Potencial nutracêutico de filme de desintegração oral à base de galactomanana e alginato de sódio adicionado de polpa concentrada de acerola verde

Abstract

Oral disintegration films (ODFs) have emerged as a viable alternative for the administration of compounds of interest due to their rapid dissolution in the oral cavity and ease of consumption. Among the active compounds with potential for incorporation, vitamin C stands out, which can be obtained from natural sources such as green acerola (M. emarginata), known for its high levels of ascorbic acid, particularly at the unripe stage. Therefore, this study aimed to produce ODFs based on sodium alginate and galactomannan obtained from the seeds of C. pulcherrima, followed by the incorporation of concentrated green acerola pulp (GAC), with the purpose of applying this system as an alternative for ascorbic acid intake. Five ODF formulations were produced with different proportions of sodium alginate (A) and galactomannan (G) (100A, 75A25G, 50A50G, 25A75G, and 100G). These formulations were characterized in terms of preliminary characteristics, colorimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical properties, thickness, surface pH, contact angle, in vitro disintegration time, moisture content, moisture loss, and moisture absorption. Based on the obtained results, the formulation presenting the best characteristics (ODF*) was selected for the incorporation of GAC (2 g GAC/g polymer) and analyzed according to the same parameters mentioned above, except for SEM. In addition, the ascorbic acid content in ODF*+GAC was determined over 45 days of storage and during the phases of an in vitro bioaccessibility assay. The 25A75G formulation was selected because it showed homogeneity, ease of handling, and essential characteristics for ODFs, such as rapid disintegration time (29 s), hydrophilic characteristics (contact angle below 90°), and near-neutral pH. After GAC incorporation, the ODF maintained most of its evaluated properties and showed overall retention of the initial incorporated ascorbic acid (AA) content for up to 45 days of storage. Furthermore, it demonstrated a higher percentage of bioaccessible AA in the gastric and intestinal phases compared with a commercial vitamin C ODF, reinforcing its potential as a delivery system for this compound. Therefore, it can be concluded that ODFs based on sodium alginate and C. pulcherrima galactomannan incorporated with concentrated green acerola pulp may be considered a viable alternative for ascorbic acid administration, presenting suitable overall characteristics for ODFs and stability of the compound of interest during storage.