Radan, Milica Ćujić Nikolić, Nada Kuzmanović Nedeljković, Snežana Mutavski, Zorana Krgović, Nemanja Marković, Smilja Stević, Tatjana Živković, Jelena Šavikin, Katarina PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM L.) PEEL EXTRACT MICROENCAPSULATES 2023 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8365 ISBN: 978-963-306-963-9 University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Dugonics tér 13, Hungary eng Peel of the pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit takes up for approximately 50% of the total weight, is a byproduct which is usually discarded as waste. However, pomegranate peel (PP) is considered as a rich source of potent phenolic compounds, including ellagic acid and its derivatives which possess several functional and nutraceutical qualities, including lowering blood pressure, reducing oxidative stress, decreasing blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and restoring heart health [1, 2]. The main aims of this study were to develop preserved microencapsulated systems of the pomegranate peel (PP) extract by spray-drying using two biocompatible carriers (pectin and its mixture with HP-β-CD) and to evaluate their physico-chemical properties as well as in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities. Obtained micro-sized powders were characterized with high values of powder yield (> 78%) and satisfied moisture content, flowability and cohesive properties. According to the DSC analysis, carrier addition showed favorable impact on the thermal stability (up to 200°C) of examined microencapsulated samples. Chemical analysis showed that total phenolic content in spray-dried powders of PP varied between 373.15 to 427.88 mg GAE/g DW, with the punicalagin, punicalin, gallic acid, and ellagic acid as the most abundant individual bioactive compounds. Despite dilution effect, comparable free radical scavenging ability in DPPH assay was observed for microencapsulated and carrier-free powders (IC50: 6.51-7.60 μg/mL). Furthermore, examined samples showed great potential to control elevated glycemic levels demonstrating potent inhibition effects against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Molecular docking analysis provided more deeper insight into molecular mechanisms of action, revealing high affinity of ellagic acid to inhibit α-amylase enzyme, while punicalagin and punicalin more selectively inhibited α-glucosidase. Antimicrobial activity assay revealed that the Gram-positive bacteria, including S. aureus and S. epidermidis as representative skin pathogens, were the most susceptible with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.75 mg/mL. On the whole, valorization of PP through microencapsulation process with pectin and pectin/HP-β-CD as coating materials represents a sustainable approach for the development of ellagitannin-rich products that have the potential to be developed into phytopharmaceutical and functional foods for the prevention and management of metabolic diseases. application/pdf 353425 bytes PROCEEDINGS OF THE 29th International Symposium on Analytical and Environmental Problems startpage: 239 endpage: 239 info:eu-repo/semantics/conferenceProceedings All rights reserved