Abstract

Encapsulation is becoming increasingly important in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, textile, chemical, biotechnology and medicinal industries, particularly personal care and fragrances, due to its potential for stabilization and delivery of delicate and precious bioactive compounds. During the last decade there has been growing interest in the formulation of new cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products containing natural compounds with antioxidant activity and other beneficial properties. Aromatic and medicinal plants have always been the major source of bioactive molecules. Especially, wild rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) which has been used since ancient times for its valuable health benefits that could be attributed to the richness of polyphenolic compounds, but these molecules are highly vulnerable to oxidants, light, heat, pH, water and enzymatic activities. Therefore, the stability and shelf life of phenolic compounds should be increased by being protected from chemical and physical damage by means of encapsulation prior to application. This mini-review provides an overview of recent advancements in nanotechnology to improve the loading efficiency of rosemary polyphenolic compounds in Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles (SFNs).

Keywords: Rosmarinus officinalis L.; Polyphenolic compounds; Silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs); Nanoencapsulation