Cyclodextrins for UV Protection in Food, Beverages, and Agricultural Products: A Comprehensive Review
Background: Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) poses a significant threat to the stability and shelf-life of food, beverages, and agricultural products. This exposure leads to the degradation of sensitive compounds, resulting in reduced nutritional value, altered physical properties, and compromised products safety. Cyclodextrins (CDs), which possess a unique molecular structure with a hydrophobic cavity and a hydrophilic exterior, offer a promising solution by forming complexes with UVR absorbers. This inclusion complex formation enhances the stability, solubility, and bioavailability of sensitive compounds, thereby providing a protective mechanism against UVR-induced degradation.
Aims: This review comprehensively examines the applications of cyclodextrin-UVR absorber complexes for protecting food, beverages, and agricultural products from UVR-induced damage.
Methods: The methodology involved a comprehensive review of existing literature from scientific databases to analyze the efficacy of CD inclusion complex formation, their protective effects, and potential industrial applications.
Results: The findings indicate that these complexes significantly enhance the stability of UVR-sensitive compounds across all three sectors. In food, CDs protect essential nutrients including vitamins and antioxidants from degradation, prevent oxidation, and improve packaging technologies. For beverages, they stabilize color, flavor, and aroma compounds, preserving their quality over extended shelf-life periods. In agriculture, cyclodextrins mitigate the adverse effects of UVR exposure, protecting pigments and nutrients while improving crop yield and quality. Cyclodextrins protect bioactive molecules mainly by forming reversible inclusion complexes that hide sensitive parts of the molecule inside the CD cavity, lowering exposure to oxygen, light, metals, acids/bases, and volatilization. The effectiveness and the dominant protection pathway do depend on the food matrix (water, lipids, proteins, alcohol, sugar, pH, processing).
Conclusions: CDs-UVR absorber complexes represent an effective strategy for improving the stability and shelf-life of these products. Their ability to form inclusion complexes with UVR-sensitive compounds offers considerable advantages in preserving nutritional value, enhancing product quality, and promoting sustainability. Given the increasing consumer demand for healthier functional and high-quality products with extended shelf-life, cyclodextrin-based technologies are positioned as a vital component in future advancements within these industries. Further research and industrial-scale applications are essential to fully realize their potential.
Keywords
How to Cite
Aiassa, V., Garnero, C., Zoppi, A., & Longhi, M. R. (2023). Cyclodextrins and their derivatives as drug stability modifiers. Pharmaceuticals, 16(8), 1074. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16081074
Andreu-Sevilla, A. J., López-Nicolás, J. M., Carbonell-Barrachina, A. A., & García-Carmona, F. (2011). Comparative effect of the addition of α-, β-, or γ-cyclodextrin on main sensory and physico-chemical parameters. Journal of Food Science, 76(5), S347-53. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2011.02190.x
Astray, G., Mejuto, J., & Simal-Gandara, J. (2020). Latest developments in the application of cyclodextrin host-guest complexes in beverage technology processes. Food Hydrocolloids, 106, 105882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.105882
Bates, P. S., Parker, D., & Patti, A. F. (1994). Synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of lipophilic octylated α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrin derivatives. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2, 4, 657–668. https://doi.org/10.1039/p29940000657
Bao, K., Zhang, A., Cao, Y., & Xu, L. (2024). Achievements in preparation of cyclodextrin–based porous materials for removal of pollutants. Separations, 11(5), 143. https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11050143
Chikamoto, K., & Terao, K. (2021). Alpha-cyclodextrin functions as a dietary fiber. In Functionality of Cyclodextrins in Encapsulation for Food Applications (pp. 255–276). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80056-7_13
Chen, W., Liu, D., Zhou, L., Li, Q., & Wu, D. (2021). Antioxidant activity of vitamin E enhanced by cyclodextrin inclusion complex. British Food Journal (Croydon, England), 123(12), 3988–3998. https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj-08-2020-0719
Chen, F.-B., Feng, Y.-C., & Huo, S.-P. (2023). Seed coating with micronutrients improves germination, growth, yield and microelement nutrients of maize (Zea mays L.). Biotechnic & Histochemistry: Official Publication of the Biological Stain Commission, 98(4), 230–242. https://doi.org/10.1080/10520295.2023.2174273
Chakkalakkal, N. D., Thomas, M., Chittillapilly, P. S., Sujith, A., & Anjali, P. D. (2022). Electrospun polymer nanocomposite membrane as a promising seed coat for controlled release of agrichemicals and improved germination: Towards a better agricultural prospect. Journal of Cleaner Production, 377(134479), 134479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134479
Cid-Samamed, A., Rakmai, J., Mejuto, J. C., Simal-Gandara, J., & Astray, G. (2022). Cyclodextrins inclusion complex: Preparation methods, analytical techniques and food industry applications. Food Chemistry, 384(132467), 132467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.132467
Similar Articles
- The Role of Barley, Sorghum, Rice, and Maize in North African Cuisine
- Effect of traditional sun-drying and oven-drying on carotenoids and phenolic compounds of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)
- Effect of traditional processing methods on protein digestibility and chemical constituents in seeds of Bauhinia petersiana
- Assessment of vitamin A levels in breast milk and serum of lactating mothers in Southeast Nigeria
- Acid-Induced Gelation of European Eel Protein Isolate Fortified with Fish Oil: Enhancement of Physicochemical, Microstructural and Thermal Properties
- Nutritional evaluation, oxidative indexes, and functional properties of Irish potatoes, eggs, and red kidney beans based complementary food
- Assessment of energy and nutrient intake adequacy and dietary diversity of pregnant women in Abidjan
- Quantitative and qualitative assessment of food waste in rural markets in Morocco
- Research on food losses and waste in North Africa
- Overview of Food Safety and Labeling Regulatory Frameworks in Morocco
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

NAJFNR is licensed under