Nanoencapsulation of Baccaurea macrophylla pericarp extract in nanostarch - Based for in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibition.

Baccaurea macrophylla pericarp extract is rich in polyphenols with potent antioxidants and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activities, making it a promising candidate for the management of hyperuricemia and gout. However, its clinical potential is hindered by poor stability and low bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, this study developed and evaluated a nanoencapsulation system using nanostarch (NSB) and nanostarch-maltodextrin (NSBM) matrices to enhance the stability, bioaccessibility, and bioactivity of the extract. The extract was obtained through ultrasonic-assisted ethanol extraction and encapsulated via ultrasonication. Characterization using FTIR and SEM confirmed successful encapsulation with spherical nanocapsules (~160-180 nm). NSBM showed higher loading efficiency (79.92 mg/g) and superior stability under various pH, temperature, and storage conditions compared to NSB. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion simulations revealed improved bioaccessibility, especially in the duodenal phase (NSBM: 69.47 %), and NSBM retained greater XO inhibitory activity post-digestion (IC50: 70.44 μg/mL). This study demonstrates that nanostarch-based encapsulation-particularly with a maltodextrin co-matrix-can effectively enhance the functional properties and delivery potential of B. macrophylla extract, supporting its future application in oral pharmaceutical dosage forms and nutraceuticals.