EVALUATION OF WALL MATERIALS FOR ENCAPSULATION OF NATURAL COLOURANT FROM SENDUDUK (MELASTOMA MALABATHRICUM) FRUITS

Resistant maltodextrin (RMD) and maltodextrin (MD) were tested for their ability to serve as wall materials for encapsulating colourant extracted from senduduk (Melastoma malabthricum) fruits. Spray dried powder of the extract encapsulated with RMD had a significantly (p≤0.05) lower bulk density, true density, tap density, compressibility index and glass transition temperature (Tg) values compared to powder of the extract prepared using MD. Intergranular porosity value of the powder with RMD were significantly (P≤0.05) higher than that of the powder with MD. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference between the particle sizes of the two powders and morphology of microcapsules of these powders showed irregular spherical shapes with extensively dented surfaces due to particle shrinkage during the spray drying process. Understanding of powder properties of the natural colourant from senduduk (Melastoma malabthricum) fruit extract spray dried using RMD and MD as wall materials will allow for their applications in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.