Interfacial and emulsifying properties of purified glycyrrhizin and non-purified glycyrrhizin-rich extracts from liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

This study compared the interfacial and emulsifying properties of purified saponins non-purified saponin-rich extracts Glycyrrhiza glabra, highlighted potential mechanisms by which crude surface-active compositions, such as liquorice root extract (LRE), act emulsifiers. LRE presented different fluid properties, in comparison to glycyrrhizin (PG), at equivalent concentrations. Particularly, it exhibited limited fibrilization pH < pKa efficiently reduced tension soybean oil/water interface, independently pH. also better emulsification PG samples. Emulsions prepared using had lower droplet sizes when higher oil mass fractions or homogenization pressures, was attributed 2 main factors: (i) efficient adsorption molecules relatively low curvatures, thus accelerating phase breakup during (ii) sufficient coverage newly generated droplets due residual components (e.g. proteins), minimizing coalescence.