Development of Artemisia annua essential oil liposomes with antifungal activity against Candida species

Essential oils have been widely used for their antimicrobial and antifungal properties but their instability to light and high volatility can limit the clinical practice [1], and this problem can be overcome by drug delivery systems. The aim of the present study was to formulate, optimize and evaluate vesicles loaded by Artemisia annua essential oil (AEO). GC-MS analyses revealed that AEO main constituents were camphor, artemisia ketone, and 1,8-cineole. Loaded liposomes (100 µL/mL) were optimized for their size, polydispersity index (PDI), ζ-potential and morphology. Recovery, encapsulation efficiency (EE%), release and antifungal activity on Candida species were evaluated [2]. Quantitative analysis was carried out using a HPLC1100-DAD. The vesicles, stable over a one month period at 4 °C, exhibited a spherical shape, had average sizes about 250 nm, a ζ potential of approximately -10 mV and a PDI of 0.21. The EE% was around 75 % while the recovery was over 90 %. The drug release study showed that after 14 hours almost 100 % of AEO was released. The minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) of AEO and EO-loaded liposomes was performed against 10 fungal strains of Candida using amphotericin B as positive control. Results showed that the MFC values ranged from 9.8 to 42 μL/mL of AEO and from 5 to 10 μL/mL of EO-loaded in liposomes. Significant difference by t student test was expressed as p < 0.01. The findings suggested that loaded liposomes proved to be more effective against Candida species than the free essential oil. The formulation can decrease the volatility of AEO, optimize its biological properties and defeat fungal infections.