Functionalized xanthohumol nanoemulsion: fabrication, characterization and bioavailability enhancement of bioactive compounds

J Sci Food Agric. 2024 Dec;104(15):9442-9450. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.13767. Epub 2024 Jul 31.

Abstract

Background: Xanthohumol is an isopentadienyl flavonoid in hops, which have several pharmacological effects. However, due to the poor bioavailability of xanthohumol, it cannot be widely used.

Result: In this study, solvent extraction combined with preparative liquid chromatography was used to separate and purify xanthohumol in hop residue. And the purity, yield and recovery of xanthohumol was 983.0 ± 2.1 g kg-1, 921.61 ± 5.65 g kg-1, and 5.41 ± 0.07 g kg-1, respectively. Response surface methodology optimization revealed that 216.75 g kg-1 ethyl oleate, 574.1 g kg-1 polyoxyl-35 castor oil (EL35) and 209.15 g kg-1 polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200) produced the xanthohumol nanoemulsion with a loading capacity of 85.40 ± 0.33 g kg-1, mean droplet diameter of 42.35 ± 0.06 nm, and zeta potential of -21.78 ± 0.18 mV.

Conclusion: Xanthohumol nanoemulsion has better relative stability. The relative oral bioavailability of xanthohumol nanoemulsion was increased by 1.76 times. These results provide a theoretical basis for the application of nanoemulsion containing xanthohumol in food and pharmaceutical industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Keywords: antitumor activity; bioavailability; nanoemulsion; xanthohumol.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Availability*
  • Emulsions* / chemistry
  • Flavonoids* / chemistry
  • Flavonoids* / pharmacokinetics
  • Humulus / chemistry
  • Male
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Propiophenones* / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • xanthohumol
  • Propiophenones
  • Flavonoids
  • Emulsions
  • Plant Extracts