Evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Carum copticum L. essential oil encapsulated in electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers

The objective of this research was to nanoencapsulate ajwain (Carum copticum L.) essential oil (EO) in cellulose acetate (CA) using the electrospinning technique and evaluate its antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The main components of ajwain EO were thymol, p-cymene, and gamma- terpinene. A zeta potential of -40.11, -37.85, -35.50, and -31.74 mV was found for nanofibers of pure CA, CA/EO 1%, 2.5%, and 5%, respectively. According to SEM images, CA electrospun nanofiber loaded with different concentrations of ajwain EO had nano-scale size and uniform morphology. The antibacterial activity enhanced with higher concentrations of EO, and it was higher for nanoencapsulated EO at the same concentration. The fibers loaded with EO were effective against the microbial strains according to the following decreasing order: E. coli > S. enteritidis > S. dysenteriae > L. monocytogenes > S. aureus. Results of the antioxidant assays showed that the ABTS and DPPH scavenging capacity and reduction potential of Fe3+ of free and nanoencapsulated EO were as follows: CA/EO 5% = CA/EO 2.5% > EO 5% > CA/EO 1% > EO 2.5% > EO 1%. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of all EO-loaded CA nanofibers were higher than free EO.

Automated summary

The objective of this research was to encapsulate ajwain essential oil in cellulose acetate using electrospinning technique and evaluate its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The electrospun nanofibers loaded with ajwain essential oil showed enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant activities compared to the free essential oil.