ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Luteolin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers using propolis wax and safflower oil: formulation, optimization, and characterization for antibacterial and antioxidant improvement

Negar Samadi, Mohammad Mohsenzadeh, and Maryam Hashemi

Department of Food Hygiene and Aquaculture, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

E-mail: mohsenzadeh@um.ac.ir

Received: 25 February 2024  Accepted: 26 November 2024

Abstract:

Luteolin is one of the most common edible herbal flavonoids that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects. The aim of this study was to develop an optimized luteolin-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) using propolis wax as the solid lipid and safflower oil as the liquid lipid via a melt emulsification-ultrasonication method. Response surface methodology was utilized to investigate the influence of total lipid concentration and luteolin content on particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and encapsulation efficiency (EE) in order to determine the optimal NLC formulation. The optimized NLCs exhibited spherical particles with an average size of 120.904 nm, a PDI of 0.142, and an EE of 66.87%. The particles also demonstrated high physical stability over a 90-day period at 4, 25 and 37 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and transform infrared spectroscopy analyses showed high compatibility and proper embedding of luteolin in NLC structure. The gastrointestinal release of luteolin from the NLC formulation followed a sustained pattern compared to free luteolin, indicating the absence of any unencapsulated form on its surface. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of luteolin-loaded NLCs (L-NLC), as measured by DPPH and Folin-Ciocalteu methods, was significantly higher than free luteolin after 30 days. The microbiological tests using the microdilution broth method showed that NLCs had more antimicrobial properties compared to free luteolin against examined foodborne pathogens. In conclusion, the developed NLCs hold great potential as a delivery system for luteolin encapsulation and can be applied in the food and drug industries.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Encapsulation; Luteolin; Nanostructured lipid carriers; Particle size; Polyphenols

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-024-03831-6

Chemical Papers 79 (2) 995–1012 (2025)