Encapsulation of polyphenolic compounds for health promotion and disease prevention: Challenges and opportunities

Polyphenolic compounds are present in different parts of plants, including the root, stem, bark, leaves, seeds and fruits. They have been reported for their various biological functions including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects to mention a few, based on their interesting structures. The structure-function relationship of these polyphenolic compounds confers nutraceutical potentials on them, thus making them suitable for novel drug design and formulation of pharmaceutics. However, to preserve the structural properties of these polyphenolic compounds in biological systems, they have to be encapsulated in matrix of biopolymers. Hence, the need for the technology of nanoencapsulation that will enable the preservation and protection of the polyphenolic compounds from degradation and loss of potency. This review captures nanoencapsulation technology of polyphenolic compounds, their application in food and pharmaceutical industries, safety and biocompatibility. This also describes the health promotion and disease prevention of encapsulated polyphenolic compounds in animals and humans.

Encapsulation of polyphenolic compounds for health promotion and disease prevention: Challenges and opportunities Keywords:

biopolymers , cardioprotective , Disease prevention , Encapsulation , Health promotion , Nanoencapsulation , Neuroprotective , polyphenolic compounds