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. 2020 Jul 24;9(8):986.
doi: 10.3390/foods9080986.

Improving the Functional Activities of Curcumin Using Milk Proteins as Nanocarriers

Soad Taha  1 , Ibrahim El-Sherbiny  2 , Toshiki Enomoto  3 , Aida Salem  4 , Emiko Nagai  3 , Ahmed Askar  5 , Ghada Abady  4 , Mahmoud Abdel-Hamid  1
Affiliations

Improving the Functional Activities of Curcumin Using Milk Proteins as Nanocarriers

Soad Taha et al. Foods. .

Abstract

Curcumin is one of the most common spices worldwide. It has potential benefits, but its poor solubility and bioavailability have restricted its application. To overcome these problems, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of sodium caseinate (SC), α-lactalbumin (α-La), β-lactoglobulin (β-lg), whey protein concentrate (WPC) and whey protein isolate (WPI) as nanocarriers of curcumin. Furthermore, the antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activities of the formed nanoparticles were examined. The physicochemical characteristics of the formed nanoparticles as well as the entrapment efficiency (%) and the in vitro behavior regarding the release of curcumin (%) were examined. The results showed that the formation of curcumin-milk protein nanoparticles enhanced both the entrapment efficiency and the in vitro behavior release of curcumin (%). Cur/β-lg nanoparticles had the highest antioxidant activity, while SC and WPC nanoparticles had the highest anticancer effect. The antimicrobial activity of the formed nanoparticles was much higher compared to curcumin and the native milk proteins.

Keywords: anticancer; antimicrobial activities; antioxidant; curcumin; milk proteins; nanoparticles.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of chitosan (Cs), curcumin (Cur), Sod. caseinate (SC), α-lactalbumin (α-La), β-lactoglobulin (β-lg), whey protein isolate (WPI), whey protein concentrate (WPC) and curcumin loaded nanoparticles (Cur NPs).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of curcumin-loaded milk protein nanoparticles. (A) Cur-SC NPs, (B) Cur-α-La NPs, (C) Cur-β-lg NPs, (D) Cur-WPI NPs, (E) Cur-WPC NPs.
Figure 3
Figure 3
In vitro release profiles of curcumin from curcumin–milk protein nanoparticles.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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