EFFECT OF JUÇARA (EUTERPE EDULIS M.) PULP ENCAPSULATION ON ANTHOCYANIN BIOACCESSIBILITY

Considering juçara (Euterpe edulis M.) pulp functional properties, the present study aimed to evaluate bioaccessibility of juçara pulp beads by simulated digestion assay. Beads were produced by ionic gelation, juçara pulp added 1.5% sodium alginate solution was dripped into 0.1 M CaCl2 (E1) or 0.1 M CaCl2 and 0.2% chitosan (E2) solutions. Simulated digestion was carried out in the oral (2 min), gastric (2 h) and intestinal phases. Encapsulation efficiency and anthocyanins of the solutions of each digestion step were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD). E2 beads had higher encapsulation efficiency, retaining 81% of anthocyanins present in juçara pulp, while E1 retained 25%. During the bioaccessibility study, oral phase had released of 24% of anthocyanins from E1 beads and 21% from E2, while in gastric phase 42% from E1 and 28% from E2. In the intestinal phase, results were observed only for E2 beads that released 3.3% at the beginning of this stage, 1.8% 15 min, 0.6% 30 min, 0.9% 60 min, 0.4% 90 min and 10% 30 min. Addition of chitosan in ionic gelation promoted higher encapsulation efficiency, due to the reduction of porosity of alginate granules, reducing their solubility and promoting better pulp retention. E2 beads also promoted a controlled release of compounds throughout the intestinal phase, showing that the addition of chitosan assured the protection of anthocyanins present in juçara pulp against gastrointestinal conditions. In addition, made them more bioavailable to perform their function in target tissue cells due to a higher integrity of bioactive compounds. In conclusion, the addition of chitosan increased the encapsulation efficiency and the protection of anthocyanins against digestion, ensuring the bioaccessibility of these compounds.