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Review
. 2023 Sep 14:10:1232129.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1232129. eCollection 2023.

Cryopreservation of bioflavonoid-rich plant sources and bioflavonoid-microcapsules: emerging technologies for preserving bioactivity and enhancing nutraceutical applications

Jia Xiang  1   2 , Ronald Mlambo  2 , Ibrahim Shaw  2 , Yimer Seid  2 , Hamid Shah  2 , Yongju He  3 , Julius K S K Kpegah  4 , Songwen Tan  1   2 , Wenhu Zhou  1   2 , Binsheng He  1
Affiliations
Review

Cryopreservation of bioflavonoid-rich plant sources and bioflavonoid-microcapsules: emerging technologies for preserving bioactivity and enhancing nutraceutical applications

Jia Xiang et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Bioflavonoids are natural polyphenolic secondary metabolites that are medicinal. These compounds possess antitumor, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-psoriasis properties to mention a few. Plant species that contain bioflavonoids should be preserved as such. Also, the bioactivity of the bioflavonoids as neutraceutical compounds is compromised following extraction due to their sensitivity to environmental factors like light, pH, and temperature. In other words, the bioflavonoids' shelf-life is affected. Scientists noticed that bioflavonoids have low solubility properties, poor absorption, and low bioavailability following consumption. Researchers came up with methods to encapsulate bioflavonoids in order to circumvent the challenges above and also to mask the unpleasant order these chemicals may have. Besides, scientists cryopreserve plant species that contain bioflavonoids. In this review, we discuss cryopreservation and bioflavonoid microencapsulation focusing mainly on vitrification, slow freezing, and freeze-drying microencapsulation techniques. In addition, we highlight bioflavonoid extraction techniques, medicinal properties, challenges, and future perspectives of cryopreservation and microencapsulation of bioflavonoids. Regardless of the uniqueness of cryopreservation and microencapsulation as methods to preserve bioflavonoid sources and bioflavonoids' bioactivity, there are challenges reported. Freeze-drying technology is costly. Cryoprotectants damage the integrity of plant cells, to say the least. Researchers are working very hard to overcome these challenges. Encapsulating bioflavonoids via coaxial electrospray and then cryopreserving the micro/nanocapsules produced can be very interesting.

Keywords: anticancer; antioxidant; bioflavonoids; cryopreservation; microencapsulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Classification of the main bioflavonoids based on their general structure. Bioflavonoids share a common structure made up of an oxygenated heterocycle (ring C) connected to two aromatic rings (rings A and B) by three carbon atoms. A typical C6-C3-C6 flavan backbone, which is the building block for all flavonoids and comprises two phenyl rings, is produced as a result.
Figure 2
Figure 2
An overview of vitrification of plant cells. The cells to be cryopreserved are obtained from actively dividing parts of a plant like apical or root meristems (1). The cells are precultured (2). The cells are then transferred to a loading solution (3). After that, the cells are put in a PVS (4). The cells are then plunged into liquid nitrogen (5). Now, for thawing purposes, the cells are put in a recovery solution (6). Regeneration medium (7) is needed for the cells to develop into a plant (8).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic illustration of the freeze-drying process. In the first phase (01–1.5 h), the sample is frozen as the temperature falls from 20 to –40°C whereas pressure is constant (1,000 mbar). The second phase (2–7 h) is characterized by a sharp drop in pressure and a sharp increase in temperature leading to the sublimation of the solvent (primary drying).Finally, secondary drying takes place resulting in an encapsulated product.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Potential health benefits of bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids have antioxidant (1), nephroprotective (2), anti-inflammatory (3), anticancer (4), hepatoprotective (5), immunomodulatory (6), neuroprotective (7), anti-hypertension (8), and cardioprotective (9) properties.
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