Production and Characterisation of Microencapsulated Particles of Harugana madagascariensis: a Natural Fungicide with an Improved Delivery Potential

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are caused by non-pathogenic fungi in the immunocompromised host. However, ethnobotanical information suggests that Harugana madagascariensis (HM-E) is one of the medicinal plants used to treat IFI in Southern Nigeria. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of HM-E and microencapsulated extract of H. madagascariensis (HM-M) on Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus spp as well as the influence of microencapsulation on the biological activity of HM-E. The microencapsulation was done using a modified coacervation process, antifungal screening was carried out using an agar disc model, characterization of the microparticles was done using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). The encapsulation efficiency of HM-M was observed to be 72.45 with a solubility value of 97.95%. SEM showed that HM-M particles exhibited relatively similar sizes, an irregular surface structure, and deep depressions in the walls. EDX analysis of HM-E at spot 1 revealed the presence of oxygen and carbon. Also, A. niger was resistant to HM- E and HM-M at 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL, while no growth of Rhizopus spp was observed with HM-E and HM-M at 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, Rhizopus sp was observed to be sensitive to HM-E and HM-M at both 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL, in a concentration-dependent manner. The findings support the usage of HM and encourage microencapsulation of HM to improve drug delivery and acceptability in the treatment of Rhizopus sp-induced IFI.