Study on the Application of Pectin as a Quercetin Delivery System in Simulated Intestinal Fluid

Quercetin, a natural flavonoid commonly found in fruits and vegetables, has been shown to have the potential to support the treatment of intestinal diseases due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. However, quercetin can degrade in the acidic environment of the stomach, limiting its intestinal absorption. In this study, two types of pectin, low methoxyl pectin (LMP) and amidated low methoxyl pectin (ALMP), were used to encapsulate quercetin via CaCl<inf xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</inf>-induced ionotropic gelation. Additionally, a Tween 80-modified formulation (ALMP-Tween80) was developed by incorporating Tween 80 at a quercetin-to-Tween 80 ratio of 1:10 into the pectin solution before gelation. The encapsulation efficiency and quercetin release in simulated intestinal fluid were evaluated using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Results showed that ALMP-Tween80 beads had the highest encapsulation efficiency and more sustained release compared to LMP and ALMP formulations. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that ALMP-Tween80 beads exhibited smoother and denser surface morphology, contributing to their enhanced structural stability. These findings suggest that ALMP combined with Tween 80 is a promising carrier for improving quercetin stability and targeted intestinal delivery.