Effect of interfacial composition on the physical stability and co-oxidation of proteins and lipids in a soy protein isolate-(−)-epigallocatechin gallate conjugate emulsion

In this study, oil-in-water emulsions were co-stabilized by a soy protein isolate-(−)-epigallocatechin gallate (SPI-EGCG) conjugate, tea saponin (TS), and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) (0.01–1.00%, w/v), and the influence of the mixed SPI-EGCG-conjugate–surfactant interface on the physical stability and protein–lipid co-oxidation properties of each emulsions was investigated. Our results demonstrated that TS exhibits a better emulsifying ability than CTAB by significantly reducing interfacial tension; this emulsion contained the smallest particles at a TS concentration of 1.0% (w/v). In addition, the interfacial protein content revealed the existence of synergistic (CTAB) and competitive (TS) adsorption between the protein and surfactant. The presence of TS displaced protein molecules at the interface and inhibited protein oxidation, which reveals that proteins adsorbed at the oil–water interface are more sensitive to oxidation than unadsorbed proteins. The degrees of protein and lipid oxidation were enhanced in the presence of CTAB. Furthermore, the addition of TS delayed lipid oxidation; this phenomenon was most pronounced at a TS concentration of 1.0% (w/v). Our results indicate that combining SPI-EGCG conjugates with TS provides an optimal design for the development of nutritionally fortified products with longer shelf lives.