Abstract
Plant essential oils (EOs) have strong antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. However, their water insolubility and volatility limit their practical application. Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable delivery systems for hydrophobic bioactive compounds but can be destabilized after dilution by the polar phase. In the present study, soybean oil (SBO) was studied for the impacts on formation and dilutability of EO microemulsions comprised of polysorbate 80 (Tween™ 80) as a surfactant and equal mass of water and propylene glycol as the polar phase. The oil phase contained EO (cinnamon bark oil, eugenol, or thymol) and SBO at 1:0, 2:1 or 4:1 mass ratios. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed after titrating the polar phase into Tween™ 80–oil mixture at 1:1 to 9:1 mass ratios. Blending SBO with EO expanded the regimes of microemulsions and reduced the droplet dimensions that were stable over 90days. Viscosity and electrical conductivity data indicated the transition from W/O to O/W microemulsions as the content of polar phase increased from 10% to 90% w/w. The enhanced dilutability of microemulsions after blending with SBO can broaden the application of EOs.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.