Nanoencapsulation of essential oils with enhanced antimicrobial activity: A new way of combating antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

Microorganisms have over the years evolved and developed resistance to available antimicrobials. This has cause a great impact to the world over health wise and socioeconomically. They are developing resistance at a very fast rate that current technologies and new drug developments in the pharmaceutical industries are unable to catch up. Therefore, alternative technologies and new drug innovations are necessary to find lasting solution to this problem. And one such technology could be nanoencapsulation of bioactive compounds with highlighted antimicrobial activities. Plants and their constituents, like essential oils, can be a great source of unique bioactive compounds that will be able to tackle this growing drug resistance of pathogenic microorganisms that threaten the very existence of humankind. Nanoencapsulation is one part of nanotechnology that has seen growing application in several industries including pharmaceuticals and medicine, with resultant great impact. This review focus mainly on application of encapsulated essential oils as a possible solution to drug resistance of some microbes by enhancement of their antimicrobial activities.