Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
2 Department of System Biotechnology, Afzalipour Research Institute (ARI), Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
4 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objective: Medicinal plants are highly significant due to their economic importance and therapeutic applications. The presence of highly valuable bioactive compounds in their extracts has attracted attention. Asafoetida, scientifically known as Ferula assa-foetida, and wormwood, scientifically known as Artemisia sieberi, are commonly used medicinal plants well-known for their disinfectant and antimicrobial properties. However, most bioactive compounds are unstable and can easily degrade under environmental conditions. These medications can serve as safe and effective remedies against a wide range of diseases, especially resistant microbial infections. Encapsulating bioactive materials in coatings or polymers by producing nanoparticles can help overcome this limitation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to produce albumin nanoparticles containing ethanolic extract of asafoetida (bitter) and wormwood and investigate their anti microbial activity.
Methodology: To prepare plant material asafoetida gum, plants were collected in the spring from the city of Ravar located in the northern part of Kerman province. Leaves of the wormwood plant were also collected in the fall from the village of Sirch located in the northeastern part of Kerman province. First, the ethanolic extract of asafoetida powder and wormwood leaf powder was extracted. Ethanolic extract of asafoetida gum powder and dried wormwood leaf powder was obtained. To prepare the ethanolic extract of asafoetida, the gum was powdered and added to 50% ethanol. The resulting mixture was continuously stirred at 50 degrees Celsius for 2 hours and then filtered using Whatman filter paper. To remove ethanol, a rotary evaporator was used under vacuum conditions until a brown solid remained. For the preparation of the ethanolic extract of wormwood, dried leaves were used, and the extraction process was carried out similarly to that of asafoetida. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed to determine the constituents of the herbal extract. Next, the powdered extract was added to an albumin solution and stirred continuously. Glutaraldehyde was also used as a crosslinker. The characteristics of the nanoparticles were then determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Finally, the anti microbial properties of protein nanoparticles containing asafoetida and wormwood extracts were evaluated against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria compared to the pure extract.
Results: The results showed that the protein nanoparticles containing the ethanolic extract of asafoetida and wormwood had average sizes of 50.75 and 122.24 nanometers, respectively, and displayed spherical morphology. GC-MS results indicated antimicrobial compounds in both pure extracts of asafoetida and wormwood. The FTIR analysis of the protein nanoparticles indicated that the nanoparticles containing the wormwood extract had significant amounts of phenolic compounds, alkanes, substituted compounds, and aldehydes. Additionally, the protein nanoparticles containing the asafoetida extract contained phenolic compounds, alkanes, and alkenes. Microbiological testing results showed that the raw extracts of asafoetida and wormwood had significantly lower anti microbial activities. In contrast, albumin nanoparticles containing the asafoetida and wormwood extracts exhibited a high level of antimicrobial effects.
Conclusion: The albumin nanoparticles merged with asafoetida and wormwood not only have a stable physical form but also serve as suitable antimicrobial agents that could be considered in the production of antibiotic medications.
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