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Microencapsulation of Moringa Oleifera extracts and their application in functional foods to mitigate children malnutrition in developing countries

Acronym: MORfood
Reference: 541163254/2019
Funding: FCT, AGA KHAN
Duration: 03/01/2022 to 03/01/2025
Principal Researcher: Licínio Manuel Gando-Ferreira
Proponent Institution: PRODEQ – Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Engenharia Química/Universidade de Coimbra
Other institutions: LEPAB – Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra and LESRA – Universidade Agostinho Neto (Angola)
Funding: 229360,37 €

Project overview

The central goal of our project is to enhance the nutritional value of children's food, including yoghurts and desserts, by incorporating bioactive compounds (BACs) derived from Moringa oleifera leaves.

Among the chemical components found in various parts of moringa, polyphenols, particularly phenolic acids and flavonoids, hold a crucial role as antioxidants. Additionally, in our pursuit to combat malnutrition, we are focusing on other essential BACs previously identified in Moringa oleifera, including amino acids, vitamin C and vital mineral salts, like calcium and potassium.

Our project unfolds through the following key objectives:

Advancing our understanding of the key bioactive compounds within extracts from different parts of Moringa oleifera, often referred to as the "miracle tree."
Employing environmentally friendly and sustainable extraction and separation techniques to achieve selective extraction via membrane separation.
Extending the shelf life of extracts using microencapsulation to prevent BAC degradation.
Incorporating microcapsules containing bioactive compounds into widely consumed children's food.
Evaluating the health impacts of these new functional foods to ensure food security.

To extract the target BACs, we will primarily use Moringa leaves collected from two different locations in Luanda (Angola), following a suitable sampling method that considers factors such as plant age, soil characteristics, and climate. Chemical characterization of these samples, focusing on the compounds, will be carried out using diverse analytical techniques based on colorimetry and chromatography.

Legend: Moringa plant in garden — *Moringa plant in garden*

To attain extracts rich in the desired BACs, we will conduct experimental tests that combine solvent extraction with a filtration process using nanofiltration membranes. Microencapsulation techniques will be applied to safeguard the stability of the extracted compounds.

Our research also includes investigations into encapsulation efficiency, controlled release of BACs, and fortification of selected food products for school children, alongside sensory acceptability tests.

Yoghurt – https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062526
Pasta – https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241512451
Chocolate mousse – Submitted data

Team

Rua Sílvio Lima, Pólo II
3030 – 790 Coimbra

Licínio Manuel Gando-Ferreira
Hermínio Sousa
Rosa M. Quinta-Ferreira
Mara M. Braga
Olivia J. S. Gomes

Rua Dr. Roberto Frias
4200 – 465 Porto

Lúcia Maria Santos
Maria Arminda Alves
Sandra Gomes

Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba
3000 – 548 Coimbra

João José Sousa
Carla Vitorino

Avenida Ho Chi Min
Edifício Centro Nacional de Investigação Cientifíca (CNIC)
R/C esquerdo, Avenida Ho Chi Min, 201

Anabela Alexandre Leitão
Rosalina Serrão
Alberto Chiculo Cápia
Arão Caluiz Chipate
Timóteo Lisboa Francisco

News and Events

1 – Dissemination of project next to public general
2 – Participation in national and international events
3 – Sensory analysis of fortified chocolate mousse

1-Dissemination of project next to public general

Link aqui: https://noticias.uc.pt/artigos/morfood-o-projeto-que-quer-ajudar-a-combater-a-ma-nutricao-no-mundo/

Link aqui: https://www.diariocoimbra.pt/noticia/82340

Link aqui: https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/universidade-de-coimbra-desenvolve-projeto-para-combater-ma-nutricao-no-mundo_n1402695

Link aqui: https://www.publico.pt/2022/05/04/ciencia/noticia/universidade-coimbra-desenvolve-projecto-combater-ma-nutricao-mundo-2004849

2-Participation in national and international events

International Conference on Water, Energy, Food and Sustainability (ICoWEFS 2023): Oral presentation given by fellow Olívia Gomes at the ICoWEFS conference, in Leiria (Portugal), with a paper entitled “Extraction of Moringa oleifera leaves to obtain antioxidants and vitamins”.

European Researchers' Night 2023: Divulgation of the objectives of the MorFood project carried out by scholarship holder Olívia Gomes at the European Researchers' Night, in Coimbra (Portugal).

S. M. Gomes, D. Albuquerque, L. Santos. Value-added cereal-based products: incorporation of natural phenolic compounds in fresh pasta. DCE23 − Symposium on Chemical and Biological Engineering, 15−16 June, Porto, Portugal, 2023 (ISBN: 978-972-752-306-1, pp. 44-46).

T. Ferreira, S. M. Gomes, A. Leitão, A. Alves, L. Santos. Incorporation of Moringa oleifera leaf powder and extract in cereal-based foods. DCE23 − Symposium on Environmental Engineering, 15−16 June, Porto, Portugal, 2023 (ISBN: 978-972-752-301-6, pp. 136-138).

3-Sensory analysis of fortified chocolate mousse

In the context of the MorFood project, a sensory analysis session was held on chocolate mousse fortified with biocompounds from Moringa oleifera leaves, in the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra (Portugal). The work carried out by researcher Olivia Gomes aims to fortify foods with vitamins and minerals, to mitigate child malnutrition.

Outcomes

1 – Growth of Moringa oleifera plantations in Angola
2 – Dissemination of the results in international scientific journals

1-Growth of Moringa oleifera plantations in Angola

2-Dissemination of the results in international scientific journals

2.1 Articles and Book Chapters

2.1.1 – Sandra M. Gomes, Anabela Leitão, Arminda Alves and Lúcia Santos, Incorporation of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract in Yoghurts to Mitigate Children’s Malnutrition in Developing Countries, Molecules 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062526

2.1.2 – Sandra M. Gomes, Daniela Albuquerque and Lúcia Santos, Innovative Approaches for Food: Using Natural Phenolic-Rich Extracts to Produce Value-Added Fresh Pasta, Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241512451.

2.1.3 – Olívia J. S. Gomes, Anabela Leitão, Marisa C. Gaspar, Carla Vitorino, João J. S. Sousa, Hermínio C. de Sousa, Mara E. M. Braga; Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira, Incorporation of powder and extract from Moringa oleifera leaves to increase nutritional value in a dessert, Food Chemistry, 2023. Submitted.

2.1.4 - Olívia J. S. Gomes, Anabela Leitão, Marisa C. Gaspar, Carla Vitorino, João J.S. Sousa, Hermínio C. de Sousa, Mara E.M. Braga, Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira, Fortified chocolate mousse with powder and extract from Moringa oleifera leaves for nutritional value improvement, Food Chemistry, 2024, 138338, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.138338

2.1.5 - Teresa Ferreira, Sandra M. Gomes, Lúcia Santos, Elevating Cereal-Based Nutrition: Moringa oleifera Supplemented Bread and Biscuits, Antioxidants, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12122069

2.2 Articles and Book Chapters under Submission

2.2.1 - Olívia J. S. Gomes, Alberto Cápia, Anabela Leitão, Hermínio C. de Sousa, Mara E. M. Braga, Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira. Influence of climatic and soil parameters on ethanol extract variability in Moringa oleifera leaves. Em submissão. 2024.

2.2.2 - Olívia J. S. Gomes, Anabela Leitão, Hermínio C. de Sousa, Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira, Mara E. M. Braga. Extraction of bioactive compounds from Moringa oleifera leaves: ethanolic solvent optimization. Em submissão. 2024.

Contacts:

Contact email: projetomorfood@eq.uc.pt

Tese de doutoramento:

Olívia J. S. Gomes. Recuperação de compostos bioativos de folhas de Moringa oleifera usando processos de extração e membranas. Doutoramento em Engenharia Química. FCTUC. Universidade de Coimbra, 2024.

Tese de mestrado:

Teresa Ferreira. Incorporation of Moringa oleifera leaf powder and extract in cereal-based foods. Master in Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 2023

Estágios/estágio de verão:

Iara Borges. Universidade Estadual do Amapá, Brasil, 2024.

Alberto Cápia. Universidade Agostinho Neto, Angola. 2024.

Project leader:

Licínio Manuel Gando Azevedo Ferreira

Estatuto projecto:

Activo

Microencapsulation of Moringa Oleifera extracts and its application in functional foods to mitigate children malnutrition in developing countries.