BETALAIN CAPSULES FROM DRAGON FRUITS PEEL FOR LIP GLOSS

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to prepare lip gloss containing 0.5% (w/w) betalain capsules (LBC) and to evaluate its stability. The betalain capsules were prepared from the crude ethanolic extract of red dragon fruit peels obtained from Taiwan and encapsulated with alginate/chitosan by using coacervation technique. The average particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (%EE), and loading capacity (%LC) of betalain capsules were studied. The lip gloss was also studied for its stability and DPPH radical scavenging activity via freeze-thaw cycle method in comparison of the lip gloss containing 0.5% (w/w) crude ethanolic extract (LCE). The characteristics of betalain capsules were 1.64 ± 0.03 µm for their average size, 0.415 ± 0.021 for PDI, -41.0 ± 0.5 mV for zeta potential, 32.43% ± 0.06 for %EE, and 0.43 ± 0.01 for %LC, respectively. On the six freeze-thaw cycle examination, chemical and physical changes of LBC were observed to be similar to those of LCE. Moreover, change in DPPH radical scavenging activity of LBC had a similar decreasing tendency; however, it reduces in less extent. The percentages of DPPH radical scavenging per mg betalain were found to be 4.55 ± 0.07 and 4.02 ± 0.08 for LBC and LCE, respectively. Thus, LBC is useful and can be a new alternative coloring agent for the natural cosmetic products.