In this study, the effect of matrix compounds from natural curcuminoid resources on the stability of curcuminoids and emulsions thereof was evaluated. Curcuminoid emulsions were prepared curcuminoid rich sources (curcuminoid extract, an aqueous turmeric concentrate and turmeric powder) with medium-chain triglyceride oil as lipid phase, lecithin, and pectin as emulsifiers. The curcuminoid emulsions were exposed to light in the visible wavelength range (300 nm–800 nm) at the specific energy input of 0.47 kW/m2 for 7 days and to the temperature of 4 °C, 25 °C, 40 °C for 49 days. The total curcuminoid retention (TC), droplet size (DS) change, instability index (InI), and yellowness reduction (YR) was observed during the storage time. The half-life of curcuminoids in emulsions was increased to 21 h, while the half-life of free curcuminoids was 1.3 h in the light exposure test. The co-compounds from the curcuminoid sources contributed to the emulsion stability by increasing the viscosity. In the thermal exposure test, the matrix compound system retained more than 93% curcuminoids after 49 days of storage at 40 °C, whereas the phase separation increased significantly. However, the TC reduction was independent of the InI change and droplet agglomeration. The YR depended on the TC and the amount of co-components in the emulsion.
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