Nanoemulsion containing Yellow Monascus pigment : Fabrication, characterization, storage stability, and lipase hydrolytic activity in vitro digestion

The natural pigment of monascus is favored by human for its special coloring and physiological activity, and its development and application have attracted much attention. In this study, a novel corn oil-based nanoemulsion encapsulated with Yellow Monascus Pigment crude extract (CO-YMPN) was successfully prepared via the phase inversion composition method. The fabrication and stable conditions of the CO-YMPN including Yellow Monascus pigment crude extract (YMPCE) concentration, emulsifier ratio, pH, temperature, ionic strength, monochromatic light and storage time were investigated systemically. The optimized fabrication conditions were the emulsifier ratio (5:3 ratio of Tween 60 to Tween 80) and the YMPCE concentration (20.00% wt%)). Additionally, the DPPH radical scavenging capability of the CO-YMPN (19.47 ± 0.52%) was more excellent than each YMPCE or corn oil. Moreover, the kinetic analysis results based on Michaelis-Menten equation and constant revealed that CO-YMPN could improve lipase hydrolysis capacity. Therefore, the CO-YMPN complex had excellent storage stability and water solubility in the final water system, and the YMPCE showed brilliant stability. [Display omitted] •Corn oil nanoemulsion encapsulated with Yellow Monascus Pigment was prepared firstly.•It exhibited both good storage stability and water solubility.•It performed radical scavenging capability and lipase hydrolytic activity.•It extended the application scope of corn oil and Yellow Monascus Pigment.