Exposure of retinyl palmitate (RP) to ultraviolet radiation can lead to its photo-degradation and loss of biological activity. Therefore, there is a demand to explore new approaches to protect RP in an easy, economical and efficient way. The objective of this study was to explore the role of policosanol oleogels (PCOs) in the protection of RP from photodegradation. UV-blocking action was tested by placing a layer of PCO as a barrier between a UVA (365 nm) source and 1% RP in soybean oil. Effects of structural characteristics of PCOs cooled at different rates on RP photostability were also studied. The ability of PCOs to prevent radical-mediated reactions was assessed by measuring oil oxidative stability over storage time at 40 °C. The remaining % RP was measured by HPLC during 4 days of UVA irradiation. PCO blocked energy absorption from UVA and further dampened the UVA mediated ionic photodissociation and free radical reactions due to matrix immobilization. After 4 days of UV exposure, photodegradation of RP was reduced by 64% when a PCO layer was used as a barrier. Peroxide values (PV) and p-anisidine values (p-A.V.) of soybean oil (SO) were significantly higher than those of PCOs over storage time. Cooling rate processing played a significant role in RP protection; the faster the cooling rate, the higher the RP photostability. This study demonstrated that the protective mechanism of RP in PCOs is a combined effect of physical UV-barrier action, molecular immobilization and inhibition of the free radical-mediated reaction.
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