Optimising the Encapsulation of an Aqueous Bitter Melon Extract by Spray-Drying

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Nutraceuticals
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) possesses significant bioactive compounds with potential health benefits.
• Encapsulation is crucial for preserving the stability and bioavailability of bitter melon extract.
• Spray-drying is a widely used technique for producing powdered food ingredients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize the spray-drying encapsulation of aqueous bitter melon extract.
• To determine the optimal formulation using maltodextrin (MD) and gum Arabic (GA).
• To evaluate the process yield and retention of bioactive compounds.

Main Methods:

• Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to model and optimize the spray-drying process.
• Varied concentrations of MD and GA, and extract-to-solution ratios were tested.
• Process yield, bioactive compound retention, and activity were measured.

Main Results:

• RSM models accurately predicted process yield and bioactive retention (R² > 0.87).
• Optimal conditions involved a 35% (w/w) stock solution (MD:GA, 1:1) and a 1.5:1 g/g extract-to-solution ratio.
• The spray-dried powder exhibited a high process yield (66.2% ± 9.4%) and high retention (>79.5% ± 8.4%).

Conclusions:

• The study successfully optimized the spray-drying encapsulation of bitter melon extract using MD and GA.
• The developed method yields a high-quality powder with excellent preservation of bioactive components.
• This optimized encapsulation technique enhances the potential application of bitter melon extract in various industries.