The study aimed to evaluate the nanoparticles (ECW) containing tamarind trypsin inhibitor (TTI) concerning the storage effect under different conditions on antitrypsin activity and the bioactive potential in a preclinical model. ECW was exposed to different pH and temperatures to evaluate the interaction between TTI and its encapsulating agents, monitored by antitrypsin activity. Wistar rats (n = 25) with obesity induced by diet were divided into groups: untreated; treatment with nutritionally adequate diet; treatment with nutritionally adequate diet and ECW/12.5 mg/kg; treatment with ECW/12.5 mg/kg; and treatment with TTI/25 mg/kg. The groups were evaluated over ten days with regards to satiety, zoometric, biochemical, and inflammatory parameters, using ten times less TTI (2.5 mg/kg) contained in ECW. TTI was protected and encapsulated in ECW without showing residual inhibitory activity. Only at gastric pH did ECW show antitrypsin activity. At different temperatures, it showed high antitrypsin activity, similar to TTI. The animals treated with ECW had significantly reduced body weight variation (p < 0.05), and only TTI treatment reduced the inflammatory parameters significantly (p < 0.05). The study showed that by using lower concentrations of TTI in ECW it was possible to perceive promising effects with perspectives of use in functional products for managing obesity and its complications.
Keywords: antitrypsin activity; encapsulation; pH conditions; tamarind; thermal treatment; trypsin inhibitor.