Curcumin Dispersions in Aloe Vera Mucilage: A Green Polymer-Based Approach
摘要
This study presents a green and sustainable approach for fabricating a curcumin dispersion system using Aloe vera mucilage as a natural polymer matrix, with the aim of improving dispersion stability and antioxidant efficiency. Aloe vera mucilage was employed as a natural stabilizing agent without the addition of synthetic surfactants. Through the optimization of homogenization conditions, high-speed homogenization at 12,000 rpm for 40 min was identified as the most effective. Under these conditions, a dispersion system containing 50% fresh Aloe vera mucilage achieved a curcumin concentration of 2.2 g/L. The resulting formulation exhibited a particle size of 7.5 µm as measured by laser diffraction spectroscopy (LDS), and 0.6 × 0.6 µm as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Antioxidant activity was evaluated through IC₅₀ values using DPPH and ABTS assays. The curcumin dispersion system with Aloe vera mucilage (SC-J) showed significantly improved antioxidant capacity compared to the pure curcumin system (SC-2), with IC₅₀ values of 10.31 ± 0.01 µg/mL vs. 16.32 ± 0.88 µg/mL (DPPH) and 7.24 ± 1.14 µg/mL vs. 190.90 ± 2.43 µg/mL (ABTS), respectively. The combination index (CI) of the SC-J system was 0.0581, indicating a strong synergistic effect. These results confirm that the incorporation of Aloe vera mucilage, together with high-speed homogenization, substantially enhances curcumin’s solubility and bioactivity. The formulation presents a promising green strategy for functional applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.