Development and antifungal evaluation of a food-grade U-type microemulsion.
OBJECTIVE
Food-grade microemulsions have been of increasing interest to researchers as potential delivery systems for bioactive compounds. However, food-grade microemulsions are difficult to formulate and no microemulsion has been documented for antifungal purpose. The physicochemical characterization of a food-grade glycerol monolaurate (GML)/ethanol (EtOH)/Tween 80/potassium sorbate (PS)/water microemulsion system and the antifungal activities against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium italicum have been studied in this paper.


RESULTS
The influence of EtOH and PS on oil solubilization capability was clearly reflected in the phase behaviour of U-type microemulsion systems. One dilution-stable formulation ME (GML/EtOH/Tween 80/PS/water = 3 : 3 : 3.5 : 10.5 : 16) was selected. After 4 days of incubation, ME showed 80%A. niger growth inhibition at 0.2% and 72%P. italicum growth inhibition at 0.1%, respectively, and a delay of conidiation of 2 days compared with the control. In the antifungal activities of the microemulsion, GML and PS made major contributions with similar antifungal activities at a GML/PS weight ratio of 1: 3.5.


CONCLUSIONS
Food-grade dilution-stable microemulsions prepared with GML as oil phase for antifungal purpose are feasible and solubilization of a hydrotrope contributes to the formation of microemulsions and enhanced antifungal activities.


CONCLUSIONS
The present report represents the first to develop a food-grade microemulsion system for antifugal purpose.
Zhang
H
H
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Huajiachi Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Lu
Z
Z
Wang
S
S
Shen
Y
Y
Feng
F
F
Zheng
X
X
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects; D004655:Emulsions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005516:Food Microbiology; D007848:Laurates / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050178:Monoglycerides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000494:pharmacology; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004655:Emulsions; D007848:Laurates; D050178:Monoglycerides; D011136:Polysorbates; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C020777:monolaurin; D000431:Ethanol; D013011:Sorbic Acid