Publication Details
Abstract
Objective: Plant-derived superoxide dismutase (SOD) is of interest for nutritional antioxidant use, but oral delivery places the enzyme under several forms of stress, including gastric acidity, heat, moisture, and the composition of the surrounding powder matrix. Method: We characterized the BCLC® SOD-Rich Melon Complex, a low-reducing-sugar endogenous polysaccharide–protein preparation in which native Cucumis melo soluble polysaccharides are retained with SOD-containing protein fractions without an exogenous prolamin or lipid-soluble coating. Low-temperature, low-oxygen extraction followed by ultrafiltration/diafiltration, controlled pH–ionic-strength complexation, and low-temperature drying yielded optimized extracts containing 34,280–43,620 U/g SOD, 3.7–4.5% reducing sugars, and water activity of 0.29–0.34. Results: After 60 min at pH 1.2 and 37°C, SOD retention was 41.7–47.8%, compared with 16.9–38.2% in comparator preparations. After 30 days at 40°C/75% RH, 66.5–72.6% of activity remained. DPPH scavenging was 57.8–63.7%, ABTS scavenging was 65.7–71.6%, and ORAC values were 2,064–2,416 μmol TE/g. Human studies using other SOD-rich melon preparations have also reported changes in oxidative-stress-related outcomes. Novelty: The formulation data define a practical basis for human evaluation of this endogenous melon polysaccharide–protein stabilization approach.