Nanoemulsion and nanogel containing Artemisia dracunculus essential oil; larvicidal effect and antibacterial activity

OBJECTIVE: Microbial infections and mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, with 627 k deaths in 2020, are still major public health challenges. RESULTS: This study prepared nanoemulsion and nanogel containing Artemisia dracunculus essential oil. ATR-FTIR analysis (Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform InfraRed) confirmed the successful loading of the essential oil in nanoemulsion and nanogel. LC50 values (Lethal Concentration 50%) of nanogel and nanoemulsion against Anopheles stephensi larvae were obtained as 6.68 (2–19 µg/mL) and 13.53 (7–25 µg/mL). Besides, the growth of Staphylococcus aureus after treatment with 5000 μg/mL nanogel and nanoemulsion was reduced by ~ 70%. However, about 20% growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was reduced at this dose. Considering the proper efficacy of the nanogel as a larvicide and proper antibacterial effect against S. aureus, it could be considered for further investigations against other mosquitoes’ larvae and gram-positive bacteria.