The zein-arabic gum (AG) delivery system was prepared by zein and AG through anti-solvent method. The effects of the concentration of zein, the ratio of the ethanol to water, pH and the concentration of salt on the stability of nanoparticles were studied. High content tocopherol (TOC)- AG nanoparticle was also prepared. The results showed that 5% of zein, 1∶50 ratio of ethanol: water and zein∶AG =1∶1.5 was the best condition to prepare 122.6 nm zein-AG nanoparticles, with the polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.17 and zeta electric potential of -32.8 mV. The particle size of zein-AG nanoparticles was in the range of 120-140 nm at pH 3-9. The zeta electric potential was -17.8 mV at pH=3 and -25-40 mV at pH 4-9, the PDI were all below 0.3. These data showed the zein-AG nanoparticles were very stable. When the concentration of salt is less than 20 mmol/L, the particles are nanoscale. The particles flocculated at salt concentration more than 20 mmol/L proved that AG and zein nanoparticles combination was due to the electrostatic attraction. When the ratio of zein-AG nanoparticles to TOC is 1∶5, the encapsulation efficiency was more than 86.9%, and the particle size, PDI, zeta-potential of the nanoparticles were all stable. The stability of compound nanoparticle of AG and zein, as well as the tolerance of acid, alkali and salt all improved the encapsulation efficiency of TOC.