Formulation, Characterization and Optimization of β–Glucan and Pomegranate Juice Based Films for Its Potential in Diabetes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop films based on β–glucans in association with pomegranate juice for its potential in metabolic disorders such as diabetes due to plenty of bioactive compounds from the film composition. Initially, a Box-Behnken design was generated by varying the level of β–glucan content (0.5, 1, 1.5 g), sodium alginate (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 g) and pomegranate juice (10, 20, 30 mL) for development of films. Subsequently, glycerin was added as 25% of the total dry matter. The optimization of the films prepared by the solvent casting method was conducted based on the different responses such as: water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), water vapor permeability (WVP), thickness, density, moisture content, solubility, film opacity and color. The water activity profile and FT–IR analysis were performed in all tests. The model was used to determine the optimal experimental values considering that the optimal film will make a sustained contribution to diabetes. The optimal values of the film sample made of β–glucans, sodium alginate, pomegranate juice and glycerin make it befitting for packaging dry powdered pharmaceuticals. Finally, antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, UV barrier properties and microcrack and pore detections through SEM were also investigated for the optimal film sample.

Integrating Microbiome Analysis, Metabolomics, Bioinformatics, and Histopathology to Elucidate the Protective Effects of Pomegranate Juice against Benzo-alpha-pyrene-Induced Colon Pathologies

“…Second, the poor bioavailability of hydrolyzable tannins, which are key bioactive components of pomegranate juice, may be subject to formulation studies. Although the gut microbiota is pivotal in improving the bioavailability of hydrolyzable tannins, possible formulation alternatives include nanodelivery [ 129 ], micronization [ 130 ], and incorporation into bioactive film [ 131 ]. These alternatives may minimize microbiome-dependent intra- and inter-individual variation in chemoprotection outcome.…”

Formulation of Fast Dissolving β-Glucan/Bilberry Juice Films for Packaging Dry Powdered Pharmaceuticals for Diabetes

“…There are plenty of natural compounds that can be incorporated into the film-forming solution for film making, depending on their role in therapeutics and the related medical condition. Films with strong antioxidant properties were successfully developed using natural compounds, such as plants from Moringaceae family [ 4 ], chitosan/ellagic acid films were found to have strong antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruoginosa [ 5 ], while β-glucan/pomegranate juice films had potential in the management of diabetes through the variety of tannins and bioactivities [ 6 ].…”