Tailoring functional properties of gum Arabic and partially hydrolyzed guar gum-based delivery systems for phenylethanoid glycosides from Mountain Germander (Teucrium montanum L.)

Abstract

The growing popularity of plant extracts as valuable sources of bioactive compounds is clearly reflected in the investment in technological solutions that ensure stability and more convenient integration into food formulations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of secondary polymers - hydrolyzed collagen (COL), kappa-carrageenan (CAR) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) on the physico-chemical and functional properties of spray-dried microparticles based on gum Arabic (GA) and partially hydrolyzed guar gum (GG) for the delivery of phenylethanoid glycosides from Mountain Germander extract. The viscoelastic properties of the feed solutions as well as the physico-chemical, bioactive and thermal properties of the MG microparticles were determined for all formulations. Improved electrostatic repulsion was observed for the GA_CAR and GG_CMC formulations. The addition of CMC improved the surface morphology and reduced the wettability of the microparticles, thus providing controlled release of the PhG. The ATR-FTIR spectra revealed high affinity of the PhG to interact with polar functional groups of examined carrier matrices. The introduction of COL into the GA solution as well as CMC into the GG solution significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the encapsulation efficiency by max. 25 %, depending on the PhG compound analyzed. The results of this study reveal the suitability of GA and GG for the retention of PhG as well as the emerging potential of CMC for modifying the functional properties of the hydrophilic carrier matrix