Nanoencapsulation of Essential Oils from Polianthes tuberose with the Addition of Eucalyptol as a Potential Therapy for Anosmia due to COVID-19
Quinnike Aisy Maskurin(a*), Intan Salsabila Putri(a), Sania Isma Yanti(a), Indira Prakoso(a), Wenny Bekti Sunarharum(a)

a) Department of Agricultural Product Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia
*wbsunarharum[at]ub.ac.id

Abstract

Olfactory therapy with essential oils can improve the ability to smell and become one of the strategies to relieve anosmia. Tuberose essential oil formulated with eucalyptol can be a new strategy for olfactory therapy by exploring new sources of essential oils. The unstable characteristics of essential oils can be improved by nanoencapsulation. This research was conducted by formulating the essential oil of midnight flower with eucalyptol through sensory testing. The nanoencapsulation process was carried out with nanosilica on a magnetic stirrer for 24 hours. The characteristics of essential oil nanoencapsulation were tested by SEM, chemical component analysis by FTIR and GCMS and stability test by evaporation rate test. The 1:2 formulation (tuberculous flower: eucalyptol) was obtained as the best result of the sensory test. The GCMS and FTIR tests confirmed the main components of the tuberose essential oil formulation and eucalyptol, namely 1,8-cineole which was stable after the nanoencapsulation process. The nanoencapsulation process in formulated essential oils is known to have an average shrinkage percentage (6.664%) which is much lower than essential oils without encapsulation (10.145%). Nanoencapsulation increased the stability and activity of the active components of tuberose essential oil and eucalyptol.

Keywords: 1,8-cineole- eucalyptol- mesoporous nano-silica- nanotechnology- olfactory therapy

Topic: Agricultural sciences and engineering