Effect of solubilization with surfactant on the antioxidant activity of ellagic acid

Abstract Ellagic acid (EA) is a natural antioxidant found in many fruits and vegetables. However, its solubility in water is poor, which limits its application. To overcome this limitation, the surfactants Span 20 and Tween 60 are used to increase its solubility in water. FTIR, TEM and laser particle size and zeta potential analysis were used to characterize the morphology and structure of ellagic acid emulsions. The antioxidant activity of surfactant-compatible ellagic acid was determined using various antioxidant evaluation methods such as DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant activity. The results indicate that the solubility of ellagic acid in water was improved by the addition of Span 20 and Tween 60, and ellagic acid formed complex particles in combination with Span 20 and Tween 60. Compared to pure ellagic acid, the antioxidant activity of ellagic acid lotion was significantly enhanced.