Microcapsules containing antioxidant molecules as scavengers of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

The antioxidant capacities of gum arabic and maltodextrin microcapsules containing antioxidant molecules (trolox, α-tocopherol, β-carotene, apo-8'-carotenal and apo-12'-carotenal) against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species were evaluated. The scavenging capacities were influenced by the wall material, the reactive species, namely ROO(), H(2)O(2), HO(), HOCl and ONOO(-), and the antioxidant molecule. In general, a more pronounced enhancement of the antioxidant capacity due to incorporation of antioxidant molecules was observed in gum arabic microcapsules. The empty microcapsules showed capacity to scavenge all the studied ROS and RNS, being gum arabic a more potent antioxidant than maltodextrin. Apo-8'-carotenal incorporation promoted the highest increase in the scavenging capacities among the evaluated antioxidants, varying from 50% to 132% and from 39% to 85% for gum arabic and maltodextrin microcapsules, respectively, suggesting that this carotenoid presented the best balance between the molecule localization inside the microcapsules and the reactivity against the specific reactive species.