New approaches to plant antioxidants for sports nutrition in the COVID-19 pandemic

Aim. The paper aims to assess the prospects for the use of encapsulation technologies for improving bioavailability and bioactivity of plant antioxidants; to assess the prospects for the use of the materials obtained in the regulation of redox homeostasis in athletes and the reduction of SARS-CoV-2 complications. Materials and methods. Taxifolin and rutin in their original and encapsulated forms were used as plant antioxidants. Encapsulation was performed by gelatin-pectin complex coacervation and conjugation to β-cyclodextrin. The effectiveness of encapsulation technologies was assessed with the data of antioxidant activity (DPPH method, %) and bioavailability and bioactivity indices (in vitro digestion model). Results. It was found that encapsulated complexes of taxifolin and rutin were characterized by higher values of bioavailability and bioactivity. According to these findings it is possible to assume that encapsulated complexes have higher effectiveness in terms of antioxidant delivery. Conclusion. The results obtained confirm high effectiveness of the abovementioned polyphenol complexes in the regulation of redox homeostasis in athletes and the reduction of risk of oxidative stress and SARS-CoV-2 complications.