Fabrication of PGFE/CN-stabilized β-carotene-loaded peppermint oil nanoemulsions: Storage stability, rheological behavior and intelligent sensory analyses

High stability nanoemulsions emulsified by combination of tripolyglycerol monostearate (PGFE) and casein (CN) were fabricated for loading functional components of peppermint oil and β-carotene, and the physicochemical properties, storage stability and sensory characteristics were explored. The β-carotene-loaded peppermint oil nanoemulsions exhibited fine physical stability when the mass ratio of PGFE/CN was less than 0.5. The β-carotene nanoemulsions were pseudoplastic fluid since the flow behavior index was lower than 1, based on the Herschel-Bulkley model. Intelligent sensory analyses clarified that electronic sensory evaluation methods, including colorimeter, electronic nose and electronic tongue, are convenient and effective to distinguish various nanoemulsions with different ratios of mixing emulsifiers. The formation mechanism of nanoemulsions was further explored to reveal the important role of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions to yield nanoemulsions.