Formation mechanism and ultrasound-assisted preparation of puerarin emulsions

Combining experimental and computational methods, this study elucidated puerarin's behavior at oil/water interfaces, culminating in the formulation of puerarin-based emulsions. Findings revealed that puerarin naturally aggregated at the interface, resulting in decreased interfacial tension and increased interfacial thickness. Moreover, the glycoside and benzene ring of puerarin showed a propensity to interact with H₂O and oil, respectively. The ultrasound-assisted preparation of puerarin emulsions depended critically on three key parameters: puerarin concentration (<i>c</i>), ultrasonic time (<i>t</i>), and ultrasonic power (<i>W</i>). Optimal conditions yielded an emulsion with a droplet size of 901.42 ± 2.12 nm at <i>c</i> = 0.274%, <i>t</i> = 4.5 min, and <i>W</i> = 506 W. The puerarin emulsion demonstrated excellent stability across weakly acidic, neutral, and weakly alkaline environments, as well as resilience to temperature fluctuations. These findings expand puerarin's potential uses while supporting the development of novel functional emulsions.