Research Progress on Extraction and Encapsulation of Plant Active Essential Oils

The Chinese Materia Medica Industry Technology System and the Chinese Medicine Biotechnology Team of the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University made progress on the extraction and encapsulation of plant active essential oils. Their work has been published on the renowned journal Materials Today entitled "Breakthroughs in extraction and encapsulation of volatile oil and essential oil for superior functionalities".

Volatile oil (also known as essential oil in some studies) is rich in terpenoids, alcohols, and other bioactive components and is widely used in medicine, food, cosmetics, and agriculture. The Rutaceae, Lamiaceae, and Cruciferae families are common sources of plant volatile oil, with terpenoids being the main component. However, high volatility, low water solubility, and photosensitivity and thermosensitivity greatly limit the practical application of essential oil. Extraction and separation techniques such as supercritical fluid extraction and solvent-free microwave extraction combined with ultrasonic pretreatment can effectively increase the extraction rate of essential oil. Encapsulation methods such as nanocapsules and liposomes can effectively improve the stability and bioactivity of volatile oil. At the application level, nanoemulsions and Pickering emulsions perform well in skin care. Nanoparticles and nanocapsules are widely used in textiles and food flavoring, and nanogels have become a new carrier for drug delivery. These forms have comprehensively broken through the limitations of essential oil application. This article has broken through the limitations of traditional single research by constructing a multi-dimensional research framework of "chemical composition - extraction technology - encapsulation process - diversified application", providing new perspectives and theoretical support for research and industrial development in the field of volatile oil and essential oil.

Bo Yaping, a master's student at the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology is the first author of the paper. Professors Gao Wenyuan and Wang Juan from the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, and Researcher Guo Lanping from the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, are the co-corresponding authors of this research.

Paper link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369702125003426

By: School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology

Editor: Sun Xiaofang