Improving the water solubility and antimicrobial activity of silymarin by nanoencapsulation.
The aims of this study were to improve the water solubility and antimicrobial activity of milk thistle silymarin by nanoencapsulation and to assess the functions of silymarin nanoparticle-containing film as an antimicrobial food-packaging agent. Silymarin nanoparticles were prepared using water-soluble chitosan (WCS) and poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA). As the WCS and silymarin concentrations increased, particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) significantly increased. Nanoencapsulation significantly improved the water solubility of silymarin 7.7-fold. Antimicrobial activity of silymarin was effectively improved when silymarin was entrapped within the nanocapsule compared to when it was not entrapped. Films incorporating silymarin nanoparticles had better antimicrobial activity than films incorporating free silymarin. The results suggest that silymarin nanoparticles have applications in antimicrobial food additives and food packing.
Department of Food and Nutrition, Hanyang University, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, Republic of Korea.
Ji-Soo
JS
Lee
Department of Food and Nutrition, Hanyang University, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, Republic of Korea.
Da Young
DY
Hong
Department of Food and Nutrition, Hanyang University, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, Republic of Korea.
Eun Suh
ES
Kim
Department of Food and Nutrition, Hanyang University, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-791, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hyeonlee@hanyang.ac.kr.
Hyeon Gyu
HG
Lee
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000379:methods; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D020944:Silybum marianum / Q000737:chemistry*; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D012838:Silymarin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012995:Solubility; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005520:Food Preservatives; D053769:Nanocapsules; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012838:Silymarin; C511775:poly(gamma-glutamic acid); D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D048271:Chitosan
Antimicrobial activity; Milk thistle; Nanoencapsulation; Silymarin; Solubility