Development of broccoli by-products as carriers for delivering EGCG

Novel delivery systems for epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were developed using broccoli by-products and their fractions as carriers. Puree and pomace from broccoli by-products had higher adsorption capacities for EGCG than juice at 25 °C (43.20 mg g −1 , 39.47 mg g −1 and 25.22 mg g −1 dry weight for pomace, puree and juice respectively). Chemical sorption is the rate-controlling step for EGCG-broccoli interactions. Langmuir and Freundlich models well described the adsorption of EGCG onto puree and pomace. FTIR results indicated that EGCG-puree had stronger interaction than EGCG-pomace. When the same level of EGCG (∼26 mg) was added to different matrices, more EGCG (∼20%) was recovered from the in vitro digestion system of EGCG-loaded puree than from the EGCG-loaded pomace (14%) and neat EGCG (9%). The antioxidant capacity of the whole digesta was positively correlated with the EGCG levels. Broccoli by-products are promising carriers for delivering and stabilizing EGCG through gastrointestinal digestion.