A review of nanostructured delivery systems for the encapsulation, protection, and delivery of silymarin: An emerging nutraceutical

Zhiheng Zhang; Xiaojing Li; Shangyuan Sang; David Julian McClements; Long Chen; Jie Long; Aiquan Jiao; Jinpeng Wang; Zhengyu Jin; Chao Qiu

doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111314

A review of nanostructured delivery systems for the encapsulation, protection, and delivery of silymarin: An emerging nutraceutical

Food Res Int. 2022 Jun:156:111314. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111314. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
² College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Jiangsu 210037, China.
³ College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, 169 Qixing South Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315832, China.
⁴ Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01060, United States.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China. Electronic address: phdqiu@jiangnan.edu.cn.

PMID: 35651070
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111314

Abstract

Silymarin exhibits biological activities that may promote human health and wellbeing, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. Consequently, it has potential for application as a nutraceutical ingredient in functional foods and supplements. But its application for this purpose is currently limited by its poor water solubility, chemical stability, and bioavailability. The potential of nano-delivery systems to improve the functional performance of silymarin was reviewed in this manuscript. The formation, attributes, and applications of biopolymer-based, lipid-based, surfactant-based, and miscellaneous nanocarriers are discussed. In particular, the impact of the different delivery systems such as biopolymer-based, lipid-based delivery systems on the gastrointestinal fate of silymarin is summarized. The encapsulation in edible nanocarriers can improve the bioavailability of silymarin by enhancing its water-dispersibility, inhibiting its degradation, and increasing its absorption.These nanocarriers may therefore be utilized to incorporate this nutraceutical into functional foods and supplements in a bioavailable form.

Keywords: Bioavailability; Delivery systems; Nanocapsules; Nanotechnology; Nutraceutical; Silymarin.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biopolymers
Dietary Supplements
Humans
Lipids
Silymarin*
Water

Substances

Biopolymers
Lipids
Silymarin
Water