Sustainable bio-sourced nanoemulsions: Pectin-based delivery systems for vitex essential oil and its therapeutic potentials

Herein we report the feasibility of pectin vitex essential oil (VEO) nanoemulsions (NE). NE formulations were prepared both in the absence and presence of a conventional surfactant (Tween 80) by ultrasonication using pectin aqueous solutions as the aqueous phase and VEO as the oil phase. Different surfactant amounts and various ultrasonication times were employed. Droplet size and Zeta potential measurements were performed and their data were statistically evaluated. The minimum droplet size (prediction: 299.342 nm) could be achieved when employing an ultrasonication time of 5.9 min in the absence of the conventional surfactant. SEM characterization delivered supporting results related to the droplet sizes obtained. Stability tests showed that pectin VEO NE formulations were stable after 42 days. The results clearly showed that it was possible to generate VEO containing NEs in one pot and at once using pectin, which also acted as a natural surfactant, without the need for an additional conventional surfactant. Considering also moisturizing property of pectin and the antifungal activity of VEO, their combination in the form of a nanoemulsion could be promising for potential women's health applications.