Retention of antibacterial and antioxidant properties of lemongrass oil loaded on cellulose nanofibre-poly ethylene glycol composite

The lemongrass oil (LgEo) exhibits excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties. However, low aqueous solubility and instability of its major constituents reduced the retention of these properties for the longer time. Hence, LgEo loaded composites of cellulose nanofibres (CNFs)- polyethylene glycol (PEG) were fabricated through melt and mixing process and sustainability of their antioxidant and antibacterial properties was assessed. The interaction of essential oil with composite systems was evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and quantification of released major compounds up to 120 days was done by Solid phase micro extraction/Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (SPME/GC–MS) methods. Results suggested that composite systems were able to sustained major compounds of lemongrass essential oil (geranial, neral and geranyl acetate) up to 120 days and followed Pseudo Fickian diffusion of aroma molecules. In vitro study of total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic, free radical scavenging efficiency and antibacterial properties (against S. aureus and E. coli) of the composites were suggested that composite system retained the properties of the pure lemongrass oil. These results indicate that fabricated scented composites can be used further in various industrial applications such as indoor air quality improvement materials and food storage.