Enhancing margarine oxidative stability, antioxidant retention, and sensory quality via tragacanth-chitosan hydrogel microencapsulation of supercritical CO₂-extracted green coffee
Margarine's susceptibility to oxidative deterioration was addressed by microencapsulating supercritical CO₂-extracted green coffee antioxidants (GCSE) in tragacanth-chitosan (TG-CS) hydrogels. Optimized extraction (70 °C, 30 MPa, 20 % ethanol) yielded GCSE with high phenolic content (36.35 mg GAE/g dw) and antioxidant activity (89.76 % DPPH, 91.79 % ABTS inhibition). Encapsulation at a 1:3 TG-CS ratio achieved 85.28 % efficiency, retaining 149.54 mg GAE/100 g phenolics. Characterization (SEM, FTIR, XRD) confirmed micro-scale particles (0.928 μm) with moderate stability (Zeta potential: −17.66 mV) and sustained release (67.33 % over 6 h). In margarine, encapsulated GCSE (T2) maintained oxidative stability (peroxide: 2.02 meq/kg; p-anisidine: 4.88 mMol/kg; acid value: 1.81 mg NaOH/g), comparable to synthetic TBHQ (T3), while the control (T4) deteriorated rapidly. T2 retained 59.48 % DPPH activity (vs. 51.06 % for free GCSE, T1) and matched T3's sensory quality (aroma, texture, color; p > 0.05). TG-CS microencapsulation offers a dual-functional, clean-label solution for lipid-based foods, enhancing shelf life without compromising natural efficacy.
期刊介绍:
Food Chemistry: X, one of three Open Access companion journals to Food Chemistry, follows the same aims, scope, and peer-review process. It focuses on papers advancing food and biochemistry or analytical methods, prioritizing research novelty. Manuscript evaluation considers novelty, scientific rigor, field advancement, and reader interest. Excluded are studies on food molecular sciences or disease cure/prevention. Topics include food component chemistry, bioactives, processing effects, additives, contaminants, and analytical methods. The journal welcome Analytical Papers addressing food microbiology, sensory aspects, and more, emphasizing new methods with robust validation and applicability to diverse foods or regions.