Study of the extraction and encapsulation of <i>Withania frutescens</i> (L.) mucilage: towards an innovative formulation

Abstract

Withania frutescens (L.) is a medicinal plant widely used in phytotherapy. The aim of this study is to extract mucilage from this plant and utilize it for nanoparticle encapsulation. The study begins with the determination of mineral composition using ICP-AES, followed by the analysis of amino acids and vitamins using HPLC-MS. Additionally, mucilage extraction was optimized by defining stabilization parameters. This mucilage was then used as a matrix for the encapsulation of nanoparticles, particularly oils and antibiotics. ICP-AES analyses revealed high levels of iron (58,469 mg/kg), calcium (17,767 mg/kg), and magnesium (43,238 mg/kg). The assessment of nutritional value identified 17 amino acids and 11 vitamins, with maximum concentrations of 14.90 mg/g and 23.69 mg/g, respectively. Mucilage extraction achieved an optimal yield of 65.21% at a liquid-solid ratio of 100 g/L and a shear rate of 3,000 rpm. Encapsulation demonstrated a mucilage efficiency and stability of up to 86.35%. The evaluation of the antibacterial activity of encapsulated antibiotics revealed more pronounced inhibition zones with purified mucilage and encapsulated antibiotics. The observed diameters were 12.3 mm for mucilage alone (Muc), 13.8 mm for encapsulated ampicillin (Muc-Amp), 15.6 mm for encapsulated streptomycin (Muc-Str), and 14 mm for encapsulated kanamycin (Muc-Kan). The mucilage extracted from W. frutescens exhibits significant potential as an encapsulation material for therapeutic applications and the protection of bioactive compounds