Polysaccharide Matrices for the Encapsulation of Tetrahydrocurcumin—Potential Application as Biopesticide against Fusarium graminearum

Abstract

Cereals are subject to contamination by pathogenic fungi, which damage grains and threaten public health with their mycotoxins. Fusarium graminearum and its mycotoxins, trichothecenes B (TCTBs), are especially targeted in this study. Recently, the increased public and political awareness concerning environmental issues tends to limit the use of traditional fungicides against these pathogens in favor of eco-friendlier alternatives. This study focuses on the development of biofungicides based on the encapsulation of a curcumin derivative, tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), in polysaccharide matrices. Starch octenylsuccinate (OSA-starch) and chitosan have been chosen since they are generally recognized as safe. THC has been successfully trapped into particles obtained through a spray-drying or freeze-drying processes. The particles present different properties, as revealed by visual observations and scanning electron microscopy. They are also different in terms of the amount and the release of encapsulated THC. Although freeze-dried OSA-starch has better trapped THC, it seems less able to protect the phenolic compound than spray-dried particles. Chitosan particles, both spray-dried and lyophilized, have shown promising antifungal properties. The IC50 of THC-loaded spray-dried chitosan particles is as low as 0.6 ± 0.3 g/L. These particles have also significantly decreased the accumulation of TCTBs by 39%.

Naturally occurring phenolic compounds as promising antimycotoxin agents: Where are we now?

“…Another example is tetrahydrocurcumin, a curcumin derivative with antifungal and inhibitory effects against Fusarium proliferatum and FUMs production (Coma et al., 2011). This compound was encapsulated in spray‐dried chitosan particles’ matrices for biofungicide applications (Loron et al., 2021). Muzzalupo et al.…”

“…Another example is tetrahydrocurcumin, a curcumin derivative with antifungal and inhibitory effects against Fusarium proliferatum and FUMs production (Coma et al, 2011). This compound was encapsulated in spray-dried chitosan particles' matrices for biofungicide applications (Loron et al, 2021). Muzzalupo et al (2020) investigated the in vitro antifungal activity of olive (Olea europaea) leaf extracts encapsulated in chitosan-tripolyphosphate NPs against F. proliferatum (Muzzalupo et al, 2020).…”

Optimization of Solid-State Fermentation Extraction of Inonotus hispidus Fruiting Body Melanin

“…It could not only use secondary electron images to characterize the structure of the material, but also use backscattered electrons. The image is used to set off the composition information of materials, so it is widely used in many fields of scientific research [ 20 ]. The surface of the soluble IHFM was flake-shaped, mainly composed of irregular particles of 10–15 nm ( Figure 5 B).…”

Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) enhanced the clearance of Cryptococcus deneoformans during infection in vivo

“…THC-loaded particles have demonstrated promising antifungal properties. Since the product does not interfere with fungal growth at this concentration, THC’s impact on toxin production can be assessed accordingly (Coma 2021 ). Shan Chen discovered that neither free nor encapsulated THC affected non-cancerous mouse embryonic cells, suggesting that THC is biocompatible with healthy non-melanoma cells and exhibits no biotoxicity (Shan 2021 ).…”