Biocides are any substance or mixture of substances to destroy, eliminate, and render harmless agents harmful to humans, by a mechanism of action other than mechanical (1). Essential oils like Origanum vulgare L. (OEO) have been studied for their antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. These natural compounds could replace or support chemically synthetic compounds in treating infections and circumvent antimicrobial resistance (2). However, despite the high potential of OEO as a natural antimicrobial agent, its application may be limited by its bioactive components' poor water solubility, high volatility, and reactive nature. To overcome the limitations, this volatile oil has been added to various nano-sized colloidal carriers. (4). Many authors have reported on using nanoemulsions to deliver EOs to improve their water solubility and enable their use in antimicrobial formulations. The nanometer size of the droplets may enhance the EO's interaction with microbial cells, increasing its antimicrobial activity (5). Besides dimensions, EO nanoemulsions' surface properties can influence activity. Recent studies show that the surface charge of nanodroplets affects their interaction with cells. Positively charged nanoemulsions are often more readily absorbed by fungal cells than neutral or negative ones. Fungal membranes are generally negatively charged, so positively charged nanoemulsions can bind to the cell membrane via electrostatic interactions and be taken up by the cell, whereas negatively charged droplets would be repelled. Origanum vulgare L. is formulated in nanoemulsions using soy phosphatidylcholine (soy-PC) and three non-phospholipid co-surfactants to provide negative or positive electrical charge to the prepared nanoemulsions. The samples were tested for their in vitro activity against three strains of Candida albicans and the results obtained were compared with a dispersion of non-formulated OEO in an aqueous solution of non-ionic Tween 80.
Evaluation of the biocidal activity of origanum vulgare l., essential oil nanoemulsion / Bigi, B.; Bertini, F.; Mari, C.; Di Muzio, L.; Cesa, S.; Paolicelli, P.; Casadei, M. A.; Petralito, S.. - (2025). (Intervento presentato al convegno CRS Italy workshop tenutosi a Bari).
Evaluation of the biocidal activity of origanum vulgare l., essential oil nanoemulsion
Bigi B.;Bertini F.;Mari C.;Di Muzio L.;Cesa S.;Paolicelli P.;Casadei M. A.;Petralito S.
2025
Abstract
Biocides are any substance or mixture of substances to destroy, eliminate, and render harmless agents harmful to humans, by a mechanism of action other than mechanical (1). Essential oils like Origanum vulgare L. (OEO) have been studied for their antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. These natural compounds could replace or support chemically synthetic compounds in treating infections and circumvent antimicrobial resistance (2). However, despite the high potential of OEO as a natural antimicrobial agent, its application may be limited by its bioactive components' poor water solubility, high volatility, and reactive nature. To overcome the limitations, this volatile oil has been added to various nano-sized colloidal carriers. (4). Many authors have reported on using nanoemulsions to deliver EOs to improve their water solubility and enable their use in antimicrobial formulations. The nanometer size of the droplets may enhance the EO's interaction with microbial cells, increasing its antimicrobial activity (5). Besides dimensions, EO nanoemulsions' surface properties can influence activity. Recent studies show that the surface charge of nanodroplets affects their interaction with cells. Positively charged nanoemulsions are often more readily absorbed by fungal cells than neutral or negative ones. Fungal membranes are generally negatively charged, so positively charged nanoemulsions can bind to the cell membrane via electrostatic interactions and be taken up by the cell, whereas negatively charged droplets would be repelled. Origanum vulgare L. is formulated in nanoemulsions using soy phosphatidylcholine (soy-PC) and three non-phospholipid co-surfactants to provide negative or positive electrical charge to the prepared nanoemulsions. The samples were tested for their in vitro activity against three strains of Candida albicans and the results obtained were compared with a dispersion of non-formulated OEO in an aqueous solution of non-ionic Tween 80.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
