Encapsulation of Origanum onites essential oil with different wall material using spray drying.

INTRODUCTION: Origanum onites has antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties due to its essential oil. The fact that these oils are sensitive to environmental conditions causes the need for advanced processing technologies. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to encapsulate essential oil of O. onites by spray drying to extend its shelf life. METHODS: Spray drying was used to encapsulate the essential oil of O. onites, which was then mixed with maltodextrin, arabic gum, and ß-cyclodextrin using response surface methodology. After 60 days of storage, aroma analysis was performed on the essential oil of O. onites and the essential oil powder that was produced under ideal conditions. RESULTS: O. onites essential oil powder was subjected to GC-MS analysis to identify 72 aroma components. Carvacrol and linalool concentrations varied from 22.66 to 30.11 mg/g and from 32.25 to 53.57 mg/g, respectively. The spray-dried microcapsules' D4.3 values ranged from 40.75 to 48.95 µm. For every trial, the drying yield and solubility values were higher than 60% and 90%, respectively. The results of the surface optimization showed that the ideal inlet air temperature was 190°C and the ideal concentration of ß-cyclodextrin in the wall material was 1%. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that O. onites essential oil was successfully encapsulated via spray drying. The preservation of critical aroma compounds in the resulting capsules is high.