DEVELOPMENT OF A PLANT BASED COLLAGEN AND GLUTATHIONE BOOSTER USING CITRUS PECTIN ENCAPSULATION (VEGAN VITACAPS) .

This paper is about the formulation development of plant-based capsule formulation, namely Vegan Vitacaps, and positions it as a vegan-friendly collagen-building nutraceutical. Plant-derived collagen-stimulating components were combined with glutathione, and citrus pectin was used as the encapsulating material. Citrus pectin, extracted from waste fruit peels, is a biodegradable polymer, featuring excellent gelation and film-forming properties, which makes this polymer applicable in microencapsulation for sensitive bioactive compounds. The methodology involved the extraction, purification, and controlled microencapsulation of active ingredients through moulding techniques. Preliminary laboratory scale evaluations revealed that the pectin-based capsules showed good mechanical stability and proved to be biodegradable and proper for oral administration. Simulated digestive condition experiments and critical comparative literature review pointed out that pectin encapsulation enhances stability by protecting the bioactive compounds and enabling their gradual release in gastrointestinal conditions. Glutathione supports detoxification, skin health, and anti-aging benefits, while plant-based ingredients support collagen synthesis. This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing a sustainable vegan nutraceutical delivery system; further in vitro and in vivo studies are recommended before commercialization.