Innovative delivery of proanthocyanidins through deacetylated konjac glucomannan microcarriers: Implications for stability and gut microbiota

To enhance the utilization efficiency of proanthocyanidins (PC), it is essential to select appropriate materials for embedding PC and delivering it to the target area. This study investigates the innovative encapsulation of PC using deacetylated konjac glucomannan (DKGM) microcarriers, highlighting their impact on stability and gut microbiota. The research demonstrates that optimal DKGM-PC microparticles, consisting of 75% deacetylated DKGM, 11% PC, and 16% DKGM addition, achieve an average drug loading capacity of 18.04%. These microparticles have a particle size range of 50–190 μm and show an 18.84%–20.67% increase in PC retention over 60 days compared to a non-encapsulated DKGM/PC mixture. In vitro release studies indicate that 76.76% of PCs in DKGM-PC microparticles reach the colon. Furthermore, storage stability tests show that encapsulated PCs maintain higher retention rates under both dark and light-exposed conditions. Fermentation studies reveal effective utilization of PC by gut microbiota, with favorable changes in gut microbiota composition, including an increase in beneficial bacteria such as Megasphaera and Bifidobacterium in the DKGM-PC groups. These findings suggest that DKGM enhances the stability and targeted delivery of PCs, and positively influences gut microbiota, indicating its potential as a functional food ingredient.