Bioactive Ingredients for Safe and Health-Promoting Functional Foods.

A full ingredient or a portion of food utilized as food for specific therapeutic purposes is referred to as a functional food [...].

Oral Films with Addition Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) as a Source of Active Compounds.

The purpose of this study was to develop oral films (OFs) based on agar-agar with the incorporation of mushroom powder (MP) as a source of phenolic compounds. To this end, three different OFs were produced using different concentrations of MP, containing sorbitol and agar-agar. The OFs were characterized based on visual assessment, mass, thickness, moisture content, folding endurance, surface pH, contact angle, and phenolic compound content, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and FTIR, as well as an assessment of their antioxidant capacity. In general, all the OFs showed film-forming capacity after the incorporation of MP, although their mass, thickness, moisture content, and folding endurance differed significantly. The surface pH value remained close to neutrality (∼6.7), regardless of MP concentration. The incorporation of MP increased the crystallinity of the OFs in comparison to that of the agar-based film, but all the OFs showed similar FTIR spectra. The oral films containing 2 g of MP showed antioxidant capacity by ABTS●+ and FRAP of 3.68±0.23 and 14.61±0.66 mMol ET/g OF, respectively, and total phenolic content of 3.55±0.27 µmol GAE/g OF. Thus, oral films offer an innovative source of delivery of active compounds, and their consumption does not cause oral mucosal irritation.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of orally disintegrating films based on starch and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose incorporated with Cordia verbenacea (erva baleeira) extract.

Cordia verbenacea (erva baleeira) is a plant used in indigenous folk medicine. Due to its pharmacological properties (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory), it can be used in the development of herbal medicines by different forms of administration such as orally disintegrating films (ODFs), which would facilitate the systemic release of its active ingredients. Considering the properties of the C. verbenacea and the advantages of ODFs, the objective of this work was the potential development of ODFs with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The polymeric matrices were produced based on starch and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and additives with different C. verbenacea extract concentrations in order to obtain concentrations of 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 mg flavonoids/ODF. The films were characterized by microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, mechanical properties, mucoadhesiveness, in vitro disintegration, in vitro release of flavonoids, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of the films. The ODFs showed good antioxidant activity and high anti-inflammatory capacity with inhibition of COX-2 enzyme. The stability study demonstrated the conservation of flavonoids and also the maintenance of the anti-inflammatory capacity of ODFs. This study demonstrated that orally disintegrating films have high potential for the delivery of natural bioactive compounds and the maintenance of their pharmacological properties.

Properties of active gelatin films incorporated with rutin-loaded nanoemulsions.

Physico-chemical, mechanical, barrier, release profiles and antioxidant properties of composite gelatin based-films incorporated with rutin-loaded oil-in-water nanoemulsion, at various concentrations (5, 10, 15, or 20% (based on the weight of the gelatin powder)) were studied. All the gelatin/rutin-loaded nanoemulsion films displayed higher tensile strength and higher elongation at break than the gelatin control film. The composite films did not show significant differences in thickness, color, brightness and transparency. The structural properties evaluated by FTIR showed that the rutin-loaded nanoemulsion achieved complete miscibility within the gelatin matrix. All the gelatin/nanoemulsion films exhibited compact and homogenous microstructure. In addition, these films showed high antioxidant activities monitored by DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power activities. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model described well the rutin release profile. Rutin release was mainly governed by Fickian diffusion with simultaneous interfering swelling and disintegration phenomena. These results indicate that nanoemulsions-in-gelatin systems can function as potential active packaging systems to enhance shelf life of food products and then to provide a high-quality products (fresh/safe).

Orally disintegrating films containing propolis: properties and release profile.

The objective of this work was the production and characterization of orally disintegrating films of gelatin and hydrolyzed collagen containing the ethanol extract of propolis. The films were produced by casting with different concentrations of hydrolyzed collagen with and without the extract. The mechanical properties, mucoadhesive properties, swelling degree, in vitro release kinetics, stability of active compounds, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and antimicrobial activity of the films were evaluated. The films with the highest concentration of hydrolyzed collagen were less resistant and more elastic, and films containing the extract were more resistant than the control. In addition, the films with the extract showed higher mucoadhesion, which is important for ensuring the release of active compounds in the oral cavity. Generally, all formulations showed a high swelling capacity, which may have contributed to the quick release also demonstrated by the release kinetics model. Interactions between the extract compounds and the polymeric matrix were observed by FTIR spectroscopy, which may have contributed to an improvement in the mechanical properties. Films containing the extract had good stability and effective antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, which shows that these films can potentially be used to release active compounds in the oral mucosa.