Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop a stable nanoemulsion (NE) containing Croton cajucara 7-hydroxycalamenene-rich essential oil (NECC) with antifungal activity. The NECCs were prepared using an ultrasonic processor with Pluronic® F-127 as the aqueous phase. In order to evaluate the NECCs, the droplet size, polydispersity index (PdI), percentage of emulsification, and pH were determined along with a stability study. The NECC selected for the study had 15% surfactant, showed 100% emulsification, Pdl of 0.249, neutral pH, droplet diameters of about 40 nm, and remained stable over 150 days at room temperature. In addition, the NECC activity against some species of Zygomycetes and Candida, as well as the potential to inhibit fungal extracellular proteases, were assessed, and, finally, the hemolytic activity was evaluated. The best NECC antifungal activities were against Mucorramosissimus (Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 12.2 μg/mL) and Candida albicans (MIC = 25.6 μg/mL). The highest extracellular protease activities of M. ramosissimus and C. albicans were detected at pH 3 and 4, respectively, which were totally inhibited after NECC treatment. The NECC showed no hemolytic effect at the highest concentration tested (2 mg/mL).
Highlights
Nanoemulsions, unlike microemulsions, are metastable submicron oil-in-water dispersions with droplet diameters in the range of 10–100 nm, though they can be described between 20 and 200 nm
This study investigated the potential of using the C. cajucara essential oil release system for its antifungal activity
A nanoemulsion was obtained with a 100% emulsification percentage and was stable for more than 150 days at room temperature (25 ◦ C), with a droplet size of around 40 nm
Summary
Nanoemulsions, unlike microemulsions, are metastable submicron oil-in-water dispersions with droplet diameters in the range of 10–100 nm, though they can be described between 20 and 200 nm. They are produced by high-energy methods such as ultrasound generators, high shear agitation, and high-pressure homogenizers. The small size of the droplets in nanoemulsions significantly reduced the rate of destabilization mechanisms, such as gravitational separation, flocculation, and coalescence. Another potential advantage of using nanoemulsions is that the small droplet size means they are transparent or only slightly turbid [4]
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