The Effect of Myristica fragrans on Texture Properties and Shelf-Life of Innovative Chewable Gel Tablets

Abstract

Chewable gel tablets are an underdeveloped subject, even though there are many simple chewable tablets and gummy candies in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Chewable gel tablets are not as sweet, they can have an active substance, pharmacological effect, and a value of nutrition. The aim of this study was to prepare gelatin-based chewable tablets with Myristica fragrans as a preservative and to determine the shelf-life variability depending on storage conditions, and to evaluate texture changes. Firmness and springiness of gel tablets were measured by a texture analyzer and compared between different storage conditions and the shelf-life of tablets was established by mold growing time. Chewable gel tablets were prepared by using silicone form. Mold was most likely to grow on tablets that have been packaged in squeezable bags (after 14 days 60% of all formulations had a mold, p < 0.05). The most stable tablets (over 180 days) were in sealed boxes and contained nutmeg essential oil or its solution, or ethanolic nutmeg extract. The gel tablets’ firmness increased about 4 times when they were stored in opened plastic boxes and their springiness decreased about 1.65 times after 28 days in the mentioned conditions, p < 0.05. Nutmeg hydrolat had the highest influence on texture variation (p < 0.05).

Development of Innovative Chewable Gel Tablets Containing Nutmeg Essential Oil Microcapsules and Their Physical Properties Evaluation

“…Gelatin 180 bloom (Carl Roth GmbH and Co. KG, Karlsruhe, Germany) with distilled water (LUHS laboratory, Kaunas, Lithuania) was used as a chewable gel tablet basis. Glycerol (99+% vegetable origin, Chem-Lab, Zedelgem, Belgium), thyme-sugar syrup [3] (Thyme herb from A. Karvelis therapy-phytotherapy company, Švenčionys, Lithuania; distilled water from Lithuanian University of Health Sciences laboratory, Kaunas, Lithuania; and sugar from Pfeifer and Langen Marketing Sp., Poznan, Poland), and citric acid (Carl Roth GmbH and Co. KG, Karlsruhe, Germany) were used as excipients (texture, flavor, and color) in the manufacturing of chewable gel tablets. Nutmeg essential oil from Myristica fragrans seeds (seeds from Grenada, supplier Spaisvilė, Pašaltuonys, Lithuania), sodium alginate from brown algae (Sigma-Aldrich, Shanghai, China), and maltodextrin (Sigma-Aldrich, Saint Louis, MO, USA) were used in freeze-dried microcapsules.…”

“…Volatile compounds from nutmeg essential oil (0.5%) are effective against bacteria (E. faecalis) of which growth in the oral cavity is increased after dental procedures [47]. In a previous study, it was determined that nutmeg essential oil has preservative properties, and can significantly increase the shelf-life of chewable gel tablets compared to sodium benzoate or citric acid (176, 75, and 108 days, respectively) [3].…”

“…Gelatin was used to form chewable gel tablets with nutmeg essential oil and microcapsules. In other studies, gelatin's amount varies from 6.5% to 15.38% [3,[57][58][59].…”

“…It is popular in aromatherapy as essential oils can reduce pain, anxiety, lift mood, suppress bacterial growth, and many other effects [1]. Myristica fragrans seeds are often used as a spice for taste, but they also have antibacterial and antifungal properties, and could be used as a preservative to prolong a product's shelf-life and protect it from bacterial and fungi growth [2,3]. Nutmeg essential oil has a higher antibacterial effect compared to other products, such as aqueous extracts or hydrolats, as it is a concentrated liquid with a large amount of compounds-14-29% sabinene, 15-28% α-pinene, 13-18% β-pinene, 2-6% γ-terpinene, and other compounds-which have a wide range of antibacterial effects (compound concentration values are taken from European Pharmacopoeia) [4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…Palatable chewable gel tablets must have sweeteners in their composition [31][32][33]. Sweeteners can make the chewable gel tablet tastier and hide the sensory properties of other substances that are undesirable [3,28,34]. In the industry, natural, semi-natural, or chemical sweeteners are usually used.…”