Preparation of Cinnamomum camphora essential oil microcapsules using gelatin/gum arabic and evaluation of their antifungal effects on Fusarium spp.

We developed a complex coacervation method of preparing Cinnamomum camphora essential oil (CEO) microcapsules using gelatin and gum arabic as wall materials. The microencapsulation process was optimized using Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken designs with a maximum yield of 84.48 ± 3.15 % and encapsulation efficiency of 91.89 ± 2.71 %. The thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the microencapsulation process clearly enhanced the thermal stability of the CEO, and assessment of their controlled-release ability revealed that the release mechanism of the microcapsules resembled diffusion. The CEO microcapsules exhibited effective antifungal activity against Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium sporotrichioides, and the inhibitory effect was highly correlated with the fumigation concentration of the microcapsules. This study provides valuable information for utilizing microcapsule carriers to deliver CEO as well as improve its preservation stability, which will broaden the applications of the CEO in the agricultural and food preservation industries.