Enzymatically acylated naringin with gut modulation potential.

Background: Naringin is one of the main flavonoids in citrus fruits and byproducts. This flavanone has been shown to be a good antioxidant nutraceutical component, and it also has potential as a gut microbiome modulator, although its applications in final formulations represent a challenge due to its low solubility, both in water and in organic solvents. This work addresses this problem by functionalizing naringin through enzymatic acylation. Results: The enzymatic acylation catalyzed by the lipase Novozym® 435 and using acyl donors of different chain lengths, acetate (C2), propionate (C3), and laurate (C12), yielded in conversions of 95% at 24 h and 100% at 48 h, generating a monoacylated product. Both the aqueous and solvent solubility of acylated naringin products were improved while maintaining or even increasing their antioxidant activity. Conclusions: This acylation process significantly enhanced both the water and solvent solubility of the acylated naringin products while preserving or even enhancing their antioxidant activity. In addition to the gut-modulating properties of flavonoids, acylating them with short- and medium-chain fatty acids could enhance their potential applications in the emerging field of research dedicated to understanding and modulating gut health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]