Synthesis and Nano-Sized Characterization of Bioactive Oregano Essential Oil Molecule-Loaded Small Unilamellar Nanoliposomes with Antifungal Potentialities

Abstract

The development of greener nano-constructs with noteworthy biological activity is of supreme interest, as a robust choice to minimize the extensive use of synthetic drugs. Essential oils (EOs) and their constituents offer medicinal potentialities because of their extensive biological activity, including the inhibition of fungi species. However, their application as natural antifungal agents are limited due to their volatility, low stability, and restricted administration routes. Nanotechnology is receiving particular attention to overcome the drawbacks of EOs such as volatility, degradation, and high sensitivity to environmental/external factors. For the aforementioned reasons, nanoencapsulation of bioactive compounds, for instance, EOs, facilitates protection and controlled-release attributes. Nanoliposomes are bilayer vesicles, at nanoscale, composed of phospholipids, and can encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. Considering the above critiques, herein, we report the in-house fabrication and nano-size characterization of bioactive oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare L.) (OEO) molecules loaded with small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) nanoliposomes. The study was focused on three main points: (1) multi-compositional fabrication nanoliposomes using a thin film hydration–sonication method; (2) nano-size characterization using various analytical and imaging techniques; and (3) antifungal efficacy of as-developed OEO nanoliposomes against Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) by performing the mycelial growth inhibition test (MGI). The mean size of the nanoliposomes was around 77.46 ± 0.66 nm and 110.4 ± 0.98 nm, polydispersity index (PdI) of 0.413 ± 0.015, zeta potential values up to −36.94 ± 0.36 mV were obtained by dynamic light scattering (DLS). and spherical morphology was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of OEO into nanoliposomes was displayed by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Entrapment efficiency values of 79.55 ± 6.9% were achieved for OEO nanoliposomes. In vitro antifungal activity of nanoliposomes tested against T. rubrum strains revealed that OEO nanoliposomes exhibited the highest MGI, 81.66 ± 0.86%, at a concentration of 1.5 µL/mL compared to the rest of the formulations. In summary, this work showed that bioactive OEO molecules with loaded nanoliposomes could be used as natural antifungal agents for therapeutical purposes against T. rubrum.

Oregano Oil Combined with Macleaya Cordata Oral Solution Improves the Growth Performance and Immune Response of Broilers

“…Oregano oil is an essential oil derived from oregano, a fragrant plant widely grown in China and used primarily as an herb [ 7 ]. As an essential plant oil, the oregano oil’s main bioactive substance is carvacrol, which has been proven to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties in previous studies [ 8 ].…”

Nano-Size Characterization and Antifungal Evaluation of Essential Oil Molecules-Loaded Nanoliposomes

“…The antimicrobial activity, at large, and antifungal activity, in particular, of various EOs is majorly due to the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of their biologically active entities, such as phenols (highest activity), alcohol, terpenes, and ketones [ 54 ]. CEO and TTO loaded fractions were tested against T. rubrum fungi.…”

Submicron-Sized Vermiculite Assisted Oregano Oil for Controlled Release and Long-Term Bacterial Inhibition

“…The characteristic peaks at 1356, 1507, 1583 were attributed to the asymmetric bending of the isopropyl group, C=C stretching carvacrol, thymol and p -cymene [ 39 ]. The characteristic peaks at 2869 and 2960 cm −1 can be attributed to the symmetric and asymmetric C-H stretching of the active components [ 64 , 66 , 67 ]. The spectrum of SMV (red) shows five characteristic peaks at 660, 724, 810, 1651 and 3717 cm −1 , which can be attributed to FeO-OH vibrations [ 68 ], Si-O stretching [ 69 ], Mg-O stretching, the bending vibration of the inter-layer water and O-H stretching [ 70 ], respectively.…”