| Summary: | Guar gum (GG) was subjected to radiation processing (25 kGy) and subsequently methylated to form low molecular weight methylated polymer (MIGG). MIGG had degree of substitution of 0.8 and exhibited lower weight average molecular weight (Mw) as compared to GG. MIGG in combination with gum Arabic (GA)- GA:MIG G: :: 95:5, 90:10 and 80:20 was successfully employed as wall material for encapsulation of nutmeg essential oil. Characteristics of microcapsules such as particle size, bulk density, powder wettability, encapsulation and entrapment efficiency did not change significantly (p>0.05) due to use of MIGG as wall material. However, significantly (p<0.05) better retention of essential oil was obtained in MIGG containing microcapsules. The half-life (t1/2) for essential oil in spray dried microcapsules prepared using GA: MIGG (80:20) increased to 41.64 weeks as compared to 25.78 weeks for GA. These results suggest suitability of MIGG as wall material for flavour encapsulation.
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