Natural colloidal particles: the mechanism of the specific interaction between hesperidin and pectin

Hesperidin and pectin can form stable colloidal particles in solution. The specific interaction between hesperidin and pectin was shown to be due to t he neutral sugars (NS) in the hesperidin molecule and in the polyuronide po lymer. Two types of pectin were identified, both of which formed colloidal particles in the solution. One type formed stable particles, the other form ed particles that flocculated. Less than 4% of the pectin formed stable par ticles with the hesperidin, and most of the commercial pectin did not inter act with it. The specific fraction of the pectin, which formed the stable p articles, contained about 80% neutral sugars (NS) and more than 10% of rham nose. The specific fraction which formed the unstable particles contained a bout 40% NS and about 2% rhamnose. Good correlation was found between the n eutral sugar content of the pectin and the stabilization of the hesperidin in the solution. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.