# Enhancement of the Physicochemical Properties of Brazilian Red Propolis Using Gelucire-Based Microencapsulation

## TL;DR

This study shows that encapsulating Brazilian red propolis with Gelucire improves its solubility and stability, making it more effective for oral use.

## Contribution

The novel use of Gelucire 50/13 in spray-drying encapsulation to enhance the physicochemical properties of red propolis extract.

## Key findings

- RPE-Gelucire formulations showed improved spray-drying yields and better physicochemical properties than plain RPE.
- HPLC analysis confirmed the chemical integrity of the encapsulated extract.
- The total flavonoid content of RPE was determined as 13.11 mg quercetin equivalent.

## Abstract

Red propolis is renowned
for its versatility as a natural product
with numerous pharmacological activities. However, its pharmacological
efficacy is constrained by its hydrophobic nature, leading to poor
oral bioavailability and absorption. Encapsulation, particularly through
spray-drying, offers a promising strategy to overcome this limitation
by improving solubility and stability. This study evaluated the impact
of Gelucire 50/13 (G), a surfactant known for enhancing the aqueous
solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs, on the physicochemical
properties of encapsulated red propolis extract (RPE). The extract
was characterized to determine its solid content and total flavonoid
content (TFC). Encapsulation of RPE in Gelucire was followed by spray-drying
using three carriers: Arabic gum, octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified
starch, and maltodextrin. For comparison, plain RPE was also spray-dried
using the same carriers. The encapsulated formulations were characterized
for their physicochemical properties, including water activity, moisture
content, and solubility, as well as qualitative chemical integrity,
assessed using HPLC analysis. The TFC of RPE was determined to be
13.11 mg of the quercetin equivalent. RPE-Gelucire formulations demonstrated
improved spray-drying yields and superior physicochemical properties
compared to plain RPE formulations. Additionally, HPLC analysis confirmed
the preservation of the extract’s chemical profile postencapsulation.
These findings highlight the potential of Gelucire-based spray-drying
encapsulation with carriers to enhance the solubility, stability,
and physicochemical properties of the Brazilian red propolis extract.