Health-promoting bioactivities of betalains from red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus (Weber) Britton and Rose) peels as affected by carbohydrate encapsulation

Evelyn B Rodriguez; Mark Louis P Vidallon; David Joram R Mendoza; Charisse T Reyes

doi:10.1002/jsfa.7681

Health-promoting bioactivities of betalains from red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus (Weber) Britton and Rose) peels as affected by carbohydrate encapsulation

J Sci Food Agric. 2016 Nov;96(14):4679-4689. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.7681. Epub 2016 Apr 13.

Authors

Evelyn B Rodriguez¹, Mark Louis P Vidallon², David Joram R Mendoza², Charisse T Reyes³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna 4031, Philippines. ebrodriguez@up.edu.ph.
² Institute of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna 4031, Philippines.
³ Faculty of Education, University of the Philippines Open University, Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines.

PMID: 26916683
DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.7681

Abstract

Background: Betalains, which are red-purple and yellow pigments, are ideal alternatives to synthetic colorants as they possess strong coloring potential and excellent health-contributing properties. However, the instability of betalains toward normal storage and biological conditions, in addition to the limited number of betalain sources, impedes their food application and diminishes their bioactivities. This study aimed to evaluate the health-promoting bioactivities of betalains from red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus (Weber) Britton and Rose) peels as affected by encapsulation in maltodextrin-gum Arabic and maltodextrin-pectin matrices.

Results: Encapsulation in maltodextrin-gum Arabic and maltodextrin-pectin matrices afforded dry betalain powders after lyophilization. Optical microscopy imaging showed that the betalain powders consisted of matrix-type and shard-like microparticles. ABTS antioxidant assay revealed that maltodextrin-gum Arabic-betalain (MGB) and maltodextrin-pectin-betalain (MPB) microparticles possessed higher antioxidant capacities (195.39 ± 8.63 and 201.76 ± 4.06 µmol Trolox g^-1 microparticles respectively) than the non-encapsulated betalain extract (151.07 ± 2.57 µmol Trolox g^-1 extract). Duck embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) vascular irritation assay showed that the anti-inflammatory activity of encapsulated betalains was five- to six-fold higher than that of non-encapsulated betalains (P ≤ 0.05). Antiangiogenic activity, as evaluated by duck embryo CAM assay, was enhanced two- to four-fold by carbohydrate encapsulation. Glutathione S-transferase (GST)-inducing activity of betalains was likewise improved four- to five-fold.

Conclusion: The study showed that the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic and GST-inducing activities of betalains from red dragon fruit peels were enhanced through carbohydrate encapsulation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Keywords: angiogenesis; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; betalains; encapsulation; phase II enzyme.

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
Betalains / administration & dosage
Betalains / chemistry
Betalains / pharmacology*
Cactaceae / chemistry*
Carbohydrates*
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Ducks / embryology
Food Additives
Fruit
Gum Arabic
Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
Pectins
Polysaccharides

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Carbohydrates
Food Additives
Polysaccharides
Betalains
maltodextrin
Pectins
Gum Arabic