Essential oils encapsulated in liposomes: a review

Abstract

In the recent years there has been an increased interest toward the biological activities of essential oils. However, essential oils are unstable and susceptible to degradation in the presence of oxygen, light and temperature. So, attempts have been made to preserve them through encapsulation in various colloidal systems such as microcapsules, microspheres, nanoemulsions and liposomes. This review focuses specifically on encapsulation of essential oils into liposomes. First, we present the techniques used to prepare liposomes encapsulating essential oils. The effects of essential oils and other factors on liposome characteristics such as size, encapsulation efficiency and thermal behavior of lipid bilayers are then discussed. The composition of lipid vesicles membrane, especially the type of phospholipids, cholesterol content, the molar ratio of essential oils to lipids, the preparation method and the kind of essential oil may affect the liposome size and the encapsulation efficiency. Several essential oils can decrease the size of liposomes, homogenize the liposomal dispersions, increase the fluidity and reduce the oxidation of the lipid bilayer. Moreover, liposomes can protect the fluidity of essential oils and are stable at 4–5?°C for 6 months at least. The applications of liposomes incorporating essential oils are also summarized in this review. Liposomes encapsulating essential oils are promising agents that can be used to increase the anti-microbial activity of the essential oils, to study the effect of essential oils on cell membranes, and to provide alternative therapeutic agents to treat several diseases.     

Essential oils from Azorean Laurus azorica

The essential oils isolated from leaves of ten and from unripe berries of eight populations of Laurus azorica (Seub.) Franco, collected on five islands of the Azorean archipelago, were analysed by GC and GC-MS. All oil samples were dominated by their monoterpene fraction (60-94%), alpha-pinene (15-37%) and 1,8-cineole (12-31%) being the main components of the leaf oils, while trans-beta-ocimene (27-45%) and alpha-pinene (12-22%) were the main components of the oils from the berries. The sesquiterpene fractions of the oils ranged from 3 to 17% and the main components were beta-caryophyllene (traces-8%) and beta-elemene (traces-3%) both in the leaf and berry oils. Some phenylpropanoid components were also present, in total amounting to 17%, trans-cinnamyl acetate (215% of the leaf oils) being the main component of this fraction. Cluster analysis of the enantiomeric composition of alpha- and beta-pinene in the oils from the leaves clearly showed two groups, one constituted by the two populations growing on the island S. Jorge, and the other constituted by the remaining populations.     

Essential oils of three asiatic artemisia species

The steam-distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of three Asiatic Artemisia, A. glabella, A. rupestris and A. persica, were analysed by GC/MS. In all about 100 compounds were identified; davanone is one of the main components of A. persica.     

Essential oils of some amazonian Mikania species

Terpenoid constituents were identified in the essential oils of Mikania banisteriae and M. congesta. M. amara contains aliphatic alcohols, aldehydes and acids besides p-cymene and thymol.     

First principles of Hamiltonian medicine

We introduce the field of Hamiltonian medicine, which centres on the roles of genetic relatedness in human health and disease. Hamiltonian medicine represents the application of basic social-evolution theory, for interactions involving kinship, to core issues in medicine such as pathogens, cancer, optimal growth and mental illness. It encompasses three domains, which involve conflict and cooperation between: (i) microbes or cancer cells, within humans, (ii) genes expressed in humans, (iii) human individuals. A set of six core principles, based on these domains and their interfaces, serves to conceptually organize the field, and contextualize illustrative examples. The primary usefulness of Hamiltonian medicine is that, like Darwinian medicine more generally, it provides novel insights into what data will be productive to collect, to address important clinical and public health problems. Our synthesis of this nascent field is intended predominantly for evolutionary and behavioural biologists who aspire to address questions directly relevant to human health and disease.     

Essential oils against multidrug resistant gram-negative bacteria

Multi-drug resistant uropathogens are responsible for urinary tract infections. The antibacterial activity of seven essential oils, oregano, thyme, clove, arborvitae, cassia, lemongrass, tea tree) was investigated by agar diffusion method, followed by determination of minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations against five multidrug resistant isolates namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloaceae, Morganella morganii, Proteus mirabilis. Oregano, thyme, cassia had antibacterial activity with inhibition zones ranging 25–39 mm; clove, arborvitae, tea tree and lemongrass 12–15 mm. The essential oils showed antibacterial activities with MICs ranged from 0.005% (w/v) to 0.5% (w/v). Thyme had the same MIC and MBC on all strains. The effects of the vapors of the essential oils were also tested by placing the oils on the underside of the Petri dish lid. Thyme, oregano and cassia essential oils strongly inhibited the growth of the clinical strains of bacteria tested in vapor phase. This study demonstrates the potential of investigated essential oils as natural alternatives for further application in hospital therapies in order to retard or inhibit the bacterial growth. For the first time antibacterial effects of essential oils (clove, arborvitae, tea tree, lemongrass, and cassia) were evaluated against Enterobacter cloaceae and Morganella morganii clinical isolates.     

Essential oils from micropropagated plants of Lavandula viridis

The essential oils of Lavandula viridis were analysed by GC and GC-MS. Comparisons were made between three types of plant material from the same clone: field-grown plant, in vitro shoot cultures and micropropagated plants of the same clone. The most common components usually found in lavender oils were present in the oil samples analysed and more than 45 constituents were identified, representing more than 80% of the essential oil. The essential oils analysed consisted mainly of monoterpenes (75.4-76.3%), where oxygenated and hydrocarbons identified ranged from 41.8 to 57.3% and 18.1 to 34.2%, respectively. The major components found were 1.8-cineole (18.2-25.1%), camphor (9.1-15.7%), alpha-pinene (8.8-14.1%), borneol (4.1-4.8%), beta-pinene (1.2-5.6%), delta 3-carene (1.0-6.5%) and alpha-terpineol (0.8-4.2%). The monoterpene fraction of the in vitro shoot cultures showed different relative amounts of hydrocarbons and oxygenated components in relation to the parent plant and to micropropagated plants. In the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon fraction of the oil samples analysed (6.1-8.2%), 7-epi-alpha-selinene (1.6-4.8%) was the most important component and the oxygenated sesquiterpenes were found in small amounts (1.1-1.7%). The essential oils from field-grown plants of L. viridis, when compared with those obtained from in vitro shoot cultures or micropropagated plants of the same clone, demonstrated that the same major components were found without significant compositional variations.     

Essential oils for the control of reduviid insects

Chagas disease is an important vector-borne disease problem in South America, especially in rural areas where inhabitants are in contact with the reduviid insects that transmit the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Today, the main means of interrupting transmission of T. cruzi is to control the vector. Therefore, studies of new agents with activity against these vectors have a priority interest. This review covers recent studies on essential oils from plants that have demonstrated moderate to high activity against the main vectors of Chagas disease. Further, we investigate the constituents of essential oils of plants of the genera Mentha, Thymus, Satureja and Artemisia and their activity on Rhodnius prolixus using an excito-repellency test.     

Essential oils from neotropical Myrtaceae: chemical diversity and biological properties

Myrtaceae family (121 genera, 3800-5800 spp.) is one of the most important families in tropical forests. They are aromatic trees or shrubs, which frequently produce edible fruits. In the neotropics, ca. 1000 species were found. Several members of this family are used in folk medicine, mainly as an antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cleanser, antirheumatic, and anti-inflammatory agent and to decrease the blood cholesterol. In addition, some fruits are eaten fresh or used to make juices, liqueurs, and sweets very much appreciated by people. The flavor composition of some fruits belonging to the Myrtaceae family has been extensively studied due to their pleasant and intense aromas. Most of the essential oils of neotropical Myrtaceae analyzed so far are characterized by predominance of sesquiterpenes, some with important biological properties. In the present work, chemical and pharmacological studies carried out on neotropical Myrtaceae species are reviewed, based on original articles published since 1980. The uses in folk medicine and chemotaxonomic importance of secondary metabolites are also briefly discussed.     

Essential oils from aromatic herbs as antimicrobial agents

Bacterial resistance to multiple antibiotics is a health problem. Essential oils (EOs) possess antibacterial properties and have been screened as potential sources of novel antimicrobial compounds. Terpenes and terpenoids are components derived from EOs. Some of these EOs show inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Carvacrol has specific effects on S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Perilla oil suppresses expression of α-toxin, Staphylococcus enterotoxin A and B and toxic shock syndrome toxin. Geraniol shows good activity in modulating drug resistance in several gram-negative species. EOs could act as biopreservatives, reducing or eliminating pathogenic bacteria and increasing the overall quality of animal and vegetable food products. Although clinical studies are scarce, the uses of EOs for topical administration and as penetration enhancers for antiseptics are promising. Little information exists for oral administration.     

Essential oils of five Tanacetum vulgare genotypes

The essential oils of five Tanacetum vulgare genotypes were investigated and their main components identified. Artemisia alcohol, γ-campholenol, davanone, lyratol, lyratyl acetate and 4-thujen-2α-yl acetate have not been reported before as constituents of Tanacetum vulgare. This is the first time that γ-campholenol has been isolated from a natural source. 4-Thujen-2α-yl acetate is a novel compound.     

Applied principles of radiopharmaceutical use in therapy

The initial consideration in use of a radiopharmaceutical in therapy is specificity of localization. A variety of biological principles such as active transport and binding to cellular components have been utilized to achieve this localization. The next concern is to maximize radiation to the lesion while minimizing that to the remainder of the body. This means that there is a major role to be played by emissions with a short path length (such as α particles, weak β particles and Auger electrons). To achieve maximal irradiation of the lesion, dissociation of the radiolabel from the tissue should be minimized; potential approaches for acheiving this are reviewed. Finally, “synergistic effects” between radiation and chemical agents are discussed.     

Essential oils from two endemic species of Apiaceae from Iran

The composition of essential oils of Leutea glaucopruinosa (Rech.f.) Akhani & Salimian comb. nov., and Zeravschania (Boiss. & Hausskn.) Salimian & Akhani comb. nov. were analysed by GC-MS. 49 compounds are identified in the former and 33 compounds in the latter, comprising a total of 76 compounds in both species. Both species were originally described under Peucedanum, which are transferred in this paper into Leutea and Zeravschania, respectively. The chemical compounds of the essential oils show that there are only seven common compounds between two species. The major compounds of L. glaucopruinosa are mostly monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes, in which alpha-pinene (31.5%), sabinene (9.7%), beta-pinene (9.2%), exo-fenchyl acetate (4.5%) are dominant. In Z. pastinacifolia sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and phenylpropanoids dominate with beta-bisabolene (37.3%), 3,1-butyl-1,2-dimethoxy benzene (14.9%), 10,11-dimethylbicyclo[6.3.0]undec-(8)-en-9-one (12.9%), 4-t-butyl-1,2-dimethoxy benzene (6.8%), (E)-asarone (5.1%) and elemicine (4.1%) as major compounds.     

樟树叶挥发性成分研究

通过GC/MS方法,对湖南樟树嫩叶、老叶以及枯叶挥发油的成分和抗氧化性能进行了研究,分析鉴定了其中含量占95%以上的31个化合物.结果表明:嫩叶中以Copaene(28.55%)、石竹烯(25.81%)和α-石竹烯(12.69%)为主要成分;老叶挥发油以芳樟醇含量最高(78.30%);枯叶挥发油主含石竹烯(38.64%...