Synthesis and characterization of menthol- and thymol-loaded nanoliposomes with potent antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticancer properties.

High colloidal and monodispersed nanoliposomes (NLPs) loaded with menthol (M-NLPs), thymol (T-NLPs) and their combination (MT-NLPs) were synthesized by the simple and efficient method of ethanol injection. HPLC studies clarified maximum loading concentrations of 13.7 and 11.3 mg mL-1 followed by zero-order kinetic model of 60.5% release and first-order kinetic model of 64.6% release of menthol and thymol, respectively. MTT assay revealed high biocompatibility of all NLPs and their significant anticancer activity, in vitro. ABTS and DPPH assays showed high antioxidant activity of 93.2% for M-NLPs after 5 months. The sustained and prominent antibacterial activity with MIC value of 0.312 mg mL-1 obtained against E. coli and S. aureus using M-NLPs, T-NLPs, and MT-NLPs. Complete growth inhibition of A. niger, A. flavus, and A. terreus obtained at 0.25 mg mL-1 of MT-NLPs. Overall results indicated high potential of the liposomal formulations for food and agricultural applications, especially as food additive.