Essential Oils Encapsulated in Zeolite Structures as Delivery Systems (EODS): An Overview

Abstract

Essential oils (EO) obtained from plants have proven industrial applications in the manufacturing of perfumes and cosmetics, in the production and flavoring of foods and beverages, as therapeutic agents in aromatherapy, and as the active principles or excipients of medicines and pharmaceutics due to their olfactory, physical-chemical, and biological characteristics. On behalf of the new paradigm of a more natural and sustainable lifestyle, EO are rather appealing due to their physical, chemical, and physiological actions in human beings. However, EO are unstable and susceptible to degradation or loss. To tackle this aspect, the encapsulation of EO in microporous structures as zeolites is an attractive solution, since these host materials are cheap and non-toxic to biological environments. This overview provides basic information regarding essential oils, including their recognized benefits and functional properties. Current progress regarding EO encapsulation in zeolite structures is also discussed, highlighting some representative examples of essential oil delivery systems (EODS) based on zeolites for healthcare applications or aromatherapy.

Antimicrobial and Virus Adsorption Properties of Y-Zeolite Exchanged with Silver and Zinc Cations

“…The adsorption capacity of MS2 was constant, reaching 11.5% at 30 min, and did not change with time. As it was mentioned above, some types of zeolites are characterized by antimicrobial properties per se , , especially faujasite mineral. , It may be assumed that the MS2 bacteriophage was characterized by lower resistance to CBV-600 than to BMV and CCMV. The adsorption capacity increased for CBV-600 modified with silver and zinc cations in comparison with pure CBV-600 (see Table ).…”

“…For example, clinoptilolite (natural zeolite) is used as a food additive providing essential minerals for individuals and may be used as an adsorbent of harmful substances that contaminate the environment, air, water, and food. Zeolites are characterized by antimicrobial properties per se and may also be combined with nanoparticles, increasing their antimicrobial effect. , It was shown that composite materials containing clinoptilolite manifest antibacterial activity toward E. coli and S.…”

“…Zeolites are characterized by antimicrobial properties per se and may also be combined with nanoparticles, increasing their antimicrobial effect. 30 , 31 It was shown that composite materials containing clinoptilolite manifest antibacterial activity toward E. coli and S. aureus strains. 32 However, the most common way to increase the antimicrobial activity of zeolites is combining them with Ag or Zn ions.…”

Physicochemical study of natural zeolite modified with lavender essential oil

“…Clinoptilolite is regarded as the most important and plentiful natural zeolite. It is located in large deposits all around the world and is widely utilized on a global scale in different research together with essential oil delivery systems [1,2,3,4]. Zeolites, due to their heterogeneity, are substances that are easily isolated from the postreaction mixture, restored and reused in the process [4].…”

Development of Carvacrol@natural Zeolite Nanohybrid and Poly-Lactide Acid / Triethyl Citrate / Carvacrol@natural Zeolite Self-Healable Active Packaging Films for Minced Pork Shelf-Life Extension

“…EOs are considered as safe by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and are known as GRAS (General Recognize as Safe) [22]. To overcome their direct loss trough evaporation process new technologies have been proposed such as their adsorption on natural adsorbents such as nanoclays, natural zeolites and activated carbons followed by their incorporation in polymer matrix to develop an active packaging film with controlled release of EOs in food [23][24][25][26][27][28]. Natural zeolite (NZ) is more favorable for use as a nanocarrier host of EOs than nanoclays due to its higher surface area.…”