# Properties and Stability of Encapsulated Pomegranate Peel Extract Prepared by Co-Crystallization
## 3 Results and Discussion  
### Powder Properties  
Powders produced at the optimum conditions were studied for moisture content, solubility, bulk density, hygroscopicity, and color. The co-crystallized product had a moisture content of roughly 0.59%, which was less than what was found when spray drying was utilized [35]. Similar outcomes were attained by [PERSON] and [PERSON] [19], who found that when sucrose was used to encapsulate glucose, fructose, and their mixes, the moisture content of co-crystallized powders ranged from 0.67% to 3.22%. In addition, [PERSON] et al. [14] noted that co-crystallized powders of propolis extracts had a moisture content of 0.03-2.09%. In general, the ratio of the powder's crystalline to amorphous structure and the active ingredient are two parameters that influence the moisture content [9; 36]. In their studies on the encapsulation of simple sugars, mineral or propolis extracts, and yerba mate extracts, [PERSON] and [PERSON] [19], [PERSON] et al. [14], and [PERSON] et al. [20] came to the conclusion that as the amount of the active ingredient in sucrose grew, so did the product's moisture content. This observation might be the result of the fact that, as the ratio of extract solids to sucrose rises, more extract is also added to the sugar, which, on the one hand, reduces the amount of water that can be removed from the powder that is formed and, on the other, affects the hydrophilic regions of the polysaccharide chain where water can be retained [37]. A powder's moisture content is typically an important factor in determining its density. In particular, the likelihood of particles to agglomerate increases and the bulk density decreases with increasing water content [16]. The co-crystallized product's bulk density was about 0.803 g/cm\({}^{3}\). When encasing majoram and aronia extract, [PERSON] et al. [36] and [PERSON] and [PERSON] [16] discovered that the bulk density of the powder was between 0.7 and 0.73 g/cm\({}^{3}\) and 0.63 and 0.97 g/cm\({}^{3}\), respectively. The bulk density of co-crystallized propolis was also discovered by [PERSON] et al. [14] to vary between 0.63 and 0.87 g/cm\({}^{3}\). The literature claims that bulk density provides important information about economic fundamentals since it reduces the quantity of material required to fill an anticipated volume of packing [36]. A high bulk density also typically indicates that there is less space between particles for air to occupy, which aids in preventing oxidation and enhances powder stability, according to [PERSON] et al. [38]. The powder solubility was about 61 s. Similar results were obtained by [PERSON] et al. [14] and [PERSON] et al. [15], who mentioned that the solubility of co-crystallized powders was 41-47 s and 45-50 s, respectively. In addition, [PERSON] et al. [30] noted that the final powder's solubility ranged from 32 to 57 s during the co-crystallization of ginger oleoresin. To manage the release of the active component in the sucrose and to determine whether the product is suitable for oral delivery of the active ingredient, solubility is essential [36]. The additives and insoluble elements present, the kind of matrix, and the size, microstructure, shape, and surface finish of the particles all affect how well powders dissolve [9; 20; 36]. Another characteristic that was measured is the color of the powder, more precisely, the brightness parameter L\({}^{\star}\). The most important aspect of a product's aesthetic appeal,according to [PERSON] et al. [15], is its color, and the amount of the active ingredient that is encapsulated in the sucrose directly impacts the powder's color [36; 39]. The powder was found to be 83.24 percent light. The literature indicates that there have been very few studies on a co-crystallized product's color. According to [PERSON] and [PERSON] [8], the L* value ranged from 49.35 to 62.10 during the co-crystallization of Basella rubra extract into sucrose. Additionally, [PERSON] et al. [14] noted that the co-crystallized propolis extract had a lightness range of 62-82.26.