curcumin and tristearin

Aflatoxin contamination is one of the most important factors jeopardizing the quality of traditional Chinese health food (TCHF) during storage. Based on our previous work, we investigated the stability of chitosan (CH) films containing turmeric essential oil (TEO) and employed CH-TEO films as inner pouches, then stored them with inoculated Coix seed, nutmeg, and Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS). We found that the stability of CH-TEO was most affected by high temperature, and these pouches dramatically decreased aflatoxin accumulation and maintained levels of marker components of each TCHF. We found that glycerol tristearat in Coix seed and jujuboside A and spinosin in ZSS were negatively correlated with aflatoxin accumulation. After three months of storage with a CH-TEO pouch, we found little change in marker components contents, but observed that Coix seed had the relative lower sensory characteristics score. In addition, acute and 90-day subchronic toxicity test in Coix seed stored with the largest amount of TEO showed no significant signs of toxicity or treatment-related changes in animals. The present study is the first report on the study of a green, efficient, and low toxicity solution for aflatoxic contamination in TCHF, and provides strong support for its future use.

Topics: Aflatoxins; Animals; Chitosan; Coix; Curcuma; Female; Food Contamination; Food Storage; Hot Temperature; Male; Mice; Myristica; Oils, Volatile; Plant Oils; Rats; Toxicity Tests, Acute; Toxicity Tests, Subchronic; Triglycerides; Ziziphus

To control the oral bioavailability of curcumin, we fabricated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) using tristearin and polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated emulsifiers. Lipolysis of prepared SLNs via simulated gastrointestinal digestion was modulated by altering the types and concentrations of emulsifiers. After digestion, the size/surface charge of micelles formed from SLN digesta were predictable and >91% of curcumin was bioaccessible in all of the SLNs. The curcumin permeation rate through mucus-covered gut epithelium in vitro was dependent on the size/surface charge of the micelles. Curcumin loaded in long-PEGylated SLNs rapidly permeated the epithelium due to the neutral surface charge of the micelles, resulting in a >12.0-fold increase in bioavailability compared to curcumin solution in a rat model. These results suggest that the bioavailability of curcumin can be controlled by modulating the interfacial properties of SLNs, which will facilitate the development of curcumin formulations for use in functional foods and pharmaceuticals.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Biological Availability; Caco-2 Cells; Curcumin; Digestion; Drug Carriers; Emulsifying Agents; Humans; Lipids; Male; Nanoparticles; Polyethylene Glycols; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Triglycerides

In this study, the influences of liquid medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) and solid glyceryl tristearate (GTS) contents in the lipid matrix of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) on their delivering capacities with respect to curcumin (Cur) were investigated by using a simulated gastrointestinal tract and Caco-2 monolayer models. The transformation of the encapsulated Cur decreased on increasing the MCT content in the lipid matrix of NLCs because it facilitated their lipolysis and promoted the exposure of Cur to a harsher exterior environment. Cur bioaccessibility was positively correlated with the level of micellized stearic acid resulting from GTS hydrolysis, which might be attributed to the fact that it could afford large hydrophobic domains to accommodate Cur. This value initially increased with an increase in the MCT content, reaching a maximum at 20% (w/w) and decreasing thereafter. The intestinal absorption of micellar Cur ranged from 26.06% to 38.76%, and a majority of the transported molecules were its reductive and conjugative metabolites. Overall, NLC containing 20% MCT in the lipid matrix afforded the highest Cur bioavailability, followed by that containing 10, 0, 40, 60, and 100% MCT. This work provides useful insights into the rational design of NLCs to optimize the bioavailability of the loaded agent.

Topics: Biological Availability; Caco-2 Cells; Curcumin; Digestion; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Intestinal Absorption; Micelles; Nanocapsules; Particle Size; Triglycerides

Curcuminoid-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) were produced by melt-homogenization. The used lipid matrices were medium chain triglycerides, trimyristin and tristearin. The resulting nanoparticles had an anisometric shape and a platelet-like structure. Curcuminoid-loaded trimyristin particles did not solidify when stored at room temperature. The supercooled state of trimyristin was studied by DSC and (1)H NMR experiments. A partial recrystallization of the lipid matrix was detected but no change of the mobility of the lipid was noted. Nanoparticles based on tristearin had an α- and β-modification which was subsequently converted into the stable β-phase. Curcuminoids did neither influence the melting behavior nor the crystalline or geometric structure of the particles. The interactions between the curcuminoids and the lipid matrix were investigated by Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy. The shape of the curcuminoid bands in the Raman spectra suggested that the drug was in an amorphous state. The fluorescence spectra showed an effect of the lipid matrix on fluorescence properties of the curcuminoids. It was further demonstrated that the drug was not secluded by the solid lipid matrix, but it was influenced by the surrounding aqueous environment. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements revealed a decreased mobility of the curcuminoids within the nanodispersions. From the results of Raman and fluorescence measurements it was concluded that the drug was mainly located on the surface of the crystalline particles.

Topics: Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Crystallization; Crystallography, X-Ray; Curcumin; Drug Carriers; Drug Compounding; Lipids; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Particle Size; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Surface Properties; Technology, Pharmaceutical; Triglycerides