Author(s):
Vanessa Fernandes, Bangera Sheshappa Mamatha
Email(s):
mamatha.bs@nitte.edu.in
DOI:
10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00439
Address:
Vanessa Fernandes, Bangera Sheshappa Mamatha*
Nitte (Deemed to be University), Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research (NUCSER), Department of Food Safety and Nutrition, Deralakatte, Mangaluru, 575018, Karnataka, India.
*Corresponding Author
Published In:
Volume - 19,
Issue - 7,
Year - 2026
ABSTRACT:
Fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid, is known for its various bioactivities. Nevertheless, degradation in gastric pH and enzymes reduce its bioavailability. Thus, protecting fucoxanthin with suitable protective excipients may improve its stability and absorption. In this study, fucoxanthin purified from Padina tetrastomatica, was micellised with diverse excipients (pectin, gelatin, inulin, gum acacia, maltodextrin, and corn starch). The purity of fucoxanthin was 97% (6.64mg/100g, dry weight). FT-IR analysis verified functional groups (hydroxyl (-OH), epoxy (ether), carbonyl (C=O), and carboxyl (COOH) moieties) of fucoxanthin. Stability (pH 2–8 for 15–150 minutes) revealed that fucoxanthin had least stability (97% breakup in 150minutes) at pH 2. At pH 6 and 8, fucoxanthin micellised with inulin, gum acacia, maltodextrin, and corn starch exhibited increased retention up to 2.5-fold compared to control. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion and permeation demonstrated inulin, and maltodextrin enhanced (1 and 2.5-fold) fucoxanthin retention, whereas gum acacia and inulin micellised fucoxanthin exhibited higher permeation (3-and 2-fold) compared to control. This study highlights the importance of suitable protective excipient to aid fucoxanthin stability to achieve higher functionality.
Cite this article:
Vanessa Fernandes, Bangera Sheshappa Mamatha. Influence of Protective Excipients in Enhancing Stability and Accessibility of Micellarized Fucoxanthin from Padina tetrastomatica. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(7):3089-6. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00439
Cite(Electronic):
Vanessa Fernandes, Bangera Sheshappa Mamatha. Influence of Protective Excipients in Enhancing Stability and Accessibility of Micellarized Fucoxanthin from Padina tetrastomatica. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026;19(7):3089-6. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2026.00439 Available on: https://www.rjptonline.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2026-19-7-26
REFERENCES:
1. Fernandes V, Mamatha BS. Fucoxanthin, a Functional Food Ingredient: Challenges in Bioavailability. Current Nutrition Report. 2023; 12: 567–580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-023-00492-x
2. Maeda H, Fukuda S, Izumi H, Saga N. Anti-oxidant and fucoxanthin contents of brown alga Ishimozuku (Sphaerotrichia divaricata) from the West Coast of Aomori, Japan. Marine Drugs. 2018;16: 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/md16080255
3. Sharma PP, Chonche MJ, Mudhol S, Muthukumar SP, Baskaran V. Anti-inflammatory efficacy of brown seaweed (Padina tetrastromatica) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and low-dose LPS induced inflammation in C57BL6 mice. Algal Research. 202371: 103027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2023.103027
4. Tekeshwar Kumar, Vishal Jain. Phytochemical Screening, Phenolic, Flavonoids, Carotenoids contents and antioxidant activity of Folkloric Memecylon edule roxb. Research Journal Pharmacy and Technology. 2016; 9(10): 1547-1551. https://doi:10.5958/0974-360X.2016.00303.6
5. Sharma PP, Vanajalakshi V, Haware D, Baskaran V. Brown algae and barley-based anti-obesity food and its safety in C57BL6 mice. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2022; 59: 4230-4243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-022-05483-4
6. Zhao D, Yu D, Kim M, Gu MY, Kim SM, Pan CH, Kim GH, Chung D. Effects of temperature, light, and pH on the stability of fucoxanthin in an oil-in-water emulsion. Food Chemistry. 2019; 291: 87-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.04.002
7. Ravi H, Arunkumar R, Baskaran V.Chitosan-glycolipid nanogels loaded with anti-obese marine carotenoid fucoxanthin: Acute and sub-acute toxicity evaluation in rodent model. Journal Biomaterial Applications. 2015; 30: 420-434. https://doi.org/10.1177/0885328215590753
8. Koo SY, Mok IK, Pan CH, Kim SM. Preparation of fucoxanthin-loaded nanoparticles composed of casein and chitosan with improved fucoxanthin bioavailability. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2016; 64: 9428–9435. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6b04376
9. Islam F, Khan J, Zehravi M, Das R, Haque A, Banu A, Parwaiz S, Nainu F, Nafady MH, Shahriar MS, Hossain MJ, Muzammil K, Emra TB. Synergistic effects of carotenoids: Therapeutic benefits on human health. Process Biochemistry. 2024; 136: 254-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2023.11.033
10. Ravi H, Baskaran V. Chitosan-glycolipid nanocarriers improve the bioavailability of fucoxanthin via up-regulation of PPARγ and SRB1 and antioxidant activity in rat model. Journal Functional Foods. 2017; 28: 215-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2016.10.023
11. Sangeetha RK, Bhaskar N, Divakar S, Baskaran V. Bioavailability and metabolism of fucoxanthin in rats: structural characterization of metabolites by LC-MS (APCI). Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 2010; 333: 299-310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-009-0231-.
12. Smita Kumbhar, Manish Bhatia, Prafulla Choudhari, Vinod Gaikwad, Mohini Salunke, Balaji Wakure. Fucoxanthin Shields Vero Cells from H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage by Potentially Activating the Nrf2 Signalling Pathway. Research Journal Pharmacy and Technology. 2025; 18(3): 1140-6. https://doi:10.52711/0974-360X.2025.00164
13. D’Orazio N, Gemello E, Gammone MA, De Girolamo M, Ficoneri C, Riccioni G. Fucoxantin: A treasure from the sea. Marine drugs. 2012 Mar; 10(3): 604
14. Remya RR, Radhika Rajasree SR. A study on Bioactive Compounds Derived from Brown Seaweeds and their Therapeutic Applications towards Various Diseases. Research Journal Pharmacy and Technology. 2016; 9(4): 369-372. https://doi:10.5958/0974-360X.2016.00066.4
15. Mali Snehal D, Khochage Swapna R, Nitalikar Manoj M, Magdum Chandrakant S. Microencapsulation: A Review. Research Journal Pharmacy and Technology.2013, 6(9): 954-961.
16. Toragall V, Baskaran V. Chitosan-sodium alginate-fatty acid nanocarrier system: Lutein bioavailability, absorption pharmacokinetics in diabetic rat and protection of retinal cells against H2O2 induced oxidative stress in vitro. Carbohydrate polymers.2021; 254: 117409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117409
17. Matalanis A, Jones OG, McClements DJ. Structured biopolymer-based delivery systems for encapsulation, protection, and release of lipophilic compounds. Food hydrocolloids. 2011; 25: 1865-1880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2011.04.014
18. Tian S, Xue X, Wang X, Chen Z. Preparation of starch-based functional food nano-microcapsule delivery system and its controlled release characteristics. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2022; 15: 982370. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.982370
19. Wan X, Guo H, Liang Y, Zhou C, Liu Z, Li K, Niu F, Zhai X, Wang L. The physiological functions and pharmaceutical applications of inulin: A review. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2020; 15: 246: 116589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116589
20. Sanchez C, Nigen M, Mejia Tamayo V, Doco T, Williams P, Amine C, Renard D. Acacia gum: History of the future. Food Hydrocolloids. 2018; 78: 140-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2017.04.008
21. Shubhangi VS, Veerendra CY, Shitalkumar SP. A Review: Stability Indicating Forced Degradation Studies. Research Journal of Pharmaceutical and Technology. 2019; 12(2): 885-890. https://doi: 10.5958/0974-360X.2019.00152.5
22. Bhat I, Jose NM, Mamatha B. Oxidative stability of lutein on exposure to varied extrinsic factors. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2023; 60: 987–995. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-022-05430-3
23. Nidhi B, Baskaran V. Influence of vegetable oils on micellization of lutein in a simulated digestion model. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 2011; 88: 367–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-010-1677-8
24. Porter C, Trevaskis N, Charman W.Lipids and lipid-based formulations: optimizing the oral delivery of lipophilic drugs. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. 2017; 6: 231–248. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd2197
25. Rowe RC, Sheskey P, Quinn M. Handbook of Pharmaceutical excipients. Libros Digitales-Pharmaceutical Press.2009.
26. Sudha M, Sailaja BBV, Ch. Jagadeesh, Surya Sunitha P, Ramanaiah M. Influence of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Anionic Micelles on The Complex Equilibria of Divalent Metal Ions with L-Leucine Amino Acid. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2024; 17(8): 3829-5. https://doi:10.52711/0974-360X.2024.00594
27. Ravi H, Kurrey N, Manabe Y, Sugawara T, Baskaran V. Polymeric chitosan-glycolipid nanocarriers for an effective delivery of marine carotenoid fucoxanthin for induction of apoptosis in human colon cancer cells (Caco-2 cells). Materials Science and Engineering: C (Biomaterials Advances). 2018; 91: 785-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2018.06.018
28. Sharma PP, Baskaran V. Polysaccharide (laminaran and fucoidan), fucoxanthin and lipids as functional components from brown algae (Padina tetrastromatica) modulates adipogenesis and thermogenesis in diet-induced obesity in C57BL6 mice. Algal Research. 2021; 54: 102187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2021.102187
29. Raji V, Loganathan V, Sadhasivam G, Kandasamy S, Poomani K, Thayumanavanet P. Purification of fucoxanthin from Sargassum wightii Greville and understanding the inhibition of angiotensin 1-converting enzyme: An in vitro and in silico studies.International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2020; 148: 696-703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.01.140
30. Shannon E, Abu-Ghannam N. Enzymatic extraction of fucoxanthin from brown seaweeds. International Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2018; 53: 2195-2204. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.13808
31. Koduvayur H, Surendraraj SF, Jacobsen C. Isolation of fucoxanthin from brown algae and its antioxidant activity: in vitro and 5% fish oil‐in‐water emulsion. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 2018, 95: 835-843. https://doi.org/10.1002/aocs.12092.
32. Yip WH, Joe LS, Mustapha WAW, Maskat MY, Said M. Characterisation and stability of pigments extracted from Sargassum binderi obtained from Semporna, Sabah. Sains Malays. 2014; 43: 1345-1354.
33. Hii SL, Choong PY, Woo KK, Won CL. Stability studies of fucoxanthin from Sargassum binderi.Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences. 2010; 4(10): 4580-4584.
34. Kawee-ai A, Kuntiya A, Kim SM. Anticholinesterase and Antioxidant Activities of Fucoxanthin Purified from the Microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Natural Product Communications. 2013, 8(10). https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578X1300801010
35. Sun X, Xu Y, Zhao L, Yan H, Wang S, Wang D. The stability and bioaccessibility of fucoxanthin in spray-dried microcapsules based on various biopolymers. Royal Society of Chemistry Advances. 2018; 8: 35139-35149. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA05621H
36. Sorasitthiyanukarn FN, Muangnoi C, Rojsitthisak P, Rojsitthisak P. Stability and biological activity enhancement of fucoxanthin through encapsulation in alginate/chitosan nanoparticles. International Journal Biological Macromolecules. 2024; 263: 130264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130264
37. Chai J,Jiang P, Wang P, Jiang Y, Li D, Bao W, Liu B, Liu B, Zhao L, Norde W, Yuan Q, Ren F, Li Y. The intelligent delivery systems for bioactive compounds in foods: Physicochemical and physiological conditions, absorption mechanisms, obstacles and responsive strategies. Trends Food Sci Technol. 2018; 78: 144-154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2018.06.003
38. Shrimali K, Atluri V, Wang X, Miller JD. Adsorption of corn starch molecules at hydrophobic mineral surfaces. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 2018; 546: 194-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2018.03.001.
39. Guo B, Oliviero T, Fogliano V, Ma Y, Chen F, Capuano E. Gastrointestinal bioaccessibility and colonic fermentation of fucoxanthin from the extract of the microalga Nitzschia laevis. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2019; 68(7): 1844–1850. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b02496