Lignin nanoparticles from Ayurvedic industry spent materials: Applications in Pickering emulsions for curcumin and vitamin D3 encapsulation

• Published in: Food chemistry 2024-11, Vol.458, p.140284, Article 140284
• Main Authors: Abraham, Billu, Shakeela, Heeba, Devendra, Leena P., Arun, K.B., Vasanth Ragavan, K., Brennan, Charles, Mantri, Nitin, Adhikari, Benu, Nisha, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ayurveda industry; Curcumin; Lignin nanoparticles; Pickering nanoemulsions; Vitamin D3
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140284

Lignin nanoparticles (LNP), extracted from spent materials of Dashamoola Arishta (Ayurvedic formulation), shared a molecular weight of 14.42 kDa with commercial lignin. Processed into LNPs (496.43 ± 0.54 nm) via planetary ball milling, they demonstrated stability at pH 8.0 with a zeta potential of −32 ± 0.27 mV. Operating as Pickering particles, LNP encapsulated curcumin and vitamin D3 in sunflower oil, forming LnE + Cu + vD3 nanoemulsions (particle size: 347.40 ± 0.71 nm, zeta potential: −42.27 ± 0.72 mV) with high encapsulation efficiencies (curcumin: 87.95 ± 0.21%, vitamin D3: 72.66 ± 0.11%). The LnE + Cu + vD3 emulsion exhibited stability without phase separation over 90 days at room (27 ± 2 °C) and refrigeration (4 ± 1 °C) temperatures. Remarkably, LnE + Cu + vD3 exhibited reduced toxicity, causing 29.32% and 34.99% cell death in L6 and RAW264.7 cells respectively, at the highest concentration (50 μg/mL). This underscores the potential valorization of Ayurvedic industry spent materials for diverse industrial applications. [Display omitted] •Lignin nanoparticles (LNP) were produced from Ayurvedic spent materials•LNPs were maximally stable, had lowest particle size and highest zeta potential at pH 8.0•LNP produced stable Pickering emulsions and encapsulated curcumin and vitamin D3•These Pickering emulsions were stable for 90-day at refrigerated temperature•There was no observable phase separation even at room temperature for 90 days