Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Pure versus Nano-Encapsulated Essential Oils against Candida albicans

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to encapsulate the combination of lavender and ylang-ylang oil in the nano-range and evaluated for their anti-fungal activity against the species Candida albicans. The study also included the evaluation of eighteen different essential oils for its anti-fungal potential in pure form. Different essential oils (Monarda oil, Lemongrass oil, Bay leaf oil, Eucalyptus oil, Nagarmotha oil, etc.,) extracted through hydro-distillation method.  Solvent evaporation technique employed in the process of nano-encapsulation of lavender oil and ylang-ylang oil. Then both the oils characterize for different parameters like particle size, zeta potential and evaluated for their anti-fungal activity. Nano-encapsulated oil after the characterization incorporated into the carbopol gel for the activity evaluation. Litesizer 500 determined the zeta potential and size in nano-range. The maximum particle’s diameter was found in the range of 100 nm to 1000 nm and another peak indicates the particles in the range of 1000 to 10000 nm. The mean zeta potential of the nano-encapsulated particles was found in the range of -19.5 mV with standard deviation of 0.7 mV. In the study, the gel containing nano-encapsulated essential oils i.e., lavender and ylang-ylang oil in combination was showed the activity against the Candida albicans. This may be the case that the encapsulation process slow down its release and also lowers down its activity also as compared to the pure oil. Monarda oil showed the highest zone of inhibition followed by palmarosa oil and chamomile oil.