Co-encapsulation of Lactobacillus reuteri DPC16 and Cyclocarya paliurus leaf extracts in plant proteins for probiotic viability improvement

Li Ying Jessie Lau; Meng Wai Woo; Siew Young Quek

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144189

Co-encapsulation of Lactobacillus reuteri DPC16 and Cyclocarya paliurus leaf extracts in plant proteins for probiotic viability improvement

Food Chem. 2025 Apr 2:482:144189. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144189. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Li Ying Jessie Lau¹, Meng Wai Woo², Siew Young Quek³

Affiliations

¹ Food Science, School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand. Electronic address: llau468@aucklanduni.ac.nz.
² Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: wai.woo@auckland.ac.nz.
³ Food Science, School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; Riddet Institute, Centre of Research Excellence for Food Research, Palmerston North 4474, New Zealand. Electronic address: sy.quek@auckland.ac.nz.

PMID: 40188773
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144189

Abstract

This study developed a novel microencapsulation system using hempseed protein isolate (HPI) for the targeted delivery of Lactobacillus reuteri DPC16 and Cyclocarya paliurus (CP) leaf extracts to the human gut. The physicochemical properties, morphology, and probiotic survivability were evaluated. The optimized formulation demonstrated the highest encapsulation efficiency (EE) under in vitro gastrointestinal simulation (GITS) and during a 120-day storage period at -20 °C, 4 °C, and 25 °C. The HPI/CP formulation, at a 9:1 (w/w) ratio, achieved the highest encapsulation efficiency (EE) and maintained a 93.06 % survival rate for encapsulated L. reuteri DPC16. After GITS, encapsulated L. reuteri DPC16 showed significantly higher viability (7.2 log CFU/g) than free cells (5.5 log CFU/g) (p < 0.05). Confocal laser microscopy confirmed its robust survivability in the HPI/CP (9:1) matrices, with viability remaining above 10⁶ CFU/g after 120 days. These findings highlight the potential of HPI and CP formulations for developing functional foods and nutraceuticals with enhanced probiotic stability and survivability.

Keywords: Co-encapsulation; Hempseed protein isolate; Leaf extracts; Phenolic compounds; Probiotics.