title: Preparation, characterization, and preliminary antibrowning evaluations of norartocarpetin microemulsions.
abstract: Norartocarpetin is a flavone widely distributed in Moraceae plants with strong tyrosinase inhibitory activity. However, its poor solubility in aqueous systems and in food grade solvents (oils) limits its extensive applications. The aim of this study was to improve the solubility of norartocarpetin by developing an oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsion with food grade components. A microemulsion was developed and characterized, and its chemical and physical stabilities were also evaluated within 8 weeks. Using the construction of pseudoternary phase diagrams, the optimized formulation of 2% w/w of ethyl oleate, 12% w/w of Tween 80, 6% w/w of polyethylene glycol 400, and 80% w/w of water was obtained, with a maximum solubility of norartocarpetin up to 1.73 ± 0.21 mg/mL, at least a 1000-fold increase in solubility. The microemulsion base and norartocarpetin-loaded microemulsion were demonstrated to be stable after accelerated and long-term conditions (8 weeks). The norartocarpetin microemulsion still showed strong tyrosinase inhibitory activity and antibrowning effect on fresh-cut apple slices. These combined results indicated that norartocarpetin microemulsion may be suitable as an antibrowning agent for fresh-cut fruits.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University , Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zong-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Mingfu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D003116:Color; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D047309:Flavones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D029586:Moraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D047309:Flavones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; C043562:flavone
keywords: antibrowning; microemulsion; norartocarpetin; tyrosinase inhibition