Design of low molecular weight pectin and its nanoparticles through combination treatment of pectin by microwave and inorganic salts

Enhancing basil essential oil microencapsulation using pectin/casein biopolymers: Optimization through D-optimal design, controlled release modeling, and characterization

A D-optimal design was employed to optimize the microencapsulation (MEC) of basil essential oil (BEO) within a biopolymer matrix using the complex coacervation technique. BEO microcapsules (BEO-MCs) obtained under the optimal conditions exhibited high yield and efficiency with 80.45 ± 0.01 % and 93.10 ± 0.18 %, respectively. The successful MEC of BEO with an average particle size of 4.81 ± 2.86 μm was confirmed by ATR-FTIR, X-RD, and SEM analyses. Furthermore, the thermal stability of BEO-MCs was assessed using TGA-DSC analysis, which provided valuable insights into the MC's thermal stability. Furthermore, the proposed model, with a high R2 value (0.99) and low RMSE (1.56 %), was the most suitable one among the tested models for the controlled release kinetics of the optimal BEO-MCs under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The successful optimization of BEO MEC using biopolymers through the D-optimal design could be a promising avenue for food and pharmaceutical industries, providing new strategies for the development of effective products.

Insights into the impact of modification methods on the structural characteristics and health functions of pectin: A comprehensive review

Pectin is a complex polysaccharide that is widely present in plant cells and has multiple physiological functions. However, most pectin exists in the form of protopectin, which has a large molecular weight and cannot be fully absorbed and utilized in the human gut to exert its effects. The significant differences in the structure of different sources of pectin also limited their application in the food and medical fields. In order to achieve greater development and utilization of pectin functions, this paper reviewed several commonly used methods for pectin modification from physical, chemical, and biological perspectives, and elaborated on the relationship between these modification methods and the structure and functional properties of pectin. At the same time, the functional characteristics of modified pectin and its application in medical health, such as regulating intestinal health, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and drug transport, were reviewed, so as to provide a theoretical basis for targeted modification of pectin and the development of new modified pectin products.

Environmentally Friendly Approach to Pectin Extraction from Grapefruit Peel: Microwave-Assisted High-Pressure CO2/H2O

In this research, pectin extraction from grapefruit peel (GPP) was performed using a microwave-assisted high-pressure CO2/H2O (MW-HPCO2) system. The Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology was applied for the optimization of MW-HPCO2 extraction conditions to obtain the highest pectin yield. The effects of temperature, time, and liquid/solid ratio on pectin yield were examined in the range of 100-150 °C, 5-15 min, and 10-20 mL g-1, respectively. Under the optimum extraction conditions (147 °C, 3 min, and 10 mL g-1), pectin was obtained with a yield of 27.53%. The results obtained showed that the extraction temperature and time had a strong effect on the pectin yield, while the effect of the liquid/solid ratio was not significant, and the pectin was effectively extracted from grapefruit peel (GP) using MW-HPCO2. Additionally, the application of GPP in apricot jam showed that MW-HPCO2-GPP can be used as a thickener in the food industry. The yield and physicochemical properties (ash, protein, galacturonic acid, reducing sugar and methoxyl content, degree of esterification, equivalent weight, color, viscosity) of pectin extracted in the optimum conditions of the MW-HPCO2 method were superior to pectin extracted by the traditional method. The results of this study revealed that MW-HPCO2 could be an innovative green and rapid technique for pectin extraction.

Effect of H2O2-assisted ultrasonic bath on the degradation and physicochemical properties of pectin

The effects of H2O2-assisted ultrasonic bath degradation technology on pectin were investigated. The degradation efficiency with different pectin concentrations, H2O2 concentrations, ultrasonic power, and ultrasonic time was analyzed. The results showed that pectin concentration was negatively correlated with the degradation efficiency of pectin, while, H2O2 concentration, ultrasonic power, and ultrasonic time were positive correlated with the degradation efficiency. Besides, the apparent viscosity and viscoelasticity of the degraded pectin decreased significantly. The antioxidant activity increased after the H2O2-assisted ultrasonic bath treatment. The results of FTIR, NMR, laser particle size, SEM, XRD, and AFM analysis indicated that the degradation treatment did not destroy the main structure of pectin. The average particle size and crystallinity of pectin decreased. The degree of aggregation and the height of the molecular chain decreased significantly. In conclusion, the H2O2-assisted ultrasonic bath degradation technique could effectively degrade pectin. This study provided a comprehensive analysis of the degradation of pectin under H2O2-assisted ultrasonic bath, which will be beneficial to further develop H2O2-assisted ultrasonic bath techniques for pectin degradation.

Reinvention of starch for oral drug delivery system design

Starch is a polysaccharide with varying amylose-to-amylopectin ratios as a function of its biological sources. It is characterized by low shear stress resistance, poor aqueous/organic solubility and gastrointestinal digestibility which limit its ease of processing and functionality display as an oral drug delivery vehicle. Modulation of starch composition through genetic engineering primarily alters amylose-to-amylopectin ratio. Greater molecular properties changes require chemical and enzymatic modifications of starch. Acetylation reduces water solubility and enzymatic digestibility of starch. Carboxymethylation turns starch acid-insoluble and aggregative at low pHs. The summative effects are sustaining drug release in the upper gut. Acid-insoluble carboxymethylated starch can be aminated to provide an ionic character essential for hydrogel formation which further reduces its drug release. Ionic starch can coacervate with oppositely charged starch, non-starch polyelectrolyte or drug into insoluble, controlled-release complexes. Enzymatically debranched and resistant starch has a small molecular size which confers chain aggregation into a helical hydrogel network that traps the drug molecules, protecting them from biodegradation. The modified starch has been used to modulate the intestinal/colon-specific or controlled systemic delivery of oral small molecule drugs and macromolecular therapeutics. This review highlights synthesis aspects of starch and starch derivatives, and their outcomes and challenges of applications in oral drug delivery.

Physicochemical and functional properties of RG-I enriched pectin extracted from thinned-young apples

The demand for obtaining pectin from new sources has been continuously increasing. The abundant but underutilized thinned-young apple is a potential source of pectin. In this study, an organic acid (i.e., citric acid) and two inorganic acids (i.e., hydrochloric acid and nitric acid) commonly used in commercial pectin production were applied to extract pectin from three varieties of thinned-young apples. The physicochemical and functional properties of the thinned-young apple pectin were comprehensively characterized. The highest pectin yield (8.88 %) was obtained from Fuji apple using citric acid extraction. All pectin was high methoxy pectin (HMP) and rich in RG-I regions (>56 %). The citric acid extracted pectin had the highest molecular weight (Mw) and lowest degree of esterification (DE) values, and exhibited great thermal stability and shear-thinning property. Furthermore, Fuji-apple pectin possessed significantly better emulsifying properties compared to pectin obtained from the other two varieties of apples. Thus, pectin extracted with citric acid from Fuji thinned-young apples has great potential to be applied in the food industry as a natural thickener and emulsifier.

Trends in "green" and novel methods of pectin modification - A review

Modification of hydrocolloids to alter their functional properties using chemical methods is well documented in the literature. There has been a recent trend of adopting eco-friendly and "green" methods for modification. Pectin, being a very important hydrocolloid finds its use in various food applications due to its gelling, emulsifying, and stabilizing properties. The adoption of various "green" methods can alter the properties of pectin and make it more suitable for incorporation in food products. The novel approaches such as microwave and pulsed electric field can also be utilized for solvent-free modification, making it desirable from the perspective of sustainability, as it reduces the consumption of organic chemicals. Pectic oligosaccharides (POSs) produced via novel approaches are being explored for their biological properties and incorporation in various functional foods. The review can help to set the perspective of potential scale-up and adoption by the food industry for modification of pectin.

Evaluation of the physicochemical properties of pectin extracted from Musa paradisiaca banana peels at different pH conditions in the formation of nanoparticles

Colombia is one of the major producers and exporters of banana Musa paradisiaca. Its consumption is high then its agro-industrial wastes are important source to extract pectin. In the present study, inorganic acids (nitric acid and hydrochloride acid) and organic acids (citric acid and acetic acid) were evaluated to extract pectin from banana peels at pH 2 and 3, through acid hydrolysis during 1h at the temperature of 85 °C. The extraction yield, degree of esterification (DE) and intrinsic viscosity of the pectin were characterized. Nitric acid (NA) allowed to obtain higher extraction yield (54 ± 10%) and citric acid (CA) allowed to obtain higher DE (76.7 ± 2%). Additionally, the effect of polymer concentration and degree esterification, low degree of esterification (LDE, 33.1%) and high degree of esterification (HDE, 76.7%) were evaluated in the pectin nanoparticles formation. The pectin with HDE formed stable nanoparticles with a particle size of 255 ± 11 nm and the zeta potential value of -45 ± 3 mV, independently of the polymer concentration. Morphology analysis showed aggregated of the pectin nanoparticles.

Physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of pectin from hawthorn wine pomace: A comparison of different extraction methods

In the paper, to enhance the value and utilization rate of hawthorn wine pomace waste, four kinds of pectin were gained from hawthorn wine pomace by hydrochloric acid method (HA-HP), citric acid method (CA-HP), cellulase method (E-HP) and microwave-assisted chelating agent method (MH-HP). The physical and chemical properties of extracted hawthorn pectin were analyzed, however, different extraction methods lead to different characteristics of extracted pectin samples. We found that the extracted hawthorn pectin was all low-methoxy pectin, and the highest extraction yield of 72.89% with high ash (9.20%) was obtained by the MH-HP method, while the galacturonic acid (Gal A) content was up to 72.24% after dealing with the CA-HP method which was the highest among the four samples, besides, the quality of gel formed by E-HP method was the best. What's more, the four extracted samples all reveled degrees of antioxidant activity with dose-dependent in vitro antioxidant, and it was CA-HP method had the best antioxidant activity, making this the first comprehensive research describing the extracting pectin from hawthorn wine pomace. This research also provides a base for industrial production of high-value products from low-cost raw materials.

Design and Development of Spray-Dried Microsystems to Improve Technological and Functional Properties of Bioactive Compounds from Hazelnut Shells

An extract obtained from hazelnut shells by-products (HSE) has antioxidant and chemopreventive effects on human melanoma and cervical cancer cell lines, inducing apoptosis by caspase-3 activation. A clinical translation is limited by poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Dried plant extracts often show critical characteristics such as sticky/gummy appearance, unpleasant smell, and instability involving practical difficulties in processing for industrial use. A spray drying method has been applied to transform raw HSE in a microparticulate powder. The biopolymeric matrix was based on l-proline as loading carrier, hydroxyethylcellulose in combination with pectin as coating polymers; lecithin and ethanol were used as solubility enhancers. A Hot-Cold-Hot method was selected to prepare the liquid feed. The thus prepared powder showed good technological properties (solid-state, particle dimensions, morphology, and water dissolution rate), stability, and unchanged chemopreventive effects with respect to the unprocessed HSE.

Efficient extraction and characterization of pectin from orange peel by a combined surfactant and microwave assisted process

Surfactant and microwave assisted extraction (S-MAE) was used for pectin extraction from orange peel. First, we optimized the conditions of microwave assisted extraction (MAE), e.g., irradiation time, liquid-to-solid ratio (LSR), and pH on pectin yield (PY), galacturonic acid (GA) content, and degree of esterification (DE) using a Box-Behnken design. Under optimal conditions (pH 1.2, 7.0 min, and 21.5 v/w LSR), we obtained a PY of 28.0 ± 0.5%, which was close to the predicted value (31.1%). Second, we analyzed the effect of surfactant on microwave extraction of pectin. Among the surfactants investigated, Tween-80 (8 g/L, w/v) increased PY by 17.0%. Compared with conventional solvent extraction, S-MAE is a novel and efficient method for pectin extraction, which generated a higher (p < 0.05) PY (32.8%), GA content (78.1%), DE (69.8%), and M_w (286.3 kDa).