IJMS, Vol. 26, Pages 10859: Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) Shell: Encapsulation, Structural Stability, and Multifunctional Activities

International Journal of Molecular Sciences doi: 10.3390/ijms262210859

Authors:
Carlos Barba-Ostria
Orestes López
Alexis Debut
Arianna Mayorga-Ramos
Johana Zúñiga-Miranda
Elena Coyago-Cruz
Rebeca Gonzalez-Pastor
Kevin Cartuchi
Antonella Viteri
Ana Belén Peñaherrera-Pazmiño
Linda P. Guamán

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) shell, an agro-industrial by-product, is a rich source of phenolic acids and minor anthocyanins, but its direct use is limited by instability and low bioavailability. We extracted phenolic-rich fractions and produced maltodextrin microcapsules by spray drying, then confirmed chemical entrapment and amorphization by FTIR, SEM, and XRD. The formulation showed high encapsulation efficiency and high antioxidant capacity (DPPH), selective bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia, and strong inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes biofilms, while exhibiting negligible hemolysis (<2%) across tested concentrations. Antitumor effects were moderate with low selectivity in vitro, indicating that phenolic-acid-driven redox modulation may require fractionation or delivery optimization for oncology applications. Overall, spray-dried microcapsules provided structural stability and safety while concentrating multifunctional activities relevant to food and biomedical uses. By valorizing a tropical waste stream into a bioactive, hemocompatible ingredient, this work aligns with societal goals on health and sustainable production (SDG 3 and SDG 12) and offers a scalable route to deploy underutilized phenolic resources.

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Carlos Barba-Ostria www.mdpi.com