Recently, purple corn cob has been gaining popularity for a dietary supplement and natural colorant. However, phytochemicals in waxy purple corn cob (WPC) are likely degraded during storage; thus, the microencapsulation by spray drying was used for lengthening those compounds. This work focused on the phenolic and anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity (ADA) in WPC extract microcapsules by hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) during storage at 4 and 30 °C for 60 days. The results revealed that only peonodin-3-glucoside at 30 °C was found as a higher decrease than 4 °C. Pelagonidin-3-glucoside and ADA were found more stable at both storage temperatures; however, the increase of protocatechuic acid and hydroxybenzoic acid were observed during storage, especially at 30 °C. Consequently, the storage under 4 °C was appropriate to maintain the phytochemical content in WPC extract powder.Keywords: waxy purple corn cob; microencapsulation; phenolics; anthocyanins; hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin.
Practical Application:The microencapsulation of WPC extract by HPβCD demonstrates the considerable potential to improve the stability of bioactive compounds during storage at cool and room temperature; thus, HPβCD represents a competent alternative coating material with sensitive compounds from plant extract. Additionally, this work also provides the valuable information describing the phytochemical composition and concentration in the cob, which is perhaps used as a low-cost source of nutraceutical compound for the functional food and pharmaceutical industry.