Abstract
Due to the preservative, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and therapeutic properties of oregano essential oil (OEO), it has received an emerging interest for biotechnological and biomedical applications. However, stability and bioactivity can be compromised by its natural volatile and hydrophobic nature, and by external factors including light, heat, or oxygen. Therefore, micro- and nanoencapsulation are being employed to guarantee oregano oil protection from outside aggressions and to maximize its potential. Oregano oil encapsulation is an interesting strategy used to increase its stability, enhance its bioactivity, and decrease its volatility. At the same time, the versatility that micro- and nanocarriers offer, allows to prepare tailored systems that can provide a controlled and targeted release of the encapsulated principle, influence its bioactive activities, or even provide additional properties. Most common materials used to prepare these carriers are based on lipids and cyclodextrins, due to their hydrophobic nature, polymers due to their versatility in composition, and hybrid lipid-polymer systems. In this context, recently developed micro- and nanocarriers encapsulating oregano oil with applications in the biotechnological and biomedical fields will be discussed.
Highlights
Essential oils (EOs), derived from aromatic plants, are volatile oily liquids mainly composed of terpenoids and phenolic acids
This review aims to discuss the state-of-the-art micro- and nanoencapsulation of oregano essential oil (OEO) in biotechnology and biomedical applications, making emphasis on the materials used, the fabrication process, and their final bioactive properties
Oregano oil has been used in different cultures since ancient times, it has received special attention in the last decades due to its preservative, antimicrobial, and therapeutic characteristics
Summary
Essential oils (EOs), derived from aromatic plants, are volatile oily liquids mainly composed of terpenoids and phenolic acids (da Silva et al, 2021). They have been used since ancient times in different cultures due to their bioactive properties. Some characteristics like immunomodulatory and anticancer activities are recently being reported, highlighting the potential use of EOs in the biomedical field (Bhalla et al, 2013; Böhme et al, 2014). Stability and bioactivity can be compromised by their natural volatility, low water solubility, and external
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