Safflower oil body emulsion digestion behavior and regulation of intestinal microorganisms: The influence of polysaccharide xanthan gum

As naturally pre-emulsified oil-in-water systems, plant-derived oil bodies are sustainable alternatives to synthetic emulsions for food and pharmaceutical applications. We developed a novel safflower oil body emulsion (SOBE) that utilizes xanthan gum polysaccharides to form hydrogen bonds with membrane proteins on the surface of oil bodies. We aimed to investigate the pH-dependent interfacial evolution and digestive fate of SOBE and analyze changes in its fatty acid composition. Furthermore, we examined the dose-dependent modulation of the gut microbiota by SOBE through 16S sequencing, predict the key metabolic pathways, including carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and membrane transport systems. We demonstrated that SOBE is a multifunctional bioactive carrier exhibiting dual functionalities-enhancing lipid digestion and modulating microbial activity. This approach effectively addresses the reduced bioavailability commonly observed in traditional oil body formulations. Our findings support the use of SOBE as a multifunctional carrier for nutritional products, functional foods, and targeted drug delivery systems.