Effect of Starchy Wall Materials in the Microencapsulation of Carambola Fruit (Averrhoa carambola) Pulp: Antioxidant Characteristics

Averrhoa carambola, known as Carambola or Star fruit, was collected in a semitropical region of central Mexico. Extractable and non-extractable polyphenols were characterized in terms of their antioxidant capacity (ABTS+, DPPH, and FRAP). Extractable polyphenols showed a higher antioxidant capacity than their non-extractable counterparts, with values of 65.61, 109.37, and 83.90 μmol TE/g db for ABTS+, DPPH, and FRAP, respectively. These values are consistent with reports on fruit cultivated in Asia. Maltodextrin-based microcapsules, N-Lok and Capsul, were prepared to protect the extract from adverse conditions. The ability of the microcapsules to protect polyphenols and their antioxidant capacity was quantified by half-life, which ranged from 10 to 50 days. Principal component analysis was performed to evaluate the multivariate relationships between polyphenol half-life and antioxidant capacity in the microcapsules. The results showed that no single microcapsule could provide the best protection across all polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity levels. The main conclusion is that the type of capsule material depends on the specific application, particularly on which antioxidant properties are desired.