Luteolin-stabilized pickering emulsion for encapsulating Enterococcus hirae: preparation, characterization, and...

Luteolin, a natural flavonoid with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and urate-lowering activities. In this study, luteolin processed via anti-solvent precipitation (ASP-LUT) was utilized as an emulsifier to formulate Pickering emulsions (PEs) for encapsulating the probiotic Enterococcus hirae (EH), which possesses uric acid-lowering activity. The results demonstrated that higher ASP-LUT concentrations facilitated the construction of PEs with enhanced stability and viscoelasticity. The physicochemical properties and functional characteristics of EH-encapsulated PEs (EH-PEs) were systematically evaluated through stability assessments, in vitro digestion simulations, and animal experiments. Compared with free EH, EH-PEs significantly improved EH survival rates under challenging conditions and during gastrointestinal transit. The synergistic interaction between ASP-LUT and EH effectively reduced serum uric acid levels. Furthermore, the EH-PEs group exhibited significant superiority over the free EH group in improving renal function parameters, mitigating oxidative stress markers, and reducing inflammatory cytokine levels. These outcomes indicate a synergistic interaction between ASP-LUT and EH, enhancing both probiotic viability and therapeutic efficacy. Overall, our findings offer a promising strategy for designing stable, bioactive probiotic delivery systems, contributing valuable insights into the development of functional foods for targeting hyperuricemia management.