Recent Progress in Nanoemulsion–Loaded Herbal Creams for Enhanced Skin Delivery: A Comprehensive Review
Main Article Content
Abstract
Nanoemulsion formulations have emerged as an effective strategy to enhance the stability and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs, particularly in cosmetic and dermatological applications. Owing to their small droplet size, nanoemulsions facilitate improved skin penetration and prolonged therapeutic action. This study presents an overview of herbal nanoemulsion-based delivery systems, emphasizing formulation techniques, preparation methods, and key characterization parameters such as particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, viscosity, and stability.
The present work focuses on the development of a polyherbal anti-acne formulation incorporating neem (Azadirachta indica) and aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller), both known for their significant therapeutic properties. Neem contains bioactive compounds such as azadirachtin, nimbidin, and flavonoids, which exhibit potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities. Aloe vera is rich in polysaccharides, vitamins, and bioactive constituents that promote wound healing, hydration, and anti-inflammatory effects. The combination of these botanicals provides synergistic benefits in acne management by reducing microbial colonization, alleviating inflammation, and enhancing skin repair.
The formulated cream was evaluated for physicochemical parameters including pH, viscosity, spreadability, and stability, along with its antimicrobial activity against acne-causing microorganisms. The results indicated that the formulation possessed favorable consistency, acceptable pH, and significant antibacterial efficacy.
In conclusion, the developed herbal nanoemulsion-based formulation demonstrates potential as a safe, effective, and eco-friendly alternative to conventional synthetic treatments. Further studies involving clinical evaluation and large-scale production are recommended to support its commercialization and broader application in herbal skincare products.
Article Details
Section

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
All articles published in the Pan-African Journal of Health and Psychological Sciences (PAJHPS) are open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Under this license:
-
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication.
-
The work may be shared, copied, redistributed, and adapted for any purpose, even commercially.
-
Appropriate credit must be given to the original author(s) and the journal, along with a link to the license.
-
Users must indicate if changes were made.
-
There are no restrictions on reuse, provided the original work is properly cited.
Citation:
Authors and users must cite the original work in the following manner:
Author(s). (Year). Title of the article. Pan-African Journal of Health and Psychological Sciences, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/pajhps.vXnY.xxx
Copyright Statement:
Authors grant PAJHPS a non-exclusive license to publish the work and identify itself as the original publisher. Authors may enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version (e.g., post it to a repository or publish it in a book), with acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
How to Cite
References
1. Enhance the antileishmanial activity of Copaifera paupera Oleoresins. Biomed Res Int 2018:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9781724
2. Sadurní N, Solans C, Azemar N, García-Celma MJ (2005) Studies on the formation of O/W nano-emulsions, by low-energy emulsification methods, suitable for pharmaceutical applications. Eur J Pharm Sci 26:438–445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2005.08.001
3. Jerobin J, Sureshkumar RS, Anjali CH et al (2012) Biodegradable polymer based encapsulation of neem oil nanoemulsion for controlled release of Aza-A. Carbohydr Polym 90:1750–1756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.07.064
4. McClements DJ (2011) Edible nanoemulsions: fabrication, properties, and functional performance. Soft Matter 7:2297–2316. https://doi.org/10.1039/C0SM00549E
5. Walker RM, Decker EA, McClements DJ (2015) Physical and oxidative stability of fish oil nanoemulsions produced by spontaneous emulsification: effect of surfactant concentration and particle size. J Food Eng 164:10–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2015.04.028
6. Ozogul Y, Yuvka İ, Ucar Y et al (2017) Evaluation of effects of nanoemulsion based on herb essential oils (rosemary, laurel, thyme and sage) on sensory, chemical and microbiological quality of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets during ice storage. LWT – Food Sci Technol 75:677–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2016.10.009
7. Al-Adham ISI, Khalil E, Al-Hmoud ND et al (2000) Microemulsions are membrane-active, antimicrobial, self-preserving systems. J Appl Microbiol 89:32–39. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.2000.01078.x
8. Jaiswal M, Dudhe R, Sharma PK (2015) Nanoemulsion: an advanced mode of drug delivery system. 3 Biotech 5:123–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-014-0214-0
9. Chime SA, Kenechukwu FC, Attama AA (2014) Nanoemulsions — advances in formulation, characterization and applications in drug delivery. In: Application of nanotechnology in drug delivery. InTech
10. Mukherjee PK, Harwansh RK, Bhattacharyya S (2015) Bioavailability of herbal products. In: Evidence-based validation of herbal medicine. Elsevier, pp 217–245
11. Harwansh RK, Deshmukh R, Rahman MA (2019) Nanoemulsion: promising nanocarrier system for delivery of herbal bioactives. J Drug Delivery Sci Technol 51:224–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2019.03.006
12. Yukuyama MN, Kato ETM, Löbenberg R, Bou-Chacra NA (2017) Challenges and future prospects of nanoemulsion as a drug delivery system. Curr Pharm Des 23:495–508. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666161027111957
13. Zhang L, Zhang L, Zhang M et al (2015) Self-emulsifying drug delivery system and the applications in herbal drugs. Drug Deliv 22:475–486. https://doi.org/10.3109/10717544.2013.861659
14. Harwansh RK, Mukherjee PK, Biswas S (2017) Nanoemulsion as a novel carrier system for improvement of betulinic acid oral bioavailability and hepatoprotective activity. J Mol Liq 237:361–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2017.04.051
15. Yukuyama MN, Ghisleni DDM, Pinto TJA, Bou-Chacra NA (2016) Nanoemulsion: process selection and application in cosmetics – a review. Int J Cosmet Sci 38:13–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12260
16. Rates SM (2001) Plants as source of drugs. Toxicon 39:603–613. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0041-0101(00)00154-9
17. Gumus ZP, Guler E, Demir B et al (2015) Herbal infusions of black seed and wheat germ oil: their chemical profiles, in vitro bio-investigations and effective formulations as phyto-nanoemulsions. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 133:73–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2015.05.044
18. Shu Y-Z (1998) Recent natural products based drug development: a pharmaceutical industry perspective. J Nat Prod 61:1053–1071. https://doi.org/10.1021/np9800102
19. Williamson EM, Okpako DT, Evans FJ (1996) Selection, preparation and pharmacological evaluation of plant material, 1st edn. Wiley, Chichester
20. Ajazuddin SS (2010) Applications of novel drug delivery system for herbal formulations. Fitoterapia 81:680–689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2010.05.001
21. Piazzini V, Monteforte E, Luceri C et al (2017) Nanoemulsion for improving solubility and permeability of Vitex agnus-castus extract: formulation and in vitro evaluation using PAMPA and Caco-2 approaches. Drug Deliv 24:380–390. https://doi.org/10.1080/10717544.2016.1256002
22. Aburjai T, Natsheh FM (2003) Plants used in cosmetics. Phytother Res 17:987–1000. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1363
23. Kuno N, Matsumoto M (2002) Skin-beautifying agent, anti-aging agent for the skin, whitening agent and external agent for the skin. 33
24. Thornfeldt C (2006) Cosmeceuticals containing herbs: fact, fiction, and future. Dermatol Surg 31:873–881. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31734
25. Mazumder R, Dastidar SG, Basu SP et al (2004) Antibacterial potentiality of Mesua ferrea Linn. flowers. Phytother Res 18:824–826. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1572
26. Ramos-e-Silva M, da Silva Carneiro SC (2007) Elderly skin and its rejuvenation: products and procedures for the aging skin. J Cosmet Dermatol 6:40–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2007.00289.x
27. Afaq F, Mukhtar H (2006) Botanical antioxidants in the prevention of photocarcinogenesis and photoaging. Exp Dermatol 15:678–684. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0625.2006.00466.x
28. F’guyer S, Afaq F, Mukhtar H (2003) Photochemoprevention of skin cancer by botanical agents. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 19:56–72. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0781.2003.00019.x
29. Mireles-Rocha H, Galindo I, Huerta M et al (2002) UVB photoprotection with antioxidants: effects of oral therapy with d-α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on the minimal erythema dose. Acta Derm Venereol 82:21–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/000155502753600830
30. Naik SR, Pilgaonkar VW, Panda VS (2006) Evaluation of antioxidant activity of Ginkgo biloba phytosomes in rat brain. Phytother Res 20:1013–1016. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1976
31. Chanchal D, Swarnlata S (2008) Novel approaches in herbal cosmetics. J Cosmet Dermatol 7:89–95. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2008.00369.x
32. Čilek A, Čelebi N, Tirnaksiz F (2006) Lecithin-based microemulsion of a peptide for oral administration: preparation, characterization, and physical stability of the formulation. Drug Deliv 13:19–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10717540500313109
33. Hu L, Yang J, Liu W, Li L (2011) Preparation and evaluation of ibuprofen-loaded microemulsion for improvement of oral bioavailability. Drug Deliv 18:90–95. https://doi.org/10.3109/10717544.2010.522613
34. Sermkaew N, Ketjinda W, Boonme P et al (2013) Liquid and solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems for improving the oral bioavailability of andrographolide from a crude extract of Andrographis paniculata. Eur J Pharm Sci 50:459–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2013.08.006
35. Bergonzi MC, Hamdouch R, Mazzacuva F et al (2014) Optimization, characterization and in vitro evaluation of curcumin microemulsions. LWT – Food Sci Technol 59:148–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2014.06.009
36. Akhtar J, Siddiqui HH, Fareed S et al (2016) Nanoemulsion: for improved oral delivery of repaglinide. Drug Deliv 23:2026–2034. https://doi.org/10.3109/10717544.2015.1077290
37. Sunintaboon P, Pumduang K, Vongsetskul T et al (2012) One-step preparation of chitosan/sodium dodecyl sulfate-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion of Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. oil extract. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 414:151–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2012.07.031
38. Shen Q, Wang Y, Zhang Y (2011) Improvement of colchicine oral bioavailability by incorporating eugenol in the nanoemulsion as an oil excipient and enhancer. Int J Nanomedicine:1237. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S20903
39. Silva APC, Nunes BR, De Oliveira MC et al (2009) Development of topical nanoemulsions containing the isoflavone genistein. Pharmazie 64:32–35. https://doi.org/10.1691/ph.2009.8150
40. Wang X, Jiang Y, Wang Y-W et al (2008) Enhancing anti-inflammation activity of curcumin through O/W nanoemulsions. Food Chem 108:419–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.10.086
41. Zülli F, Belser E, Schmid D et al (2006) Preparation and properties of coenzyme Q10 nanoemulsions. Cosmet Sci Technol:1–6
42. Pant M, Dubey S, Patanjali PK et al (2014) Insecticidal activity of eucalyptus oil nanoemulsion with karanja and jatropha aqueous filtrates. Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 91:119–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2013.11.019
43. Sugumar S, Clarke SK, Nirmala MJ et al (2014) Nanoemulsion of eucalyptus oil and its larvicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus. Bull Entomol Res 104:393–402. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485313000710
44. Nagi A, Iqbal B, Kumar S et al (2017) Quality by design based silymarin nanoemulsion for enhancement of oral bioavailability. J Drug Delivery Sci Technol 40:35–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2017.05.019
45. Fofaria NM, Qhattal HSS, Liu X, Srivastava SK (2016) Nanoemulsion formulations for anti-cancer agent piplartine—characterization, toxicological, pharmacokinetics and efficacy studies. Int J Pharm 498:12–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.11.045
46. Ahmad E, Feng Y, Qi J et al (2017) Evidence of nose-to-brain delivery of nanoemulsions: cargoes but not vehicles. Nanoscale 9:1174–1183. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6NR07581A
47. Ribeiro R, Barreto S, Ostrosky E et al (2015) Production and characterization of cosmetic nanoemulsions containing Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) mill extract as moisturizing agent. Molecules 20:2492–2509. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules20022492
48. Osanloo M, Amani A, Sereshti H et al (2017) Preparation and optimization nanoemulsion of Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) essential oil as effective herbal larvicide against Anopheles stephensi. Ind Crop Prod 109:214–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.08.037
49. Anjali C, Sharma Y, Mukherjee A, Chandrasekaran N (2012) Neem oil (Azadirachta indica) nanoemulsion-a potent larvicidal agent against Culex quinquefasciatus. Pest Manag Sci 68:158–163. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.2233
50. Mostafa DM, Abd El-Alim SH, Asfour MH et al (2015) Transdermal nanoemulsions of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. essential oil: preparation, characterization and evaluation of antidiabetic potential. J Drug Delivery Sci Technol 29:99–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2015.06.021
51. Kotta S, Khan AW, Pramod K et al (2012) Exploring oral nanoemulsions for bioavailability enhancement of poorly water-soluble drugs. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 9:585–598. https://doi.org/10.1517/17425247.2012.668523
52. Harwansh RK, Deshmukh R, Barkat MA, Rahman MA (2019) Bioinspired polymeric-based core-shell smart nano-systems. Pharm Nanotechnol 7:181–205. https://doi.org/10.2174/2211738507666190429104550
53. Szakács G, Paterson JK, Ludwig JA et al (2006) Targeting multidrug resistance in cancer. Nat Rev Drug Discov 5:219–234. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd1984
54. Sahu BP, Hazarika H, Bharadwaj R et al (2016) Curcumin-docetaxel co-loaded nanosuspension for enhanced anti-breast cancer activity. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 13:1065–1074. https://doi.org/10.1080/17425247.2016.1182486
55. Rose D (1999) Omega-3 fatty acids as cancer chemopreventive agents. Pharmacol Ther 83:217–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0163-7258(99)00026-1
56. Bajerski L, Michels LR, Colomé LM et al (2016) The use of Brazilian vegetable oils in nanoemulsions: an update on preparation and biological applications. Brazilian J Pharm Sci 52:347–363. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-82502016000300001
57. Amiji M, Tiwari S (2006) Nanoemulsion formulations for tumor-targeted delivery. In: Nanotechnology for cancer therapy. CRC Press, pp 723–739
58. Sahu P, Das D, Mishra VK et al (2017) Nanoemulsion: a novel eon in cancer chemotherapy. Mini Rev Med Chem 17. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389557516666160219122755
59. Mahato R (2017) Nanoemulsion as targeted drug delivery system for cancer therapeutics. J Pharm Sci Pharmacol 3:83–97. https://doi.org/10.1166/jpsp.2017.1082
60. Greish K (2007) Enhanced permeability and retention of macromolecular drugs in solid tumors: a royal gate for targeted anticancer nanomedicines. J Drug Target 15:457–464. https://doi.org/10.1080/10611860701539584
61. Cho HT, Salvia-Trujillo L, Kim J et al (2014) Droplet size and composition of nutraceutical nanoemulsions influences bioavailability of long chain fatty acids and Coenzyme Q10. Food Chem 156:117–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.01.084
62. Li Y-J, Hu X-B, Lu X-L et al (2017) Nanoemulsion-based delivery system for enhanced oral bioavailability and Caco-2 cell monolayers permeability of berberine hydrochloride. Drug Deliv 24:1868–1873. https://doi.org/10.1080/10717544.2017.1410257
63. Muhamad N, Plengsuriyakarn T, Na-Bangchang K (2018) Application of active targeting nanoparticle delivery system for chemotherapeutic drugs and traditional/herbal medicines in cancer therapy: a systematic review. Int J Nanomedicine 13:3921–3935. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S165210
64. Neubert RHH (2011) Potentials of new nanocarriers for dermal and transdermal drug delivery. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 77:1–2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2010.11.003
65. Weiss SC (2011) Conventional topical delivery systems. Dermatol Ther 24:471–476. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8019.2012.01458.x
66. Yilmaz E, Borchert H-H (2006) Effect of lipid-containing, positively charged nanoemulsions on skin hydration, elasticity and erythema—an in vivo study. Int J Pharm 307:232–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2005.10.002
67. Lerma-García MJ, Herrero-Martínez JM, Simó-Alfonso EF et al (2009) Composition, industrial processing and applications of rice bran γ-oryzanol. Food Chem 115:389–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.01.063
68. Bernardi DS, Pereira TA, Maciel NR et al (2011) Formation and stability of oil-in-water nanoemulsions containing rice bran oil: in vitro and in vivo assessments. J Nanobiotechnol 9:44. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-3155-9-44
69. Sharma B, Iqbal B, Kumar S et al (2019) Resveratrol-loaded nanoemulsion gel system to ameliorate UV-induced oxidative skin damage: from in vitro to in vivo investigation of antioxidant activity enhancement. Arch Dermatol Res 311:773–793. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-019-01964-3
70. Salem AK, Searson PC, Leong KW (2003) Multifunctional nanorods for gene delivery. Nat Mater 2:668–671. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat974
71. Ahad A, Aqil M, Ali A (2016) The application of anethole, menthone, and eugenol in transdermal penetration of valsartan: enhancement and mechanistic investigation. Pharm Biol 54:1042–1051. https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2015.1100639
72. Nastiti C, Ponto T, Abd E et al (2017) Topical nano and microemulsions for skin delivery. Pharmaceutics 9:37. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics9040037
73. Lee VHL, Yamamoto A (1989) Penetration and enzymatic barriers to peptide and protein absorption. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 4:171–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-409X(89)90018-5
74. Yin Y-M, Cui F-D, Mu C-F et al (2009) Docetaxel microemulsion for enhanced oral bioavailability: preparation and in vitro and in vivo evaluation. J Control Release 140:86–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2009.08.015
75. Yen C-C, Chen Y-C, Wu M-T et al (2018) Nanoemulsion as a strategy for improving the oral bioavailability and anti-inflammatory activity of andrographolide. Int J Nanomedicine 13:669–680. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S154824
76. Parveen R, Baboota S, Ali J et al (2011) Oil based nanocarrier for improved oral delivery of silymarin: in vitro and in vivo studies. Int J Pharm 413:245–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2011.04.041
77. Cornaire G, Woodley J, Hermann P et al (2004) Impact of excipients on the absorption of P-glycoprotein substrates in vitro and in vivo. Int J Pharm 278:119–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2004.03.001
78. Yoshida N, Koizumi M, Adachi I, Kawakami J (2006) Inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated transport by terpenoids contained in herbal medicines and natural products. Food Chem Toxicol 44:2033–2039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2006.07.003
79. Sood S, Jain K, Gowthamarajan K (2014) Optimization of curcumin nanoemulsion for intranasal delivery using design of experiment and its toxicity assessment. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 113:330–337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2013.09.030
80. Bonferoni M, Rossi S, Sandri G et al (2019) Nanoemulsions for “nose-to-brain” drug delivery. Pharmaceutics 11:84. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics11020084
81. Marchal-Heussler L, Sirbat D, Hoffman M, Maincent P (1993) Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) nanocapsules in carteolol ophthalmic delivery. Pharm Res 10:386–390. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1018936205485
82. Naveh N, Muchtar S, Benita S (1994) Pilocarpine incorporated into a submicron emulsion vehicle causes an unexpectedly prolonged ocular hypotensive effect in rabbits. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 10:509–520. https://doi.org/10.1089/jop.1994.10.509
83. Shinde RL, Bharkad GP, Devarajan PV (2015) Intranasal microemulsion for targeted nose to brain delivery in neurocysticercosis: role of docosahexaenoic acid. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 96:363–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2015.08.008
84. Colombo M, Melchiades G de L, Figueiró F et al (2017) Validation of an HPLC-UV method for analysis of Kaempferol-loaded nanoemulsion and its application to in vitro and in vivo tests. J Pharm Biomed Anal 145:831–837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2017.07.046
85. Al-Majed AA, Al-Omar FA, Nagi MN (2006) Neuroprotective effects of thymoquinone against transient forebrain ischemia in the rat hippocampus. Eur J Pharmacol 543:40–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.05.046
86. Ahmad N, Ahmad R, Alam MA et al (2016) Quantification and evaluation of thymoquinone loaded mucoadhesive nanoemulsion for treatment of cerebral ischemia. Int J Biol Macromol 88:320–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.03.019
87. Yin Y-M, Cui F-D, Mu C-F et al (2009) Docetaxel microemulsion for enhanced oral bioavailability: preparation and in vitro and in vivo evaluation. J Control Release 140:86–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2009.08.015
88. Yen C-C, Chen Y-C, Wu M-T et al (2018) Nanoemulsion as a strategy for improving the oral bioavailability and anti-inflammatory activity of andrographolide. Int J Nanomedicine 13:669–680. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S154824
89. Parveen R, Baboota S, Ali J et al (2011) Oil based nanocarrier for improved oral delivery of silymarin: in vitro and in vivo studies. Int J Pharm 413:245–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2011.04.041
90. Cornaire G, Woodley J, Hermann P et al (2004) Impact of excipients on the absorption of P-glycoprotein substrates in vitro and in vivo. Int J Pharm 278:119–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2004.03.001
91. Yoshida N, Koizumi M, Adachi I, Kawakami J (2006) Inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated transport by terpenoids contained in herbal medicines and natural products. Food Chem Toxicol 44:2033–2039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2006.07.003
92. Sood S, Jain K, Gowthamarajan K (2014) Optimization of curcumin nanoemulsion for intranasal delivery using design of experiment and its toxicity assessment. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 113:330–337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2013.09.030
93. Bonferoni M, Rossi S, Sandri G et al (2019) Nanoemulsions for “nose-to-brain” drug delivery. Pharmaceutics 11:84. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics11020084
94. Marchal-Heussler L, Sirbat D, Hoffman M, Maincent P (1993) Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) nanocapsules in carteolol ophthalmic delivery. Pharm Res 10:386–390. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1018936205485
95. Naveh N, Muchtar S, Benita S (1994) Pilocarpine incorporated into a submicron emulsion vehicle causes an unexpectedly prolonged ocular hypotensive effect in rabbits. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 10:509–520. https://doi.org/10.1089/jop.1994.10.509
96. Shinde RL, Bharkad GP, Devarajan PV (2015) Intranasal microemulsion for targeted nose to brain delivery in neurocysticercosis: role of docosahexaenoic acid. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 96:363–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2015.08.008
97. Colombo M, Melchiades G de L, Figueiró F et al (2017) Validation of an HPLC-UV method for analysis of Kaempferol-loaded nanoemulsion and its application to in vitro and in vivo tests. J Pharm Biomed Anal 145:831–837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2017.07.046
98. Al-Majed AA, Al-Omar FA, Nagi MN (2006) Neuroprotective effects of thymoquinone against transient forebrain ischemia in the rat hippocampus. Eur J Pharmacol 543:40–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.05.046
99. Ahmad N, Ahmad R, Alam MA et al (2016) Quantification and evaluation of thymoquinone loaded mucoadhesive nanoemulsion for treatment of cerebral ischemia. Int J Biol Macromol 88:320–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.03.019
100. Tyagi BK (2016) Advances in vector mosquito control technologies, with particular reference to herbal products. In: Herbal insecticides, repellents and biomedicines: effectiveness and commercialization. Springer, New Delhi, pp 1–9
101. Tiuman TS, Santos AO, Ueda-Nakamura T et al (2011) Recent advances in leishmaniasis treatment. Int J Infect Dis 15:e525–e532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2011.03.021
102. Oliveira AEMFM, Duarte JL, Amado JRR et al (2016) Development of a larvicidal nanoemulsion with pterodon emarginatus vogel oil. PLoS One 11:e0145835. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0145835
103. Sogan N, Kapoor N, Kala S et al (2018) Larvicidal activity of castor oil nanoemulsion against malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies. Int J Mosq Res 5:1–6
104. Odriozola-Serrano I, Oms-Oliu G, Martìn-Belloso O (2014) Nanoemulsion-based delivery systems to improve functionality of lipophilic components. Front Nutr 1. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2014.00024
105. Anwer MK, Jamil S, Ibnouf EO, Shakeel F (2014) Enhanced antibacterial effects of clove essential oil by nanoemulsion. J Oleo Sci 63:347–354
106. Salvia-Trujillo L, Rojas-Graü MA, Soliva-Fortuny R, Martín-Belloso O (2015) Use of antimicrobial nanoemulsions as edible coatings: impact on safety and quality attributes of fresh-cut Fuji apples. Postharvest Biol Technol 105:8–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2015.03.009
107. Shao Y, Wu C, Wu T et al (2018) Eugenol-chitosan nanoemulsions by ultrasound-mediated emulsification: formulation, characterization and antimicrobial activity. Carbohydr Polym 193:144–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.03.101
108. Goldman P (2001) Herbal medicines today and the roots of modern pharmacology. Ann Intern Med 135:594. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-135-8_Part_1-200110160-00010
109. Ganta S, Talekar M, Singh A et al (2014) Nanoemulsions in translational research—opportunities and challenges in targeted cancer therapy. AAPS PharmSciTech 15:694–708. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-014-0088-9
110. Rasmussen K, González M, Kearns P et al (2016) Review of achievements of the OECD working party on manufactured nanomaterials’ testing and assessment programme. From exploratory testing to test guidelines. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 74:147–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2015.11.004