Development and Characterization of Monoolein-Based Liposomes of Carvacrol, Cinnamaldehyde, Citral, or Thymol with Anti- <i>Candida</i> Activities
Katherine Miranda-Cadena, Marisol Días, Augusto Costa‐Barbosa, Tony Collins, Cristina Marcos‐Arias, Elena Eraso, Célia Pais, Guillermo Quindós, Paula Sampaio
Abstract
isolates after addition of phytocompounds and their nanoparticles was determined. Nanoparticles with 64 μg/ml of cinnamaldehyde, 256 μg/ml of citral, and 128 μg/ml of thymol had the best characteristics among the formulations tested. The highest encapsulation efficiencies were achieved with citral (78% to 83%) and carvacrol (66% to 71%) liposomes. Carvacrol and thymol in liposome-based nanoparticles were nontoxic regardless of the concentration. Moreover, carvacrol and thymol maintained their antifungal activity after encapsulation, and there was a significant reduction (∼41%) of yeast survival when macrophages were incubated with carvacrol or thymol liposomes. In conclusion, carvacrol and thymol liposomes possess high stability, low cytotoxicity, and antifungal activity that act synergistically with macrophages.