Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of the Complex of Pomegranate Polyphenol Extract and Lecithin

The pomegranate polyphenol extract (PPE) was a nutraceutical with good prospect in food and medicinal industry. But its poor oil solubility limits its application in hydrophilic system. In this study, by forming the complex with lecithin, the hydrophilic solubility of PPE could be significantly improved. The physicochemical properties of the complex were analyzed by ultraviolet-visible spectrometry (UV), infrared spectrometry (IR) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The result showed that PPE in the complex had been completely dispersed in the lecithin matrix, not forming a new compound. It was found that the DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power of the complex were inferior to that of PPE while the antioxidant activity of the complex in oil was superior to that of PPE.