Properties of <i>Salvia officinalis</i> L. and <i>Thymus serpyllum</i> L. Extracts Free and Embedded into Mesopores of Silica and Titania Nanomaterials
Ana-Maria Brezoiu,
Mioara Prundeanu,
Daniela Berger,
Mihaela Deaconu,
Cristian Matei,
Ovidiu Oprea,
Eugeniu Vasile,
Ticuța Negreanu-Pîrjol,
Delia Muntean,
Corina Danciu
Affiliations
Ana-Maria Brezoiu
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Physical-Chemistry & Electrochemistry, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Mioara Prundeanu
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Physical-Chemistry & Electrochemistry, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Daniela Berger
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Physical-Chemistry & Electrochemistry, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Mihaela Deaconu
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Physical-Chemistry & Electrochemistry, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Cristian Matei
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Physical-Chemistry & Electrochemistry, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Ovidiu Oprea
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Physical-Chemistry & Electrochemistry, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Eugeniu Vasile
Department of Oxide Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Ticuța Negreanu-Pîrjol
Faculty of Pharmacy, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, Aleea Universitatii No. 1, 900470 Constanta, Romania
Delia Muntean
Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Corina Danciu
Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
This study evidenced the nanoconfinement effect on polyphenolic extracts prepared from Salvia officinalis L. and Thymus serpyllum L. into the mesopores of silica and titania nanomaterials on their radical scavenging capacity and antimicrobial potential. The ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts obtained either by conventional or microwave-assisted extraction were characterized in terms of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and chlorophyll content, as well as radical scavenging activity by consecrated spectrometric determinations. The phytochemical fingerprint of extracts was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector. Salvia officinalis extracts exhibited better radical scavenging capacity and antimicrobial potential than Thymus serpyllum extracts. The mesoporous MCM-41 silica and titania nanomaterials, prepared by the sol–gel method, were characterized by small- and wide-angle powder diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, while the materials containing embedded extracts were analyzed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, N2 sorption measurements, and thermal analysis. All extracts free and embedded in mesoporous matrix exhibited high radical scavenger properties and good bactericidal activity against several reference strains. It was proved that by embedding the polyphenolic extracts into mesopores of silica or titania nanoparticles, the phytochemicals stability was enhanced as the materials containing extract exhibited higher radical scavenger activity after 3–6 months storage than that of the free extracts. Additionally, the extract-loaded material showed mild improved antimicrobial activity in comparison with the corresponding free extract.
