3.2. Particle Size, Polydispersity Index and Entrapment Efficiency The average particle size, the polydispersity and the en- trapment efficiency of phenolic compounds in liposomes are presented in Table 2. The addition of the extracts to liposomes did not affect the average particle diameter, with the exception of the LEC, which showed the largest size (239 nm). The tions due to higher encapsulation efficiency (above 45%), increased stability against its melting, and ease of pro- duction. However, liposomes smaller than 50 nm in di- ameter proved to be effective for the simultaneous en- capsulation of hydrophilic compounds (inside the vesicle) and hydrophilic antioxidants (α-tocopherol) solubilized in the hydrophobic portion of the lipid bilayer [36]. Fer- reira et al. [37] reported that LUVs are very stable phys- ically, when kept at 4˚C showing no change of mean di- ameter after 5 days, when stored at ambient temperature they show an increase in average diameter of 10 % at the end of same time. The LEC showed higher encapsulation efficiency, dif- fering significantly (p ≤ 0.05), from the other samples. Priprem et al. [34] prepared liposomes containing quer- cetin (a flavonoid) from egg phosphatidylcholine/cho- lesterol (2:1) and obtained encapsulation efficiency of 60% to 80%. Takahashi et al. [33] prepared liposomes using commercial lecithin for encapsulation of curcumin (polyphenolic pigment), in order to increase the bioavai- lability and functionality of this feed. These authors re- ported that the results showed greater gastrointestinal absorption and significantly higher antioxidant activity in plasma for curcumin encapsulated in liposomes, and en- capsulation efficiency of 68%.