ESSENTIAL OIL BASED NANOEMULSION FOR THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION- A REVIEW

Essential oil (EO) based nanoemulsion (NE) represent an emerging and promising approach in nanotechnology, serving as a safe and effective delivery system. Recent studies show that essential oils are one of the naturally occurring and eco-friendly approach which has broad spectrum of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. EO can inhibit and/or kill many microbe species such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites. In this review, attempt has been made to use two essential oils from clove bud and lemon peel respectively to utilize their phytochemical constituents namely eugenol, limonenealong with few other bioactive components. Amongst various methods of EO extraction which includes steam, cold pressing, simple distillation and hydro-distillation; the last one is more preferred.This review discusses various methods of NE preparation, with particular emphasis on low-energy, spontaneous emulsification techniques and their advantages over high-energy methods.NE typically exhibit droplet size in the range of 20-500 nm which significantly offers improved stability, increases solubility, and enhances bioavailability for their higher surface area. The incorporation of EOs like clove bud and lemon peel oil enhances the potential of NE for their rich phytochemical compositions and biological activity. In addition, it focuses onthe evaluation and characterization parameters, which consist of droplet size, PDI, pH, zeta potential, morphology, thermodynamic stability, phase separation for stability of EO based NE and its antioxidant, antimicrobial activity for bioavailability. Their small droplet size makes them more effective for topical delivery by promoting interaction with the skin surface and enhancing permeation across the skin barrier. NE is mostly utilized in food industry and aromatherapy, for their characteristic flavor and aroma, as well as in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industry for their wide range of biological and therapeutic activities.