Highlights
Carotenoids present anti-inflammatory effects in healthy and overweight adults.
Nanotechnology can enhance carotenoid's bioactive potential.
Nanoparticles loaded with carotenoids from Cantaloupe melon were used in obese rats.
Animals receiving the nanoparticles showed no signs of toxicity.
Animals treated with nanoparticles had organs better aspect compared to untreated.
Background
Buriti oil presents numerous health benefits, but due to its lipophilic nature and high oxidation, it is impossible to incorporate it into aqueous food matrices. Thus, the present study evaluated whether powder nanoparticles based on porcine gelatin (OPG) and in combination with sodium alginate (OAG) containing buriti oil obtained by O/W emulsification followed by freeze-drying enabled water dispersibility and preserved or increased the antimicrobial activity of the oil.
Results
OPG presented spherical shape, smooth surface, smaller particle size and polydispersity index [51.0 (6.07) nm and 0.40 (0.05)], and better chemical interaction between the nonpolar amino acids and the hydrophobic oil chain. OPG also presented a higher dispersibility percentage [85.62% (7.82)] than OAG [50.19% (7.24)] (p < 0.05), and significantly increased the antimicrobial activity of the oil by 59, 62, and 43% for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively.
Conclusions
Thus, nanoencapsulation in gelatin is a promising strategy to increase the potential to use buriti oil in foods.
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