Evaluación de la estabilidad de las cápsulas de gelatina formuladas a partir de microencapsulados de carotenoides extraídos de la cáscara de tomate de árbol (Solanum betaceum)

Abstract

Currently, the increase in food waste has reached alarming figures, amounting to 3.4 billion tons, due to the growth of the world population. Faced with this global challenge, new alternatives have been explored, among which the reuse of tomato tree peels stands out for its significant content of carotenoids, compounds known for their ability to prevent different diseases. In this study, carotenoids were extracted by the solvent method, mainly using 96 percent ethanol, due to its superior yields, while in the quantification of carotenoids were 0.40 to 0.50 mg/L. Subsequently, the concentrated extract was microencapsulated with maltodextrin and gum arabic, highly soluble and biocompatible polymers, achieving efficiencies above 90 percent. Carr's index of 20 percent and Hausner's index of 1.25 indicate uniformity and firmness in the capsule formulation. The evaluation of antioxidant activity showed percentages of 88.29 for the extract, 28.54 in the microencapsulates and 32.98 for the initial formulation, gradually decreasing with time. Finally, physical parameters were evaluated, including visual inspection that confirmed the external stability of the capsules. Over time, a gradual increase in weight was noted, while the disintegration time exhibited a decreasing trend, attributable to environmental factors such as humidity and agglomeration. Likewise, the shelf life of the hard gelatin capsules was determined, with a value of 5 months and 43 days.