity than DW. Phytochemical screening demonstrated that all of the screening showed positive results in all extraction methods, except glycoside. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in TPC and TFC during MAE/ET, SE/ET, and UAE/ET. Antioxidant analysis shows that MAE and SE resulted in high (p < 0.05) DPPH and FRAP values for ET and DW, respectively. MAE/ET showed the highest inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 16.67 µg/mL). HPLC and TLC analysis reveal the fingerprint of morin, which might function as an anticancer agent with other bioactives. Increasing the extract content increased the inhibitory activity of SW480 cells via MTT assay. In conclusion, MAE/ET is the most efficient among the extraction techniques in terms of anti-cytotoxicity effects.

Encapsulating Calendula arvensis (Vaill.) L. Florets: UHPLC-HRMS Insights into Bioactive Compounds Preservation and Oral Bioaccessibility

Wild edible plants, once consumed in times of famine or for health purposes, today represent an interesting dietary supplement, aimed at enriching local dishes and/or formulating healthy nutraceutical products. In fact, the broad content of different, and diversely bioactive, specialized metabolites therein suggests new scenarios of use which, in order to be as functional as possible, must maximize the bioactivity of these compounds while preserving their chemistry. In this context, based on a recent investigation on the metabolic profile of the organs of Calendula arvensis that highlighted that florets are abundant in flavonol glycosides and triterpene saponins, the freeze-drying encapsulation of their alcoholic extract (FE) into maltodextrin (MD) was investigated. FE-MD chemical composition was evaluated using Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR), while ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) techniques were employed to unravel FE compound preservation also during in vitro simulated digestion. The establishment of H-bonds between FE compounds and MD hydroxyl groups was in line with FE-MD biocompatibility in Caco-2 cells, while in vitro digestion mostly affected structural integrity and/or diversity. Flavonol compounds underwent deglycosylation and demethylation, while deacylation, beyond oxidation, involved triterpene saponins, which massively preserve their aglycone core.

Encapsulation of soy isoflavone extract by freeze drying, its stability during storage and development of isoflavone enriched yoghurt

Soybean is a natural source of isoflavone. Its extract has a bitter and astringent taste and undergoes through oxidative deterioration. The study aimed at encapsulation of isoflavone extract using different carrier material through freeze drying. Maltodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and tapioca starch were employed in 1:3 while sodium alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose in 1:1.25 as extract to carrier material ratio for encapsulation. Carrier material reflected significant (< 0.05) effect on encapsulation efficiency, isoflavone content and morphology of encapsulated extract. Maltodextrin was selected as the best material for encapsulation of isoflavone extract reflecting significantly higher encapsulation efficiency along with homogenous coating on the particle surface as examined through SEM. The band stretching in FTIR analysis also indicates the retention of functional groups after encapsulation. The encapsulated extract packed in ambered glass vials can be stored safely for a period of 6 months with a higher withholding of isoflavones under refrigerated conditions. Furthermore, encapsulated isoflavone extract was incorporated in yoghurt @ 50 mg isoflavone which improved its functional and sensory properties. About 96.83% of isoflavone was retention in yoghurt containing encapsulated extract compared to yoghurt having extract without encapsulation.

Potential uses of milk proteins as encapsulation walls for bioactive compounds: A review

Milk proteins have received much awareness due to their bioactivity. However, their encapsulation functions have not attracted enough attention. Milk proteins as encapsulation walls can increase the bioavailability of bioactive compounds. As the benefits of bioactive compounds are critically determined by bioavailability, the effect of interactions between milk proteins and active substances is a critical topic. In the present review, we summarize the effects of milk proteins as encapsulation walls on the bioavailability of active substances with a special focus. The methods and mechanisms of interactions between milk proteins and active substances are also discussed. The evidence collected in the present review suggests that when active substances are encapsulated by milk proteins, the bioavailability of active substances can be significantly affected. This review also provides valuable guidelines for the use of milk protein-based microcarriers.

An innovative approach using microencapsulated turmeric oleoresin to develop ready-to-use turmeric milk powder with enhanced oral bioavailability

The use of phytochemicals for nutritional wellness has attracted worldwide attention and resulted in development of innovative formulations. Turmeric latte is one such formulation. However, an in-depth study on its physicochemical properties and oral bioavailability has not been conducted as yet. We present a ready-to-use turmeric latte by microencapsulating turmeric oleoresin (TO) with a blend of gum acacia, maltodextrin, and dairy whitener (DW) with bioenhancers by spray drying. The microencapsulated powder obtained exhibited >95% encapsulation efficiency, desired curcumin content, of 539.98 ± 6.56 to 706.40 ± 5.25 mg/100 g, wettability time below 40 s, and dispersibility above 95%. Turmeric latte released >95% of curcumin at pH 1.2 HCl with 0.1% Tween 80, which was ascribed in part to curcumin amorphization as evidenced by DSC and XRD. Turmeric latte demonstrated superior antioxidant activity with 4.2-fold enhanced permeability through non-everted rat intestine and 4.9-fold higher oral bioavailability in rats confirming bioenhancement.

Microencapsulation of Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinskaja Extracts: A Promising Technique to Protect Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacities

This study aimed to protect phenolic compounds of Cyclocarya paliurus (Batal.) Iljinskaja (C. paliurus) using a microencapsulation technique. Ethanol and aqueous extracts were prepared from C. paliurus leaves and microencapsulated via microfluidic-jet spray drying using three types of wall material: (1) maltodextrin (MD; 10-13, DE) alone; (2) MD:gum acacia (GA) of 1:1 ratio; (3) MD:GA of 1:3 ratio. The powders' physicochemical properties, microstructure, and phenolic profiles were investigated, emphasizing the retentions of the total and individual phenolic compounds and their antioxidant capacities (AOC) after spray drying. Results showed that all powders had good physical properties, including high solubilities (88.81 to 99.12%), low moisture contents (4.09 to 6.64%) and low water activities (0.11 to 0.19). The extract type used for encapsulation was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the powder color, and more importantly the retention of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and AOC. Overall, the ethanol extract powders showed higher TPC and AOC values (50.93-63.94 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and 444.63-513.49 µM TE/g, respectively), while powders derived from the aqueous extract exhibited superior solubility, attractive color, and good retention of individual phenolic compounds after spray drying. The high-quality powders obtained in the current study will bring opportunities for use in functional food products with potential health benefits.

Nutritional, textural, and sensory quality of bars enriched with banana flour and pumpkin seed flour

Introduction. Nowadays, health-conscious consumers attend to nutritional, health, and easy-to-use products. Demand for healthy snacks is significantly increasing. Our study aimed to develop high protein nutrition bars by incorporating pumpkin seed flour and banana flour and assess their quality. Study objects and methods. We analyzed three bar samples for nutritional, textural, and sensory quality. The bars contained banana flour, pumpkin seed flour, and the mixed flour. Proximate analysis was performed following the AOAC method. The mineral content and antioxidant properties of the bars were determined by using emission spectrophotometry and the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging modified method, respectively. Results and discussion. The mixed flour nutrition bar had significantly higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity than the bar with banana flour and the bar with pumpkin seed flour. Textural analysis demonstrated that the mixed flour sample had significantly (P < 0.05) higher hardness and color parameters compared to the other bar samples. Nutritional analysis indicated that mixed flour bar contained significantly higher amounts of protein, fat, and calcium; while pumpkin seed flour bar had higher ash, iron, and magnesium contents. The mixed flour sample also had better sensory parameters. Conclusion. The mixed flour demonstrated good quality. Hence, both banana and pumpkin seed flour have a potential to be used in bar formulations.