Esterified porous starch from guinea grass seed for enhanced facile microencapsulation of bioactive materials

The present study focuses on the utilization of non-conventional starch (NS) derived from guinea grass seed to produce porous starch (PS) and octenyl succinic anhydride-modified PS (OSAPS). The study also introduces a novel approach to produce PS, aiming to overcome the high cost associated with glucoamylase. The formation of porous granules was successfully achieved through the combination of alpha-amylase and ultrasonication, as confirmed by electron micrographs and analysis of pore size and specific surface area. The results demonstrate that OSAPS exhibits superior emulsion stability, well-defined pore structures, and desirable amphiphilic characteristics. All three starches were loaded with lycopene, flaxseed oil, and a combination of both to prepare microcapsules. The presence of flaxseed oil within the starch matrix was confirmed through micrographs and functional group analysis. Notably, OSAPS exhibited the highest encapsulation efficiency at 74.80 %, along with a lycopene retention rate of up to 27.32 mg/100 g. Moreover, OSAPS showcased favorable antioxidant activity (89.29 %), phenolic content (0.45 mg GAE/g), and flavonoid content (97.61 mg QE/100 g). These findings underscore the remarkable potential of OSAPS as a delivery system for bioactive compounds, particularly for the co-encapsulation of oils and pigments.