Synthesis and characterization of antioxidant-enriched Moringa oil-based edible oleogel

This study aims to formulate and optimize Moringa oleifera (Moringa) oil oleogels using pectin (PC) and chitosan (CS) as gelling agents. These include monogelator oleogels, utilizing either PC or CS as a single gelling agent, and binary gelator oleogels, incorporating a combination of both PC and CS. Among the binary gelator oleogel compositions, the most stable oleogel OPCCS2 was further studied with the addition of antioxidants. The important antioxidant compounds of gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/Moringa antioxidant extracts (MAEs) were quantified by the use of various assays. The oil-binding capacity (OBC) of the most stable oleogel MCPC1.5% was 99.94 ± 0.05. The lower peroxide value of antioxidant-rich oleogels at 1.5% concentration of GAEs (4.34 ± 0.025) and MAEs (4.32 ± 0.03) suggested its richness of phenols to retard the lipid peroxidation of oil. The opaque appearances of the formulations were studied via polarizing light microscopy. The molecular interaction study through FTIR analysis revealed the hydrogen bond interactions between the carboxyl groups of fatty acids and hydroxyl groups of polysaccharide chains. The differential scanning calorimeter analysis further confirmed the presence of strong interactions between polysaccharide chains and the oil phase. These findings indicate that the optimized oleogel formulations have the potential for imminent advances by exhibiting improved texture, biocompatibility, enhanced OBC, and stability.