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Stability of natamycin and its cyclodextrin inclusion complexes in aqueous solution
John L Koontz1, Joseph E Marcy, William E Barbeau
1Department of Food Science and Technology, Foods and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|November 13, 2003
Summary
Natamycin degrades quickly under light but remains stable in darkness. Cyclodextrin inclusion complexes enhance natamycin stability, offering improved shelf-life for this antifungal agent.
Area of Science:
- Food Science and Technology
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Natamycin is a polyene macrolide antifungal agent used as a food preservative.
- Natamycin is susceptible to degradation when exposed to light, limiting its shelf-life.
- Cyclodextrins (beta-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin, gamma-cyclodextrin) are known to form inclusion complexes with various molecules, potentially enhancing their stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the photostability and thermal stability of natamycin in aqueous solutions.
- To investigate the stabilizing effects of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin, and gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) inclusion complexes on natamycin.
- To assess the protective effect of UV-absorbing packaging on natamycin stability.
Main Methods:
- Aqueous solutions of natamycin and its cyclodextrin complexes were exposed to fluorescent light (1000 lx) at 4°C.
- Samples were stored in darkness at 4°C for 14 days to assess dark stability.
- Natamycin and its complexes were quantified using reverse-phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with photodiode array detection after dissociation in a methanol/water/acetic acid solvent system.
Main Results:
- Natamycin solutions were completely degraded within 24 hours under fluorescent light.
- In darkness at 4°C, 92.2% of free natamycin remained active after 14 days; natamycin:beta-CD and natamycin:gamma-CD complexes showed significantly higher stability (p < 0.05).
- UV-absorbing poly(ethylene terephthalate) packaging retained 85.0% of natamycin after 14 days under fluorescent light.
Conclusions:
- Natamycin is highly sensitive to light but stable in aqueous solutions when stored in darkness at low temperatures.
- Formation of inclusion complexes with beta-cyclodextrin and gamma-cyclodextrin significantly enhances natamycin's stability in aqueous solutions.
- UV-absorbing packaging offers partial protection against light-induced degradation of natamycin.
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