Quercetin (QC) is a typical plant flavonoid, possesses diverse pharmacologic effects including antiinflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-anaphylaxis effects and against aging. However, the application of QC in pharmaceutical field is limited due to its poor solubility, low bioavailability, poor permeability and instability. To improve the bioavailability of QC, numerous approaches have been undertaken, involving the use of promising drug delivery systems such as inclusion complexes, liposomes, nanoparticles or micelles, which appear to provide higher solubility and bioavailability. Enhanced bioavailability of QC in the near future is likely to bring this product to the forefront of therapeutic agents for treatment of human disease.

The short‐term retrogradation of the rice starch (RS)/xanthan (Xan) mixtures was investigated by Brabender‐E viscograph and dynamic rheometer while the long‐term retrogradation was investigated by DSC and pulsed NMR (PNMR), respectively. RS and 0, 2.5, 5, and 10% Xan (based on RS weight) were prepared into RS/Xan mixtures at the ratios of 100:0, 40:1, 20:1, and 10:1 w/w, respectively. With increasing Xan concentration, the reduced setback (SB) value suggests the decrease of short‐term retrogradation. The gelation rate constant (k) of the mixtures increased during the storage at 4°C for 5 h due to phase separation. The endothermic enthalpy of the pastes of RS/Xan mixture after being stored at 4°C for 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days were lower than the native starch stored for the same days. The spin–spin relaxation time (T2) indicating the water mobility of starch gels was detected. T2 decreased gradually with extending storage time, which may be attributed to the retrogradation of RS. T2 of the system with xanthan was apparently higher than that without. The overall results demonstrate the remarkable inhibitory effects of Xan on the retrogradation of RS.

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