scholarly journals An Overview of Micro- and Nanoemulsions as Vehicles for Essential Oils: Formulation, Preparation and Stability

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Pavoni ◽  
Diego Romano Perinelli ◽  
Giulia Bonacucina ◽  
Marco Cespi ◽  
Giovanni Filippo Palmieri

The interest around essential oils is constantly increasing thanks to their biological properties exploitable in several fields, from pharmaceuticals to food and agriculture. However, their widespread use and marketing are still restricted due to their poor physico-chemical properties; i.e., high volatility, thermal decomposition, low water solubility, and stability issues. At the moment, the most suitable approach to overcome such limitations is based on the development of proper formulation strategies. One of the approaches suggested to achieve this goal is the so-called encapsulation process through the preparation of aqueous nano-dispersions. Among them, micro- and nanoemulsions are the most studied thanks to the ease of formulation, handling and to their manufacturing costs. In this direction, this review intends to offer an overview of the formulation, preparation and stability parameters of micro- and nanoemulsions. Specifically, recent literature has been examined in order to define the most common practices adopted (materials and fabrication methods), highlighting their suitability and effectiveness. Finally, relevant points related to formulations, such as optimization, characterization, stability and safety, not deeply studied or clarified yet, were discussed.

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuru Chang ◽  
Philip F. Harmon ◽  
Danielle D. Treadwell ◽  
Daniel Carrillo ◽  
Ali Sarkhosh ◽  
...  

In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid to food safety and organic horticulture. Thus, people are looking for natural products to manage plant diseases, pests, and weeds. Essential oils (EOs) or EO-based products are potentially promising candidates for biocontrol agents due to their safe, bioactive, biodegradable, ecologically, and economically viable properties. Born of necessity or commercial interest to satisfy market demand for natural products, this emerging technology is highly anticipated, but its application has been limited without the benefit of a thorough analysis of the scientific evidence on efficacy, scope, and mechanism of action. This review covers the uses of EOs as broad-spectrum biocontrol agents in both preharvest and postharvest systems. The known functions of EOs in suppressing fungi, bacteria, viruses, pests, and weeds are briefly summarized. Related results and possible modes of action from recent research are listed. The weaknesses of applying EOs are also discussed, such as high volatility and low stability, low water solubility, strong influence on organoleptic properties, and phytotoxic effects. Therefore, EO formulations and methods of incorporation to enhance the strengths and compensate for the shortages are outlined. This review also concludes with research directions needed to better understand and fully evaluate EOs and provides an outlook on the prospects for future applications of EOs in organic horticulture production.


Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 445
Author(s):  
Carine Sebaaly ◽  
Adriana Trifan ◽  
Elwira Sieniawska ◽  
Hélène Greige-Gerges

In recent years, liposomes have gained increasing attention for their potential applications as drug delivery systems in the pharmaceutic, cosmetic and food industries. However, they have a tendency to aggregate and are sensitive to degradation caused by several factors, which may limit their effectiveness. A promising approach to improve liposomal stability is to modify liposomal surfaces by forming polymeric layers. Among natural polymers, chitosan has received great interest due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. This review discussed the characteristics of this combined system, called chitosomes, in comparison to those of conventional liposomes. The coating of liposomes with chitosan or its derivatives improved liposome stability, provided sustained drug release and increased drug penetration across mucus layers. The mechanisms behind these results are highlighted in this paper. Alternative assembly of polyelectrolytes using alginate, sodium hyaluronate, or pectin with chitosan could further improve the liposomal characteristics. Chitosomal encapsulation could also ensure targeted delivery and boost the antimicrobial efficacy of essential oils (EOs). Moreover, chitosomes could be an efficient tool to overcome the major drawbacks related to the chemical properties of EOs (low water solubility, sensitivity to oxygen, light, heat, and humidity) and their poor bioavailability. Overall, chitosomes could be considered as a promising strategy to enlarge the use of liposomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-71
Author(s):  
Sujata Paul ◽  
El Bethel Lalthavel Hmar ◽  
James H. Zothantluanga ◽  
Hemanta Kumar Sharma

Essential oils are volatile, complex products of plants as secondary metabolites and include terpenes and their oxygenated derivatives, such as alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, phenols and oxides. In recent years, out of 3000 essential oils obtained from plant origin only 300 essential oils have gained extensive attention for applications in various fields. In this review, we discuss the major biological activities associated with EOs as antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, insecticidal, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic agents. Different routes for delivery of essential oil along with the problems associated with essential oils like high volatility, low stability, permeability, bioavailability, poor water solubility, susceptibility to oxidation, decomposition, photosensitization and skin irritation are also highlighted. Furthermore, strategies to solve the mentioned problems are suggested by different nanoencapsulating systems. These include polymer-based nanocarriers, lipid-based nanocarriers and molecular complexes. It is believed that nanoencapsulation of essential oils will improve their therapeutic activity and delivery.


Author(s):  
Mariane Beatriz Sordi ◽  
Ariadne Cristiane Cabral da Cruz ◽  
Águedo Aragones ◽  
Mabel Mariela Rodríguez Cordeiro ◽  
Ricardo de Souza Magini

The aim of this study was to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate degradation and biocompatibility of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) + hydroxyapatite / β-tricalcium phosphate (PLGA+HA/βTCP) scaffolds incorporating simvastatin (SIM) to verify if this biomaterial might be promising for bone tissue engineering. Samples were obtained by the solvent evaporation technique. Biphasic ceramic particles (70% HA, 30% βTCP) were added to PLGA in a ratio of 1:1. Samples with SIM received 1% (m:m) of this medication. Scaffolds were synthesized in a cylindric-shape and sterilized by ethylene oxide. For degradation analysis, samples were immersed in PBS at 37 °C under constant stirring for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Non-degraded samples were taken as reference. Mass variation, scanning electron microscopy, porosity analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry were performed to evaluate physico-chemical properties. Wettability and cytotoxicity tests were conducted to evaluate the biocompatibility. Microscopic images revealed the presence of macro, meso, and micropores in the polymer structure with HA/βTCP particles homogeneously dispersed. Chemical and thermal analyses presented very similar results for both PLGA+HA/βTCP and PLGA+HA/βTCP+SIM. The incorporation of simvastatin improved the hydrophilicity of scaffolds. Additionally, PLGA+HA/βTCP and PLGA+HA/βTCP+SIM scaffolds were biocompatible for osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells. In summary, PLGA+HA/βTCP scaffolds incorporating simvastatin presented adequate structural, chemical, thermal, and biological properties for bone tissue engineering.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (28) ◽  
pp. 4584-4592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avik Khan ◽  
Baobin Wang ◽  
Yonghao Ni

Regenerative medicine represents an emerging multidisciplinary field that brings together engineering methods and complexity of life sciences into a unified fundamental understanding of structure-property relationship in micro/nano environment to develop the next generation of scaffolds and hydrogels to restore or improve tissue functions. Chitosan has several unique physico-chemical properties that make it a highly desirable polysaccharide for various applications such as, biomedical, food, nutraceutical, agriculture, packaging, coating, etc. However, the utilization of chitosan in regenerative medicine is often limited due to its inadequate mechanical, barrier and thermal properties. Cellulosic nanomaterials (CNs), owing to their exceptional mechanical strength, ease of chemical modification, biocompatibility and favorable interaction with chitosan, represent an attractive candidate for the fabrication of chitosan/ CNs scaffolds and hydrogels. The unique mechanical and biological properties of the chitosan/CNs bio-nanocomposite make them a material of choice for the development of next generation bio-scaffolds and hydrogels for regenerative medicine applications. In this review, we have summarized the preparation method, mechanical properties, morphology, cytotoxicity/ biocompatibility of chitosan/CNs nanocomposites for regenerative medicine applications, which comprises tissue engineering and wound dressing applications.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchi Sharma ◽  
Rekha Rao ◽  
Sunil Kumar ◽  
Sheefali Mahant ◽  
Sarita Khatkar

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, filariasis, chikunguniya, yellow fever, dengue and Japanese encephalitis are the major cause of remarkable morbidity and mortality in livestock and humans worldwide. Since ancient times, aromatic plants are used for their medicinal value. Essential oils derived from these plants may be used as effective alternatives/adjuvants in pharmaceuticals, biomedical, cosmetic, food, veterinary and agriculture applications. These oils have also gained popularity and interest for prevention and treatment of various disorders. However, several reports on adverse effects including skin eruption, contact artricaria or toxic encephalopathy in children are available for synthetic repellent in the literature. Thus, natural insect repellents like essential oils have been explored recently as an alternative. One such essential oil studied widely, is citronella oil, extracted mainly from Cymbopogon nardus. This essential oil has exhibited good efficacy against mosquitoes. It is a mixture of components including citronellal, citronellol, geraniol as major constituents contributing to various activities (antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antioxidant, anticonvulsant antitrypanosomal and wound healing), besides mosquito repellent action. Citronella essential oil is registered in US EPA (Environmental protection agency) as insect repellent due to its high efficacy, low toxicity and customer satisfaction. However, poor stability in the presence of air and high temperature limits its practical applications. Since specific knowledge on properties and chemical composition of oil is fundamental for its effective application, the present review compiles and discusses biological properties of citronella oil. It also sheds light on various formulations and applications of this essential oil.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 437-451
Author(s):  
Malkiet Kaur ◽  
Gayatri Devi ◽  
Manju Nagpal ◽  
Manjinder Singh ◽  
Gitika A. Dhingra ◽  
...  

Background: Coronavirus has become a life-threatening disease and it is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This new strain of coronavirus is not completely understood and to date, there is no treatment for coronavirus. Traditional ayurvedic medicines, mainly essential oils and Chinese herbs, have always played a vital role in the prevention and treatment of several epidemics and pandemics. In the meantime, guidelines of the ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha and homoepathy) include a traditional medicinal treatment for flu and fever and also recommended to boost immunity to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It is not possible to find which essential oil will offer the best level of protection. However, it is likely to assume that some essential oils are likely to offer a measurable level of defense in the same way they do with many other known viruses. Methods: Literature relevant to various essential oils having antiviral activity has been collected and compiled. Various nanocarriers of essential oils have also been stated. The database was collected using various search engines such as J-Gate, Google Scholar, Sci-Hub, PubMed, ScienceDirect, etc. Results: Essential oils contain active constituents such as phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenyl propanoids, etc., which are responsible for their biological properties such as antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant activities and many more. However, the use of essential oils has always been limited due to poor solubility, solvent toxicity, volatility and low solubility. Many nanotechnology based carriers especially, liposomes, dendrimers, nanoparticles, nanoemulsion and microemulsion, etc. have been evidenced to overcome limitations associated with essential oils. Conclusion: Several essential oils possess potent antiviral activity and are characterized by fewer side effects and are safe for human use. The nanocarrier systems of these oils have proved the potential to treat viral and bacterial infections. Lay Summary: Current COVID-19 era demands traditional treatment for immunity boost up as support therapy. Traditional ayurvedic medicines, mainly essential oils and Chinese herbs, have always played a vital role in the prevention and treatment of several epidemics and pandemics. Therefore, authors have summarized various essential oils having antiviral activity in current manuscript. Various nanocarriers of essential oils have been reported. Essential oils contain active constituents such as phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenyl propanoids, etc., which are responsible for their biological properties such as antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant activity. However, the use of essential oils has always been limited due to poor solubility, solvent toxicity, volatility and low solubility. Many nanotechnology based carriers especially, liposomes, dendrimers, nanoparticles, nanoemulsion and microemulsion, etc. have been evidenced to overcome limitations associated with essential oils. The nanocarrier systems of these oils have proved the potential to treat viral and bacterial infections.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 786
Author(s):  
Hamza Ouakouak ◽  
Adel Benarfa ◽  
Mohammed Messaoudi ◽  
Samir Begaa ◽  
Barbara Sawicka ◽  
...  

This study describes the chemical composition, antitumor, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the plant Thymus algeriensis Boiss. Essential oils (EOs) were collected in different periods (before, during, and after flowering stage) from the El-Guetfa region, M’sila, Algeria. The EOs extraction was achieved using three distinguishing techniques: hydro (Clevenger trap), steam, and microwave distillations, targeting different aerial parts of the plant (stems, flowers, and leaves). The EOs chemical components were estimated using GC-FID and GC-MS apparatuses. The resulting yield of the extracted oil was moderate and ranged between 0.84 and 1.53% (wt/vol). In total, eighty-five components were identified, in which the oxygenated monoterpenes family formed the main portion, starting from 40.56 up to 70.66%. The obtained essential oil was dominated by five major components that varied from low to quite moderate percentages: camphor (17.45–32.56%), borneol (11.16–22.2%), camphene (7.53–12.86%), 1.8-cineole (5.16–11.21%), and bornyl acetate (3.86–7.92%). The biological results of this oil pointed out that the EOs extracted from the leaves part exposed a weak radical scavenging activity afterward using two well-known antioxidant assays DPPH (IC50 = 8.37 mg/mL) and ABTS (10.84 mg/mL). Meanwhile, this oil presented strong inhibition activity against colon cancer cell line HCT116 (LC50 = 39.8 µg/mL) and a moderate inhibitory against hepatocellular cancer cells HePG2 (LC50 > 100 µg/mL). In addition, this oil antimicrobial activity was quite important against Micrococcus luteus (M. luteus), Staphylococcus aureus CIP 7625, Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 4226, Candida albicans IPA200, Candida tropicalis (Ct), and Candida glabrata (Cg) after using Amoxicillin and Itraconazole as references.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Milka Mileva ◽  
Yana Ilieva ◽  
Gabriele Jovtchev ◽  
Svetla Gateva ◽  
Maya Margaritova Zaharieva ◽  
...  

Plants from the Rosacea family are rich in natural molecules with beneficial biological properties, and they are widely appreciated and used in the food industry, perfumery, and cosmetics. In this review, we are considering Rosa damascena Mill., Rosa alba L., Rosa centifolia L., and Rosa gallica L. as raw materials important for producing commercial products, analyzing and comparing the main biological activities of their essential oils, hydrolates, and extracts. A literature search was performed to find materials describing (i) botanical characteristics; (ii) the phytochemical profile; and (iii) biological properties of the essential oil sand extracts of these so called “old roses” that are cultivated in Bulgaria, Turkey, India, and the Middle East. The information used is from databases PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Roses have beneficial healing properties due to their richness of beneficial components, the secondary metabolites as flavonoids (e.g., flavones, flavonols, anthocyanins), fragrant components (essential oils, e.g., monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes), and hydrolysable and condensed tannins. Rose essential oils and extracts with their therapeutic properties—as respiratory antiseptics, anti-inflammatories, mucolytics, expectorants, decongestants, and antioxidants—are able to act as symptomatic prophylactics and drugs, and in this way alleviate dramatic sufferings during severe diseases.


Bioanalysis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 1845-1858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anamica Muruganandham ◽  
Carolyne Dumont ◽  
Kuiyi Xing

Stability of samples for flow cytometry is a critical parameter since storage period of samples is restricted to only a limited period after collection. For most studies, clinical samples have to be shipped to a testing laboratory, in contrast to preclinical samples, which can be analyzed on-site or off-site. Therefore, evaluating stability is critical to provide flexibility on testing of samples to obtain reliable data. A wide variety of factors contributes to establishing stability from sample collection through acquisition. We provided suggestions for experimental and stability parameters to be taken into consideration when designing a flow cytometry method. The case studies presented represent how certain stability issues were overcome to perform flow cytometry assays in a regulated bioanalytical environment.


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