Obtaining and Study of Polyphenol and Chitosan Complexes

The insoluble complexes formed by polyphenols from plant extracts and chitosan are of interest as potential delivery systems for polyphenols in the intestine. The complexes formed by polyphenols from an aqueous sage extract and chitosan have been investigated. These complexes have been shown to be stable in neutral media and to release polyphenols in highly acidic and highly alkaline environments. The complexes demonstrated significant polyphenol release in simulated intestinal fluid, with minimal release in simulated gastric and salivary fluids. It has been demonstrated that the complexes formed with chitosan are primarily composed of flavonoid glycosides and phenolic acids, with flavonoid aglycones present in trace amounts.