In the present study, Lactobacillus plantarum (MT, ZH593) native cells and Silybum marianum seed extract (SMSE; rich in antioxidant) were co-encapsulated in alginate microbeads by the internal gelatinization emulsion method. The effects of different concentrations of sodium alginate, SMSE and CaCl₂ on microbead characteristics were optimized. Under optimum conditions small spherical microbeads (161.82 ± 13.4 μm) with the highest cell encapsulation efficiency (79.84 ± 4.07%) were produced and the highest antioxidant activity (51.92 ± 2.14%) was obtained. The results showed that the co-encapsulation of L. plantarum with SMSE significantly (P < 0.05) increased the viability of cells (approximately 0.71 log CFU/mL) and the release of the extract (approximately 9–10%) in gastric simulation and intestinal simulation fluids, respectively, when compared with microencapsulation without SMSE addition. Also, microbeads coating with whey protein isolate (WPI; 2.76%) resulted in the higher protection in simulated gastrointestinal fluids than coating with chitosan. The results of this study indicated that the WPI-coated alginate microbeads were a good carrier matrix for the controlled delivery of SMSE (as a new non-carbohydrate prebiotic compound) and increased the viability of L. plantarum in the lower part of the gastrointestinal tract.

在本研究中，植物乳杆菌（MT，ZH593）天然细胞和水飞蓟种子提取物（SMSE；富含抗氧化剂）通过内糊化乳液法共同包裹在海藻酸盐微珠中。优化了不同浓度海藻酸钠、SMSE和CaCl ₂对微珠特性的影响。在最佳条件下，产生了具有最高细胞包封率（79.84±4.07%）和最高抗氧化活性（51.92±2.14%）的小球形微珠（161.82±13.4μm）。结果表明，植物乳杆菌的共包封与没有 SMSE 的微胶囊相比，使用 SMSE 显着（P < 0.05）分别增加了胃模拟和肠道模拟液中的细胞活力（约 0.71 log CFU/mL）和提取物的释放（约 9-10%）添加。此外，用分离乳清蛋白 (WPI; 2.76%) 包覆的微珠在模拟胃肠液中比用壳聚糖包衣具有更高的保护作用。这项研究的结果表明，WPI 包覆的海藻酸盐微珠是一种很好的载体基质，可用于 SMSE（作为一种新的非碳水化合物益生元化合物）的受控递送，并增加了植物乳杆菌在胃肠道下部的活力。 .