Encapsulation of Essential Oils of Mentha pulegium and Ferula gummosa Using Nanoliposome Technology as a Safe Botanical Pesticide

Introduction: Recent researches have shown that many plant essential oils (EOs) have a high potential for controlling agricultural pests and can be used as precursors for synthesis of new pesticides. The major limitations for the use of these compounds are rapid evaporation, poor water solubility, and aptitude for oxidation. The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize nanoliposome containing EOs of Mentha pulegium and Ferula gummosa and fumigant toxicity of nanoliposome containing M. pulegium EO against Tribolium castaneum. Materials and Methods: In this study, nanoliposome containing EOs of M. pulegium and F. gummosa were prepared using heating method and its physicochemical properties were evaluated. Also, the impact of fumigant toxicity of M. pulegium EO nanoliposome on M. castaneum was investigated. Results: Results showed that mean (±SD) particles of nanoliposome containing M. pulegium and F. gummosa EOs were 345±3.2 and 309±1.67 nm and their encapsulation efficiency (EE) were 99.38±0.24% and 96.41±0.26, respectively. The kind of EOs had no significant effect on the physicochemical property of nanoparticles. At the end of 24 hours, the release percentage of EOs of nanoliposomes of M. Pulegium and F. gummosa were 46% and 33 %, respectively. The estimated LC50 values for nanoliposome and crude EOs of M. Pulegium against T. castaneum were 36.53 and 75.23 µI/I air, respectively. Conclusions: The results of the current research showed that release and stability of EOs were significantly affected when change to nanoliposome particles. Also, M. pulegium EO nanoliposome showed enhancing fumigant toxicity against T. castaneum in comparison with the crude EO of this plant.