# Antifungal and biodegradable nanoencapsulation of Smallanthus Sonchifolius essential oil for improved stability and sustained release

## TL;DR

Researchers created biodegradable nanocapsules to protect and slowly release an antifungal essential oil, improving its effectiveness against plant pathogens.

## Contribution

The study introduces a biodegradable and photostable nanoencapsulation method for an essential oil with strong antifungal properties.

## Key findings

- Nanoencapsulation achieved 98% efficiency and improved photostability of the essential oil.
- The nanoencapsulated oil inhibited Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Valsa mali by over 90% in vitro and in vivo.

## Abstract

Phytopathogenic fungi pose a serious threat to global crop productivity, necessitating sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides.

This study developed poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanospheres encapsulating essential oil extracted from Smallanthus sonchifolius tubers (SsEO) to enhance antifungal stability and efficacy.

The nanospheres exhibited a high encapsulation efficiency of 98%, significantly improved the photostability of SsEO by protecting it from UV-induced degradation, and provided a sustained-release profile that extended its functional longevity. In vitro assays showed that the nanoencapsulated SsEO inhibited Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Valsa mali by 93.6% and 56.9%, respectively, while in vivo inhibition rates reached 94.45% and 92.5%.

These findings demonstrate that biodegradable, photoprotective PCL nanospheres offer a promising eco-friendly strategy for plant pathogen management, reducing reliance on chemical fungicides, and minimizing environmental impact.environmental impact.