Plant Extracts Containing Saponins Affects the Stability and Biological Activity of Hempseed Oil Emulsion System.

In this study, two saponins-rich plant extracts, viz. and , were used as surfactants in an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion based on hempseed oil (HSO). This study focused on a low oil phase content of 2% / HSO to investigate stable emulsion systems under minimum oil phase conditions. Emulsion stability was characterized by the emulsification index (EI), centrifugation tests, droplet size distribution as well as microscopic imaging. The smallest droplets recorded by dynamic light scattering (droplets size v. number), one day after the preparation of the emulsion, were around 50-120 nm depending the on use of and as a surfactant and corresponding to critical micelle concentration (CMC) in the range 0-2 g/L. The surface and interfacial tension of the emulsion components were studied as well. The effect of emulsions on environmental bacteria strains was also investigated. It was observed that emulsions with extract exhibited slight toxic activity (the cell metabolic activity reduced to 80%), in contrast to emulsion, which induced growth. The highest-stability samples were those with doubled CMC concentration. The presented results demonstrate a possible use of oil emulsions based on plant extract rich in saponins for the food industry, biomedical and cosmetics applications, and nanoemulsion preparations.