Comparative Evaluation of <i>β</i>-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes with Eugenol, Eucalyptol, and Clove Essential Oil: Characterisation and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment for Pharmaceutical Applications

Clove essential oil (<i>Eugenia caryophyllata</i> essential oil, ECEO) is known for its high eugenol content and notable antimicrobial properties. However, the volatility and instability of its active compounds hinder broader pharmaceutical applications. <b>Methods:</b> This...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alina Ionela Stancu, Magdalena Mititelu, Anton Ficai, Lia-Mara Ditu, Mihaela Buleandră, Irinel Adriana Badea, Elena Pincu, Marius Constantin Stoian, Oana Brîncoveanu, Adina Boldeiu, Eliza Oprea
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/852
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849251891016368128
author Alina Ionela Stancu
Magdalena Mititelu
Anton Ficai
Lia-Mara Ditu
Mihaela Buleandră
Irinel Adriana Badea
Elena Pincu
Marius Constantin Stoian
Oana Brîncoveanu
Adina Boldeiu
Eliza Oprea
author_facet Alina Ionela Stancu
Magdalena Mititelu
Anton Ficai
Lia-Mara Ditu
Mihaela Buleandră
Irinel Adriana Badea
Elena Pincu
Marius Constantin Stoian
Oana Brîncoveanu
Adina Boldeiu
Eliza Oprea
author_sort Alina Ionela Stancu
collection DOAJ
description Clove essential oil (<i>Eugenia caryophyllata</i> essential oil, ECEO) is known for its high eugenol content and notable antimicrobial properties. However, the volatility and instability of its active compounds hinder broader pharmaceutical applications. <b>Methods:</b> This study characterised the chemical composition of ECEO and comparatively evaluated four <i>β</i>-cyclodextrin (<i>β</i>-CD) encapsulation methods: kneading, co-precipitation, lyophilisation, and co-precipitation–lyophilisation for eugenol, eucalyptol, and ECEO. Encapsulation efficiency, physicochemical properties, and antimicrobial potential were assessed. Analytical techniques included Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Headspace GC-MS (HS-GC-MS), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Job’s method, and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). <b>Results:</b> GC-MS identified eugenol (90.67%), eugenyl acetate (4.77%), and (E)–<i>β</i>-caryophyllene (3.98%) as major components of ECEO, while HS-GC-MS indicated a slightly reduced eugenol content (86.46%). The kneading method yielded the highest encapsulation efficiency for eugenol, whereas the co-precipitation–lyophilisation method was optimal for eucalyptol. DSC thermograms confirmed complex formation, and DLS analysis revealed nanostructures averaging 186.4 nm in diameter (PDI = 0.298). Antimicrobial assays showed MIC values ranging from 0.039 mg/mL to 10,000 mg/mL. Notably, ECEO and its <i>β</i>-CD complex displayed enhanced efficacy against <i>Escherichia coli</i> (0.039 mg/mL), surpassing the reference antibiotic gentamicin (0.049 mg/mL). <b>Conclusions:</b> <i>β</i>-Cyclodextrin encapsulation significantly enhances the stability and bioactivity of volatile antimicrobial compounds, thereby supporting their potential integration into advanced essential oil-based pharmaceutical formulations.
format Article
id doaj-art-e55bffa843594d4ea96bb38532ed4ff6
institution Kabale University
issn 1999-4923
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Pharmaceutics
spelling doaj-art-e55bffa843594d4ea96bb38532ed4ff62025-08-20T03:56:47ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-06-0117785210.3390/pharmaceutics17070852Comparative Evaluation of <i>β</i>-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes with Eugenol, Eucalyptol, and Clove Essential Oil: Characterisation and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment for Pharmaceutical ApplicationsAlina Ionela Stancu0Magdalena Mititelu1Anton Ficai2Lia-Mara Ditu3Mihaela Buleandră4Irinel Adriana Badea5Elena Pincu6Marius Constantin Stoian7Oana Brîncoveanu8Adina Boldeiu9Eliza Oprea10Department Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 1-7 Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory and Food Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, 6 Traian Vuia Street, 020956 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 1-7 Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Portocalilor 1-3, 77206 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, 90-92 Panduri Street, 050663 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, 90-92 Panduri Street, 050663 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, 90-92 Panduri Street, 050663 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, 126A Erou Iancu Nicolae Street, Voluntari City, Ilfov County, 077190 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, 126A Erou Iancu Nicolae Street, Voluntari City, Ilfov County, 077190 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, 126A Erou Iancu Nicolae Street, Voluntari City, Ilfov County, 077190 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Portocalilor 1-3, 77206 Bucharest, RomaniaClove essential oil (<i>Eugenia caryophyllata</i> essential oil, ECEO) is known for its high eugenol content and notable antimicrobial properties. However, the volatility and instability of its active compounds hinder broader pharmaceutical applications. <b>Methods:</b> This study characterised the chemical composition of ECEO and comparatively evaluated four <i>β</i>-cyclodextrin (<i>β</i>-CD) encapsulation methods: kneading, co-precipitation, lyophilisation, and co-precipitation–lyophilisation for eugenol, eucalyptol, and ECEO. Encapsulation efficiency, physicochemical properties, and antimicrobial potential were assessed. Analytical techniques included Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Headspace GC-MS (HS-GC-MS), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Job’s method, and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). <b>Results:</b> GC-MS identified eugenol (90.67%), eugenyl acetate (4.77%), and (E)–<i>β</i>-caryophyllene (3.98%) as major components of ECEO, while HS-GC-MS indicated a slightly reduced eugenol content (86.46%). The kneading method yielded the highest encapsulation efficiency for eugenol, whereas the co-precipitation–lyophilisation method was optimal for eucalyptol. DSC thermograms confirmed complex formation, and DLS analysis revealed nanostructures averaging 186.4 nm in diameter (PDI = 0.298). Antimicrobial assays showed MIC values ranging from 0.039 mg/mL to 10,000 mg/mL. Notably, ECEO and its <i>β</i>-CD complex displayed enhanced efficacy against <i>Escherichia coli</i> (0.039 mg/mL), surpassing the reference antibiotic gentamicin (0.049 mg/mL). <b>Conclusions:</b> <i>β</i>-Cyclodextrin encapsulation significantly enhances the stability and bioactivity of volatile antimicrobial compounds, thereby supporting their potential integration into advanced essential oil-based pharmaceutical formulations.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/852<i>β</i>-cyclodextrin<i>Eugenia caryophyllata</i> essential oileugenolcyclodextrin inclusion complexesantimicrobial activity
spellingShingle Alina Ionela Stancu
Magdalena Mititelu
Anton Ficai
Lia-Mara Ditu
Mihaela Buleandră
Irinel Adriana Badea
Elena Pincu
Marius Constantin Stoian
Oana Brîncoveanu
Adina Boldeiu
Eliza Oprea
Comparative Evaluation of <i>β</i>-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes with Eugenol, Eucalyptol, and Clove Essential Oil: Characterisation and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment for Pharmaceutical Applications
Pharmaceutics
<i>β</i>-cyclodextrin
<i>Eugenia caryophyllata</i> essential oil
eugenol
cyclodextrin inclusion complexes
antimicrobial activity
title Comparative Evaluation of <i>β</i>-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes with Eugenol, Eucalyptol, and Clove Essential Oil: Characterisation and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment for Pharmaceutical Applications
title_full Comparative Evaluation of <i>β</i>-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes with Eugenol, Eucalyptol, and Clove Essential Oil: Characterisation and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment for Pharmaceutical Applications
title_fullStr Comparative Evaluation of <i>β</i>-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes with Eugenol, Eucalyptol, and Clove Essential Oil: Characterisation and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment for Pharmaceutical Applications
title_full_unstemmed Comparative Evaluation of <i>β</i>-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes with Eugenol, Eucalyptol, and Clove Essential Oil: Characterisation and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment for Pharmaceutical Applications
title_short Comparative Evaluation of <i>β</i>-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes with Eugenol, Eucalyptol, and Clove Essential Oil: Characterisation and Antimicrobial Activity Assessment for Pharmaceutical Applications
title_sort comparative evaluation of i β i cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with eugenol eucalyptol and clove essential oil characterisation and antimicrobial activity assessment for pharmaceutical applications
topic <i>β</i>-cyclodextrin
<i>Eugenia caryophyllata</i> essential oil
eugenol
cyclodextrin inclusion complexes
antimicrobial activity
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/7/852
work_keys_str_mv AT alinaionelastancu comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications
AT magdalenamititelu comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications
AT antonficai comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications
AT liamaraditu comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications
AT mihaelabuleandra comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications
AT irineladrianabadea comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications
AT elenapincu comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications
AT mariusconstantinstoian comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications
AT oanabrincoveanu comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications
AT adinaboldeiu comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications
AT elizaoprea comparativeevaluationofibicyclodextrininclusioncomplexeswitheugenoleucalyptolandcloveessentialoilcharacterisationandantimicrobialactivityassessmentforpharmaceuticalapplications