Encapsulation in chitosan-based nanomatrix as an efficient green technology to boost the antimicrobial, antioxidant and in situ efficacy of Coriandrum sativum essential oil.

The present investigation deals with first time report on encapsulation of Coriandrum sativum essential oil (CSEO) in chitosan nanomatrix as a green nanotechnology for enhancing its antimicrobial, aflatoxin inhibitory and antioxidant efficacy. Chitosan nano biopolymer entrapped CSEO as prepared through ionic gelation process showed broad spectrum fungitoxicity against molds infesting stored rice and also exhibited enhanced bioefficacy than unencapsulated CSEO. The CSEO entrapped in chitosan nanomatrix lead to decrement in important fungal membrane biomolecule i.e. ergosterol and leakage of UV-absorbing substances along with vital cellular ions. The CSEO encapsulation in selected biopolymer nanomatrix effectively checked methylglyoxal (the aflatoxin inducer) biosynthesis, confirming antiaflatoxigenic mode of action. The physico-chemical properties, considerable decrease in lipid peroxidation and improved in situ AFB₁ suppressive as well as antifungal potential of CSEO nanocapsules suggested the deployment of chitosan based nano biopolymer for encapsulation of essential oils as an ecofriendly technology for application in food industries in order to enhance the shelf life and control the fungal and aflatoxin contamination of stored rice.