1. Introduction
Algae and microalgae present bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and polyphenols, with polysaccharides being the most abundant [
1]. Polysaccharides are macromolecules of sugars which are linked by glycosidic bonds, which present positive health benefits because they show antitumor, anticoagulant and antiviral activities [
2]. Polysaccharides also exhibit antioxidant activity to counteract diseases caused by oxidative stress such as diabetes, obesity, hepatitis and cancer [
3]. These compounds are used in the food industry as additives to homogenize, increase the shelf-life of foods and reduce production costs by modifying the rheology of complex food systems [
4,
5]. In addition, they are used as encapsulating agents to protect bioactive compounds of functional interest. Currently, commercial biopolymers used as food additives include gum arabic, guar gum, maltodextrin and pectin, among others [
6].
Applications of algal polysaccharides in microencapsulation processes have been previously reported. Agar fractions extracted from the red alga Gelidium were applied as a microencapsulating agent for
Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum [
7]. Kavoosi et al. [
8] showed that agar, alginates, and carrageenan are important wall materials for the microencapsulation of Zataria essential oil. Microencapsulated beta cells (INS1E) with fractions of fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, were obtained from brown algae [
9]. Wu et al. [
10] evaluated the rheological properties of tara gum, concluding that it exhibits higher viscosity than elastic capacity.
The cushuro (
Nostoc sphaericum) is a viscous spherical microalga that forms both microscopic and macroscopic colonies in various marine environments and in high Andean areas of Peru (>3000 masl). In Peru, it is found in the departments of Ancash, Junín, Cajamarca, Huánuco, Cusco and Puno, where there are lagoons with crystalline waters rich in nitrogen, which favors its development; it is also known as murmunta, llullucha or llayta [
11,
12].
Nostoc sphaericum could be an important source of dietary fiber or a viscous additive in the manufacturing of food products [
13]. Likewise, the polysaccharides in cushuro (
Nostoc sphaericum Vaucher ex Bornet and Flahaut) presented hypoglycemic activity at concentrations of 50 mg/mL [
14]. The incorporation of ultrasound-assisted extraction technology (of 540 W, temperature 353.15 K, time 25 min and solid:liquid ratio 1:50, g/mL) has been studied to obtain polysaccharide fractions from cushuro (
N. Commune) [
15]. Cushuro polysaccharides (
N. commune and N. Sphaericum) was extracted to develop fruit nectars and evaluate their rheological properties [
16].
The aji charapita pepper (
Capsicum frutences) is a plant that grows in the Amazon region of Peru, Native to Iquitos. It is considered one of the hottest peppers in the country. It stands out for its high vitamin contents (A, C, E and K, along with B complex) [
17] and presents phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acid [
18]. Capsaicinoids are alkaloids present in aji charapita peppers which provide the characteristic spicy flavor, [
19] and due to their pungency, they are consumed in sauces, in macerates with lemon, in dehydrated form [
20] and as an important ingredient in Peruvian gastronomy.
The wine industry demands a large production of grapes, which increases every year and generates skin and seed waste (bagasse or grape orujo) (
Vitis vinifera L.). Wine production generates 30,000 MT/year of grape orujo in Peru [
21], with Moquegua (15%) being the department with the highest production, resulting in a significant environmental impact. These residues stand out for their high contents of phenolic compounds (0.09–0.35%/g dry orujo), such as anthocyanins, flavonols and protoanthocyanidins [
22], making them a potentially important source of phenolic compounds.
Chasquibol et al. [
23] concluded that the co-microencapsulation process using antioxidant extracts from camu-camu (
Myrciaria dubia (HBK) Mc Vaugh), Andean potato (
Solanum tuberosum andigenum) and elderberry (
Sambucus peruviana) fruit skins increased the shelf-life of sacha inchi (
Plukenetia huayllabambana) oil from 1176 to 3116 h.
The objectives of the present research were to evaluate the co-microcapsulation process of cushuro (Nostoc sphaericum) polysaccharide with sacha inchi (Plukenetia huayllabambana) oil and antioxidant extracts from grape orujo (Vitis vinifera L.) and aji charapita peppers (Capsicum frutences) in terms of humidity, peroxide index, total and surface phenolic contents, DPPH antioxidant activity, fatty acid profile, oil encapsulation efficiency, solubility, particle size distribution, morphology and oxidative stability.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Raw Material
Cushuro (Nostoc sphaericum) was obtained from the lakes of Ututo (4420 masl), Tacash (4412 masl) and Llacsha (4512 masl) in the district of Cotaparaco, province of Recuay, department of Ancash in Peru. The cushuro was washed, dried at 60 °C for 12 h in an infrared dehydrator (IRD D18, Sevilla, Spain), ground in a food grinder (Grindomix GM200/Restch, Haan, Germany) to obtain cushuro flour and stored in aluminized bags at room temperature. All reagents used were of analytical grade and supplied by Merck, and Mili Q water was used.
Sacha inchi (Plukenetia huayllabambana) seeds were collected in the province of Rodriíguez de Mendoza, Amazon region, Peru. Sacha inchi oil was cold-pressed at the Functional Food Laboratory of the University of Lima, Peru, and stored at 4 °C in a dark flask. Grape orujo (Capsicum frutences) was collected from wine fermentation waste in the province of Cañete, department of Ica-Peru, and aji charapita peppers (Vitis vinifera L.) were obtained from a local market in the city of Lima, Peru. Grape orujo and aji charapita peppers were washed and dried in the infrared dehydrator (IRC DI8, Sevilla, Spain) at 40 °C, ground in the food grinder (Grindomix GM200/Restch) and stored in polyethylene bags at room temperature until further use. Gum arabic (GA) and maltodextrin (MD) were purchased from Frutarom, Peru S.A.
Cushuro (Nostoc sphaericum) polysaccharide was obtained at the Functional Food Laboratory of the University of Lima. The cushuro flour was dispersed in water, then stirred for 30 min at 80 °C and filtered under vacuum. The solid residue was re-liquefied with water and the extraction process was repeated a second time. The supernatants were filtered under vacuum with a muslin cloth, and the final filtrate was concentrated using a rotary evaporator (Buchi B-100, Flawil, Switzerland) and precipitated with isopropanol to a final concentration of 70% alcohol. The precipitate obtained was washed with 80, 90 and 99% isopropanol and dried at 50 °C for 3 h. It was then ground in a mortar and stored in aluminized bags until further use.
2.2. Co-Microencapsulation Process of Cushuro Polysaccharide
2.2.1. Formulations
Table 1 shows six formulations developed with cushuro (
Nostoc sphaericum) polysaccharide (CP), sacha inchi (
Plukenetia huayllabambana) oil (SIOPH), gum arabic (GA) and maltodextrin (MD) as encapsulating agents according to the procedures described by Chasquibol et al. [
23], with some modifications made after our preliminary tests. Cushuro polysaccharide was dispersed in ultrapure water at 80 °C at a concentration of 0.6% (
w/
v) for 3 h. After cooling the solution, the encapsulating materials were hydrated in the polysaccharide solution under constant stirring on a pedestal stirrer (DLAB OS20-S, DLAB Scientific Co., Beijing, China) overnight, then sacha inchi oil (
Plukenetia huayllabambana) was added to form the oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion in the Silverson homogenizer (L5M-A, Silverson, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, UK) at 9000 rpm for 10 min in a cold-water bath to protect the sacha inchi oil from lipid oxidation.
2.2.2. Co-Microencapsulation of the Cushuro Polysaccharide with Sacha Inchi Oil and Antioxidant Extracts
Eight formulations (
Table 2) were prepared using cushuro polysaccharide (
Nostoc sphaericum) (CP), with sacha inchi oil (
Plukenetia huayllabambana) (SIOPH), natural antioxidant extracts from grape orujo (
Vitis vinifera L.) (GOE), aji charapita (
Capsicum frutences) pepper (ACHPE) and commercial antioxidant (BHT). Gum arabic (GA) and maltodextrin (MD) were used as encapsulating agents according to a method previously reported [
23].
Cushuro polysaccharide (CP) was dispersed in ultrapure water at 80 °C at a concentration of 0.6% (W/V) for 3 h. After cooling the solution, gum arabic (GA) and maltodextrin (MD) were dispersed in the polysaccharide solution under constant stirring overnight. The antioxidant extracts of grape orujo (GOE) (200 ppm) and Ají Charapita pepper (ACHPE) (200 ppm) were added according to the oil content in each formulation. The concentration of total solids was adjusted to 30%. Sacha inchi oil (
Plukenetia huayllabambana) was added at a 33.33% concentration (1 g oil/3 g encapsulating agent) of total solids. A Silverson homogenizer (L5M-A, Silverson, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, UK) was used to obtain homogeneous emulsions at 9000 rpm for 10 min using a cold-water bath to prevent the temperature of the emulsion from exceeding 25 °C. The spray drying conditions were detailed by Chasquibol et al. [
24], with some modifications. Spray dryer equipment (Büchi B-290, Büchi Labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) was used, with inlet and outlet temperatures of 140 and 70 °C, respectively, and a feed flow rate of 55 mL/min. The samples obtained were stored in aluminized bags at room temperature until further analysis.
2.2.3. Moisture
The moisture of the microcapsules was determined using a halogen balance model KERN DBS 60-3. A quantity of 1 g of microcapsules was placed on the pan of the halogen balance and the analyzer started heating by means of the built-in halogen lamp. The balance registered weight loss values until reaching a constant value corresponding to the moisture content of the weighed sample [
25].
2.2.4. Peroxide Index (PI)
The peroxide value was determined by iodometric titration [
26]. Two grams of microcapsules was dissolved in 25 mL of chloroform: glacial acetic acid (3:2
v/
v) and vortexed for 30 s. Of a saturated potassium iodide solution, 1 mL was then added. After 5 min in the dark, 75 mL of distilled water was immediately added, and the titration was started. The released I
2 was titrated with Na
2S
2O
3 (0.01 N), using a starch solution (1%) as an indicator, until the solution became colorless (American Oil Chemists Society, 2009) [
27].
2.2.5. Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and Surface Phenolic Content (SPC)
The total phenolic content (TPC) of the microcapsules was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteau method [
28] with some modifications. The microcapsules (15 mg) were dissolved in 4.5 mL of methanol and then shaken for 1 min in a vortex (VELP Scientifica, Usmate Velate, Italy). Of Folin–Ciocalteau’s reagent (0.2 N), 2.5 mL were added with stirring for 1 min using a vortex. After 5 min, 2 mL of a sodium carbonate solution (20%) were added, mixed and kept in a water bath for 20 min at 80 °C. The mixture was cooled and then filtered through Whatman No. 2 filter paper. The absorbance of the solution was measured at 760 nm using a spectrophotometer (Shimatzu UV-1280, Kyoto, Japan). Ultrapure water was used as a control blank. The results are expressed as µg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) per gram of microcapsules. All analyses were performed in triplicate and the results are expressed as mean values. For the determination of surface phenolic content (SPC), 24 mg of microcapsules was dissolved in 4.5 mL of methanol and vortexed for 1 min, then filtered through Whatman N°2 filter paper. The surface phenolic content was measured according to the same method described for TPC. The encapsulation efficiency percentage of polyphenol microencapsulation was calculated using Equation (1):
2.2.6. Determination of Antioxidant Activity via Radical DPPH
Antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH method [
28] with some modifications. Of the microcapsules, 15 mg was dissolved in 4.5 mL of methanol/acetic acid/water (50:8:42,
v/
v/
v/
v/
v), then shaken for 1 min and rested in a water bath for 20 min at 80 °C. This content was mixed with 3.9 mL of a DPPH radical solution at 25 ppm (2.5 mg of DPPH in 100 mL of methanol) and kept in the dark at 25 °C. The mixture was vortexed for 1 min and then filtered through Whatman No. 2 filter paper. The absorbance of the samples was measured at 517 nm after 1 h of incubation in the dark. For the control sample (blank), 500 µL of methanol were mixed with 3.9 mL of the DPPH radical solution at 25 ppm and left in the dark at 25 °C. The absorbance (Abs517 control) was measured at 517 nm using a spectrophotometer (Shimatzu UV-1280, Kyoto, Japan). All analyses were performed in triplicate. The percentage inhibition (% I) of free radicals was calculated according to Equation (2):
2.2.7. Free Oil (Not Encapsulated) and Total Oil
The fraction of free or unencapsulated oil was quantitatively determined by stirring with hexane at room temperature for a controlled time, according to the method reported by Sankarikutty et al. [
29]. Of hexane, 10 mL was added to 1 g of microcapsules and gently agitated for 10 min at room temperature. The extract was immediately filtered over 0.45 mm and 0.25 mm diameter PTFE filter, and the solvent was evaporated by vacuum at a rotary evaporator and dried to constant weight using a stream of nitrogen.
The total oil extraction procedure was based on a method previously reported [
30]. Forty mL of deionized water at 65 °C was added to 5 g of microcapsules. After slight agitation, 8 mL of NH
4OH at 30% (
w/
w) was added and agitated for 15 min while maintaining the temperature at 65 °C. The mixture was then allowed to cool to room temperature and the extraction was carried out. Three liquid–liquid extractions were used with the following solvent mixtures: first extraction: 20 mL ethanol, 50 mL diethyl ether and 50 mL hexane; second extraction: 10 mL ethanol, 25 mL diethyl ether and 25 mL hexane; third extraction: 25 mL diethyl ether and 25 mL hexane. Vigorous shaking was performed between one solvent and the other and in the case of persistent emulsion, a few milliliters of ethanol were added. The three mixed extracts were filtered through filter paper containing anhydrous Na
2SO
4. The solvent was then removed under vacuum using a rotary evaporator at room temperature. On completion, it was brought to constant weight using a stream of nitrogen.
Once the microencapsulated oils were obtained, their fatty acid, tocopherol and sterol compositions were determined.
2.2.8. Fatty Acid Profile
Fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) were made according to procedures previously reported [
31,
32]. Of each extracted oil (as specified in
Section 2.2.7), 50 mg was weighed into a 4 mL capacity test tube with a screw cap. Next, 2 mL of heptane and 0.5 mL of 2N KOH in methanol were added. After shaking and phase separation, the upper phase was transferred to a chromatography vial and injected into the gas chromatograph (GC).
The FAMEs formed were analyzed using an Agilent 7890B gas chromatograph (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) equipped with an SP2380 polar capillary column (poly (90% biscyanopropyl-10% cyanopropylphenyl) siloxane, 60 m × 0.25 mm id; 0.20 µm film thickness) and a flame ionization detector (FID). The injector and detector temperatures were 225 and 250 °C, respectively. Hydrogen was used as a carrier gas at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The oven temperature was set at 165 °C and increased to 230 °C at a rate of 3 °C per min. This temperature was maintained for 2 min. The injection volume was 1 μL.
2.2.9. Tocopherol Analysis by HPLC
High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), using a silica column and fluorescence detector, was used to quantitatively determine the tocopherols present in the oil samples extracted from the microencapsulated oils, as well as from the sacha inchi oil (
Plukenetia huayllabambana). A mixture of hexane:isopropyl alcohol (99:1) was used as an eluent [
33]. Thirty mg of oil was weighed, made up to the mark with chromatographic-quality hexane in a 10 mL volumetric flask and analyzed immediately. The wavelengths were 290 nm and 330 nm for excitation and emission, respectively.
2.2.10. Analysis of Sterols by GC
The simplified method published by Garcia-Gonzalez et al. [
34] was followed with slight modifications. Of oil, 1 g ± 1 mg of was weighed and 50 μL of the internal standard α-cholestanol (1 mg/mL) was added. After evaporating the solvent, 5 mL of 3% (
w/
v) sodium methylate was added and kept at 80 °C for 30 min. Next, a few drops of phenolphthalein and a mixture of sulfuric in 4% (
v/
v) methanol were added in sufficient quantity until transparency of the samples, which were then kept for another 30 min at 80 °C. After cooling the sample, 3 extractions were made with 2 mL portions of hexane. These extractions were washed twice with 2 mL of distilled water and the hexane fraction was passed through a filter containing anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed by rotary evaporation and then the lipid sample was derivatized with 250 μL of the mixture: BSTFA-TMCS:Pyridine 1:1 (
v/
v). One μL of the sililated sample was injected into a gas chromatograph equipped with a 30 m × 0.25 I.D. × 0.1 μm film thickness HP-5 column. The oven temperature was maintained at 260 °C throughout the analysis, and injector and detector temperatures at 300 °C.
2.2.11. Solubility
Solubility was determined by dissolving 0.5 g of microcapsule in 20 mL of distilled water in a 50 mL volumetric flask. It was then vortexed for 5 min and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 min. Of the supernatant, 20 mL was taken and placed in a vessel which was heated at 105 °C for 2 h. Solubility (%) was calculated according to the weight difference [
24].
2.2.12. Particle Size Distribution and Microcapsule Morphology
The particle size distribution and morphology of the microcapsules were determined using a scanning electron microscope (Zeiss, EVO-MA10, Dublin, CA, USA). Using an aluminum sample holder, a carbon ribbon was placed on top of the microcapsule to be analyzed. The prepared samples were placed in the scanning electron microscope chamber for recording De Broukere D [4,3] mean diameter or volume-weighted mean size and the micrographs.
2.2.13. Oxidative Stability
The oxidative stability of the microcapsules was evaluated using the Rancimat method [
24] on an 892 Professional Rancimat© (Metrohm, Herisau, Switzerland). The induction period (IP), defined as the time required to produce a marked increase in conductivity at the temperatures of 70, 80, 90 and 100 °C was determined with an air flow rate of 20 L/h. All determinations were performed in triplicate. The extrapolation of the lifetime for all samples at 25 °C was calculated using the equipment software according to Equation (3):
where T is the temperature at which the induction period is calculated. A and B are the regression coefficients based on the determinations of IP.
2.3. Statistical Analysis
The results for oil and antioxidant encapsulation efficiency, moisture, oxidative stability, shelf-life, solubility and essential fatty acid profile are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. All assays were carried out in duplicate or triplicate. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test were performed at 95% significance level with Minitab 19 (Minitab® statistical 19 software, State College, PA, USA).