Encapsulation of turmeric extract and rice bran oil in alginate hydrogel microcapsules

Abstract

Turmeric extract (TAE) and rice bran oil (RBO) have grown in popularity among consumers in recent years due to their wide spectrum of biological activity. The main bioactive component of turmeric, curcumin, has demonstrated promise as a possible anti-carcinogenic agent. Meanwhile, RBO, rich in γ-oryzanol and other phytosterols, has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing immune system function, thereby shielding the body against diseases. The objective of this study was to obtain and characterize alginate microcapsules containing turmeric aqueous extract and rice bran oil and to evaluate the effects of freeze drying and air drying on curcumin, γ-Oryzanol, total phenol contents, and DPPH of TAE and RBO microcapsules. Results show that non-dried (ND) and freeze -dried (FD) recorded 5.97 and 5.69 mg/g for curcumin content and 0.156 and 0.150% for γ-Oryzanol content, respectively. On the other hand, air-dried (AD) microcapsules were significantly lower than ND and FD microcapsules reaching 4.32 mg/g for curcumin content and 0.116 % for γ-Oryzanol content. Also, sensory evaluation showed that non-dried and freeze-dried microcapsules were significantly accepted.