<i>Cordyceps militaris</i> Fungus Extracts-Mediated Nanoemulsion for Improvement Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

• Main Authors: Esrat Jahan Rupa, Jin Feng Li, Muhammad Huzaifa Arif, Han Yaxi, Aditi Mitra Puja, Ahn Jong Chan, Van-An Hoang, Lalitha Kaliraj, Deok Chun Yang, Se Chan Kang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: <i>Cordyceps </i>extracts; <i>Cordyceps</i> nanoemulsion; ultra sonication; inflammation; antibacterial; antioxidant
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/23/5733

This study aimed to produce and optimize a <i>Cordyceps militaris</i>-based oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion (NE) encapsulated in sea buckthorn oil (SBT) using an ultrasonication process. Herein, a nonionic surfactant (Tween 80) and chitosan cosurfactant were used as emulsifying agents. The <i>Cordyceps </i>nanoemulsion (COR-NE) was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and field-emission transmission electron microscope (FE-TEM). The DLS analyses revealed that the NE droplets were 87.0 ± 2.1 nm in diameter, with a PDI value of 0.089 ± 0.023, and zeta potential of −26.20 ± 2. The small size, low PDI, and stable zeta potential highlighted the excellent stability of the NE. The NE was tested for stability under different temperature (4°C, 25°C, and 60 °C) and storage conditions for 3 months where 4 °C did not affect the stability. Finally, <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity were assessed. The results suggested that the NE was not toxic to RAW 264.7 or HaCaT (human keratinocyte) cell lines at up to 100 µL/mL. Anti-inflammatory activity in liposaccharides (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells was evident at 50 µg/mL and showed inhibition of NO production and downregulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression. Further, the NE exhibited good antioxidant (2.96 ± 0.10 mg/mL) activity and inhibited <i>E. coli</i> and <i>S. aureus</i> bacterial growth. Overall, the COR-NE had greater efficacy than the free extract and added significant value for future biomedical and cosmetics applications.