Evaluation of biological properties of Rosa damascene essential oil nanoemulsion in vitro

In recent years, the use of herbal medicine, as a complementary and effective medicine, is increasing worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of Rosa damascene essential oil nanoemulsion in vitro.

In this experimental study, rose flower was obtained from Barzok area of Kashan and its essential oil was prepared by steam distillation method. The components of the essential oil were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). After preparing essential oil nanoemulsion, the size and morphology of nanoemulsion were examined by zeta test and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. Antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity were tested by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) and MTT (HeLa cancer cells) methods, respectively. Antimicrobial activities against Salmonella Typhimurium were evaluated by disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) by microdilution methods and prevention of biofilm formation.

The most compounds of rose essential oil included Nonadecane (33.55%), Heneicosane (16.03%), Hexadecanal (7.78%) and Eicosane (3.39%). The stability of nanoemulsion was also equal to -47.5 mV. The size of nanoemulsion particles was also confirmed by TEM method. Essential oil nanoemulsion had no antioxidant activity. The MIC and MBC were 350 and 700 µg/ml, respectively. The percentage of biofilm reduction in MIC and MBC concentrations was 75 and 80%, respectively. The concentration of 5.47 µg/mL of nanoemulsion caused a decrease of 67% of living HeLa cells.

With attention to the antibacterial and anticancer properties of rose essential oil nanoemulsion, this compound can be suggested in the treatment of bacterial infections and cancer cells.