Biodegradable zein active film containing chitosan nanoparticle encapsulated with pomegranate peel extract for food packaging

In this study, oregano essential oil (OEO) has been encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles by a two-step method, i.e., oil-in-water emulsion and ionic gelation of chitosan with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). The success of OEO encapsulation was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV-vis spectrophotometry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The obtained nanoparticles exhibited a regular distribution and spherical shape with size range of 40-80 nm as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). As determined by TGA technique, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC) of OEO-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were about 21-47% and 3-8%, respectively, when the initial OEO content was 0.1-0.8 g/g chitosan. In vitro release studies showed an initial burst effect and followed by a slow drug release.

Being secondary plant metabolites, polyphenols represent a large and diverse group of substances abundantly present in a majority of fruits, herbs and vegetables. The current contribution is focused on their bioavailability, antioxidative and anticarcinogenic properties. An overview of extraction methods is also given, with supercritical fluid extraction highlighted as a promising eco-friendly alternative providing exceptional separation and protection from degradation of unstable polyphenols. The protective role of polyphenols against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, UV light, plant pathogens, parasites and predators results in several beneficial biological activities giving rise to prophylaxis or possibly even to a cure for several prevailing human diseases, especially various cancer types. Omnipresence, specificity of the response and the absence of or low toxicity are crucial advantages of polyphenols as anticancer agents. The main problem represents their low bioavailability and rapid metabolism. One of the promising solutions lies in nanoformulation of polyphenols that prevents their degradation and thus enables significantly higher concentrations to reach the target cells. Another, more practiced, solution is the use of mixtures of various polyphenols that bring synergistic effects, resulting in lowering of the required therapeutic dose and in multitargeted action. The combination of polyphenols with existing drugs and therapies also shows promising results and significantly reduces their toxicity.