Nanoencapsulation of Thymol and Eugenol with Chitosan Nanoparticles and the Effect against <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i>

Essential oils (EOs) are natural bioactive compounds with antibacterial activity against a variety of microorganisms including phytopathogens. The use EOs and their components as viable therapeutic antibacterials is however greatly compromised by volatile nature, hydrophobicity instability when exposed to environmental physiological factors. Encapsulation these in an appropriate carrier system can alleviate challenges. This study therefore aimed at developing, characterizing evaluating the efficacy potential thymol eugenol loaded chitosan nanoparticles (TCNPs ECNPs) Ralstonia solanacearum, bacterial wilt-causing pathogen potatoes. Synthesis TCNP ECNP was achieved via ionic gelation method prepared characterized particle size distributions, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity (LC) in-vitro release characteristics. Antibacterial activities were investigated using agar dilution colony counting methods minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determined 96-well broth micro-dilution method. Scanning electron microscope images TCNPs ECNPs showed that spherical shape well separated average 590 nm 555 respectively. alone 375 nm. efficiency 72.9% for (with 48.3% LC) 71.7% 49.5% LC). from microcapsules found be pH dependent highest 1.5. growth inhibition R. solanacearum 92% 94% MIC before 175 μg/ml 275 respectively, but this reduced significantly 22.5 45 after encapsulation. Thus, has shown promising bactericide alternative could useful managing soil borne phytopathogen.