Alginate-Based Carriers Loaded with Mulberry (<i>Morus alba</i> L.) Leaf Extract: A Promising Strategy for Prolonging 1-Deoxynojirimicyn (DNJ) Systemic Activity for the Nutraceutical Management of Hyperglycemic Conditions
Lucia Marchetti,
Eleonora Truzzi,
Maria Cecilia Rossi,
Stefania Benvenuti,
Silvia Cappellozza,
Alessio Saviane,
Luca Bogataj,
Cristina Siligardi,
Davide Bertelli
Affiliations
Lucia Marchetti
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
Eleonora Truzzi
Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
Maria Cecilia Rossi
Centro Interdipartimentale Grandi Strumenti, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy
Stefania Benvenuti
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
Silvia Cappellozza
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via Eulero, 6a, 35143 Padova, Italy
Alessio Saviane
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via Eulero, 6a, 35143 Padova, Italy
Luca Bogataj
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via Eulero, 6a, 35143 Padova, Italy
Cristina Siligardi
Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Davide Bertelli
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
The iminosugar 1-deoxynojirimicyn (DNJ) contained in mulberry leaves has displayed systemic beneficial effects against disorders of carbohydrate metabolism. Nevertheless, its effect is impaired by the short half-life. Alginate-based carriers were developed to encapsulate a DNJ-rich mulberry extract: Ca-alginate beads, obtained by external gelation, and spray-dried alginate microparticles (SDMs). Mean size and distribution, morphology, drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, experimental yield, and release characteristics were determined for the two formulations. Ca-alginate beads and SDMs exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of about 54% and 98%, respectively, and a DNJ loading in the range of 0.43–0.63 μg/mg. The in vitro release study demonstrated the carriers’ capability in controlling the DNJ release in acid and basic conditions (<50% in 5 h), due to electrostatic interactions, which were demonstrated by 1H-NMR relaxometry studies. Thus, alginate-based particles proved to be promising strategies for producing food supplements containing mulberry leaf extracts for the management of hyperglycemic state.
