Microencapsulation of biocompounds from avocado leaves oily extracts

Microencapsulation of natural biocompounds is a growing field leading to its incorporation into food formulations. The use of vegetable oils as alternative solvents to extract biocompounds is considered a green process. Although avocado leaves are underexploited they are rich in naturally-occuring biocompounds. Therefore, we propose the extraction of biocompunds from avocado leaves using edible vegetable oils and preserve them by means of spray-drying microencapsulation. Spray drying allowed an encapsulation efficiency of the avocado leaves pigments of 50%, extracted with edible oils. Microcapsules Haussner ratio values (1.49 - 1.61) showed the cohesiveness of the powders, this was confirmed by microscopy techniques, obtaining high particles area values (177.4 - 4460.5 μm²). Corn oil extracts showed higher carotenoids (> 10%), chlorophyll a (approximately 5%) and chlorophyll b (>40%) content as compared with safflower oil extracts. However, the hygroscopicity values of the corn oil microcapsules (15.70 - 18.34 g water/ 100 g dry capsules) caused the dissolution of the wall materials exposing the microencapsulated oil, changing the sample color from white to pale yellow.