Abstract
Cyclodextrins (CDs) are a group of cyclic oligosaccharides produced from starch or starch derivatives. They contain six (αCD), seven (βCD), eight (γCD), or more glucopyranose monomers linked via α-1,4-glycosidic bonds. CDs have a truncated cone shape with a hydrophilic outer wall and a less hydrophilic inner wall, the latter forming a more apolar internal cavity. Because of this special architecture, CDs are soluble in water and can simultaneously host lipophilic guest molecules. The major advantage of inclusion into CDs is increased aqueous solubility of such lipophilic substances. Accordingly, we present studies where the complexation of natural compounds such as propolis and dietary plant bioactives (e.g., tocotrienol, pentacyclic triterpenoids, curcumin) with γCD resulted in improved stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity in various laboratory model organisms and in humans. We also address safety aspects that may arise from increased bioavailability of plant extracts or natural compounds owing to CD complexation. When orally administered, α- and βCD—which are inert to intestinal digestion—are fermented by the human intestinal flora, while γCD is almost completely degraded to glucose units by α-amylase. Hence, recent reports indicate that empty γCD supplementation exhibits metabolic activity on its own, which may provide opportunities for new applications.
Highlights
Increasing the stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity of natural compounds and plant bioactives is an important issue in food science and pharmaceutics
One should consider that improving the bioavailability of dietary plant bioactives may be accompanied by some risks, and a critical evaluation as well as a risk assessment is needed
Encapsulation enables the intake of higher dosages of natural compounds and plant bioactives
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Through the specific steric arrangement of their glucose units, CDs are soluble in water and can function as important complexation agents for a broad range of more lipophilic molecules, including natural compounds and plant bioactives, with increasing use in industrial and research applications [1,3]. CDs is increased aqueous solubility with enhanced stability and bioavailability of these guest molecules. The present state of knowledge regarding the stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity of γCD complexes with selected natural compounds and dietary plant bioactives is described. The present state of knowledge regarding the stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity of γCD complexes with selected natural compounds and die of 21 tary plant bioactives is described.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have