Effect of monoglyceride content on the solubility and chemical stability of carotene in organogels

Organogels were prepared by structuring corn oil with monoglyceride (GMS), and the effect of GMS content on the properties of organogels and solubility and stability of beta-carotene was evaluated. Organogels with different properties were obtained by changing the content of GMS (0, 10, 15, 20 and 25 g/100 g), and beta-carotene of varied content (0, 5, 10, and 15 g/100 g) was incorporated. Polarized light microscopy observation and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that beta-carotene at the concentration of 10 g/100 g did not form crystals in organogels, while it crystalized and precipitated in corn oil at the same concentration. Textural analysis and rheological measurement suggested that an increase in GMS content in the organogels resulted in the systems with higher gel strength. When organogels were exposed to UV light or stored at different temperatures, beta-carotene presented higher retention ratios in the systems with higher GMS content. These findings suggested organogels have the potential to deliver higher loading of lipophilic bioactives with good stability.