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. 2021 Jun 24;26(13):3873.
doi: 10.3390/molecules26133873.

Polysaccharide Matrices for the Encapsulation of Tetrahydrocurcumin-Potential Application as Biopesticide against Fusarium graminearum

Anne Loron  1 , Vesta Navikaitė-Šnipaitienė  2 , Deimantė Rosliuk  2 , Ramunė Rutkaitė  2 , Christian Gardrat  1 , Véronique Coma  1
Affiliations

Polysaccharide Matrices for the Encapsulation of Tetrahydrocurcumin-Potential Application as Biopesticide against Fusarium graminearum

Anne Loron et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Cereals are subject to contamination by pathogenic fungi, which damage grains and threaten public health with their mycotoxins. Fusarium graminearum and its mycotoxins, trichothecenes B (TCTBs), are especially targeted in this study. Recently, the increased public and political awareness concerning environmental issues tends to limit the use of traditional fungicides against these pathogens in favor of eco-friendlier alternatives. This study focuses on the development of biofungicides based on the encapsulation of a curcumin derivative, tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), in polysaccharide matrices. Starch octenylsuccinate (OSA-starch) and chitosan have been chosen since they are generally recognized as safe. THC has been successfully trapped into particles obtained through a spray-drying or freeze-drying processes. The particles present different properties, as revealed by visual observations and scanning electron microscopy. They are also different in terms of the amount and the release of encapsulated THC. Although freeze-dried OSA-starch has better trapped THC, it seems less able to protect the phenolic compound than spray-dried particles. Chitosan particles, both spray-dried and lyophilized, have shown promising antifungal properties. The IC50 of THC-loaded spray-dried chitosan particles is as low as 0.6 ± 0.3 g/L. These particles have also significantly decreased the accumulation of TCTBs by 39%.

Keywords: OSA-starch; chitosan; freeze-drying; spray-drying; tetrahydrocurcumin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Evolution of the oil droplet size as a function of mixing time for a homogenization speed of 13,000 rpm at two different ratios. Error bars correspond to the standard deviation of measurements in duplicate.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Evolution of the oil droplet size as a function of the OSA-starch/oil ratio for a homogenization speed of 10,000 rpm. Error bars correspond to the standard deviation of measurements in duplicate.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Evolution of the oil droplet size as a function of mixing time for a homogenization speed of 10,000 rpm, with or without Tween 80. Error bars correspond to the standard deviation of measurements in duplicate.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Overview of the techniques to prepare particles.
Figure 5
Figure 5
SEM views (2000×) of (a) nano spray-dried OSA-starch particles; (b) nano spray-dried chitosan particles; (c) spray-dried chitosan particles; (d) freeze-dried OSA-starch particles; (e) freeze-dried chitosan particles.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Direct infusion ESI(+)-mass spectrum of commercial THC with labeled protons.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Production of TCTB(s) for six different strains, CBS 185.32, Fg 164, Fg 156, Fg 215, Fg 605 and Fg 812, of F. graminearum in liquid medium amended by (white) blank; (light grey) THC 5 µM; (grey) THC 10 µM after 14 days at 25 °C and 70% R.H. Error bars correspond to the standard deviation of measurements of five Petri dishes. Different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05) within an experiment (marked with figures).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Pictures of THC-loaded particles.
Figure 9
Figure 9
SEM views (2000×) of THC-loaded particles: (a) nano spray-dried OSA-starch; (b) spray-dried chitosan; (c) freeze-dried OSA-starch; (d) freeze-dried chitosan.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Release of THC from THC-loaded particles in ethanol at ambient temperature. Error bars correspond to the standard deviation of measurements performed in triplicate.
Figure 11
Figure 11
DSC thermograms of THC-loaded particles and simple mixtures of non-loaded particles and THC, for (a) nano spray-dried OSA-starch; (b) spray-dried chitosan; (c) freeze-dried OSA-starch; (d) freeze-dried chitosan.
Figure 11
Figure 11
DSC thermograms of THC-loaded particles and simple mixtures of non-loaded particles and THC, for (a) nano spray-dried OSA-starch; (b) spray-dried chitosan; (c) freeze-dried OSA-starch; (d) freeze-dried chitosan.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Production of TCTBs by F. graminearum CBS 185.32 in liquid medium amended by non-loaded or THC-loaded particles at 125 mg/L after 14 days of incubation at 25 °C and 70% of relative humidity. Error bars correspond to the standard deviation of measurements of 5 Petri dishes. Values with different letters presented significant differences.
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