Physicochemical characterization and stability of chia oil microencapsulated with sodium caseinate and lactose by spray-drying

Microencapsulation of fish oil by spray drying, spray freeze-drying, freeze-drying, and microwave freeze-drying: Microcapsule characterization and storage stability

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of spray drying (SD), spray freeze-drying (SFD), freeze-drying (FD), and microwave freeze-drying (MFD) on the characteristics of fish oil (FO) microcapsules. The physicochemical properties, morphology, fatty acid composition, and stability of the microcapsules were analyzed. The encapsulation efficiencies of microcapsules dried by SD, SFD, FD, and MFD were 86.98%, 77.79%, 63.29%, and 57.89%, respectively. SD microcapsules exhibited superior properties in terms of effective loading capacity, color, and flowability. Conversely, SFD microcapsules demonstrated improved solubility. Microencapsulation positively affected the thermal stability of FO, but the content of unsaturated fatty acids decreased. The findings from the storage experiment indicated that the oxidative stability of SD fish oil microcapsules was marginally lower compared to microcapsules produced through three alternative drying techniques, all of which were based on the FD concept. The comparison of various drying methods and their effects on the quality of FO microcapsules offers valuable insights that can serve as a foundation for the industrial production of high-quality microcapsules.

Co-Microencapsulation of Cushuro (Nostoc sphaericum) Polysaccharide with Sacha Inchi Oil (Plukenetia huayllabambana) and Natural Antioxidant Extracts

Cushuro (Nostoc sphaericum) polysaccharide was used to co-microencapsulate sacha inchi oil, natural antioxidant extracts from the oleoresin of charapita chili peppers (Capsicum frutescens L.) and grape orujo (Vitis vinifera L.). Encapsulation efficiency, moisture, particle size, morphology, oxidative stability, shelf-life, solubility, essential fatty acid profile, sterol content and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. The formulations with grape orujo extract showed higher oxidative stability (4908 ± 184 h), antioxidant capacity (4835.33 ± 40.02 µg Trolox/g ms), higher phenolic contents (960.11 ± 53.59 µg AGE/g ms) and a smaller particle size (7.55 µm) than the other formulations, as well as good solubility and a low moisture content. Therefore, grape orujo extracts can be used as natural antioxidants. The fatty acid composition (ω-3) remained quite stable in all the formulations carried out, which also occurred for sterols and tocopherols. In combination with gum arabic, grape orujo extract offered oxidative protection to sacha inchi oil during the first week of storage.

Improving the storage and oxidative stability of essential fatty acids by different encapsulation methods; a review

Linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid are the only essential fatty acids (EFAs) known to the human body. Other fatty acids (FAs) of the omega-6 and omega-3 families originate from linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid, respectively, by the biological processes of elongation and desaturation. In diets with low fish consumption or vegetarianism, these FAs play an exclusive role in providing two crucial FAs for maintaining our body's vital functions; docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid. However, these polyunsaturated FAs are inherently sensitive to oxidation, thereby adversely affecting the storage stability of oils containing them. In this study, we reviewed encapsulation as one of the promising solutions to increase the stability of EFAs. Accordingly, five main encapsulation techniques could be classified: (i) spray drying, (ii) freeze drying, (iii) emulsification, (iv) liposomal entrapment, and (v) other methods, including electrospinning/spraying, complex coacervation, etc. Among these, spray drying was the frequently applied technique for encapsulation of EFAs, followed by freeze dryers. In addition, maltodextrin and gum Arabic were the main wall materials in carriers. Paying attention to industrial scalability and lower cost of the encapsulation process by the other methods are the important aspects that should be given more attention in the future.

Utilization of gallic acid-crosslinked soy proteins as wall material for chia oil microencapsulation

BACKGROUND

Chia oil represents the vegetable source with the highest content of omega-3 fatty acids. However, the incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids into food is limited due to their susceptibility toward oxidation. This investigation aimed to study the microencapsulation of chia oil (CO), using gallic acid (GA) crosslinked-soy protein isolate (SPI) as a wall material and its effect on its oxidative stability.

RESULTS

Microcapsules presented a moisture content, water activity, and encapsulation efficiency of around 2.95-4.51% (wet basis); 0.17 and 59.76-71.65%, respectively. Rancimat tests showed that with higher GA content, the induction period increased up to 27.9 h. The storage test demonstrated that the microencapsulated oil with crosslinked wall material has lower values of hydroperoxides and higher induction times concerning the non-crosslinked oil. Finally, the fatty acid profile at this storage time indicated that microcapsules with GA did not have significant changes. In vitro digestion exhibited a reduction in the percentage of bioavailable oil for crosslinked microcapsules, but with no variations in its chemical quality, and an increase in the total polyphenols amount and antioxidant activity.

CONCLUSION

The results obtained demonstrated that the microencapsulation of CO using SPI crosslinked with GA as wall material exerted a very important protective effect since a synergistic effect could be described between the microencapsulation effect and the antioxidant power of GA. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chia Oil Microencapsulation Using Tannic Acid and Soy Protein Isolate as Wall Materials

The use of proteins to produce oil-containing microcapsules has been previously analyzed; however, their chemical modification, in order to improve their performance as wall materials, is a strategy that has not been widely developed yet. This study aimed to analyze the chemical modification of the proteins through cross-linking reactions with tannic acid and to evaluate their performance as wall materials to the microencapsulation of oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The cross-linking reaction of isolated soy protein and tannic acid was carried out at pH 10-11 and 60 °C. Subsequently, emulsions were made with a high-speed homogenizer and microcapsules were obtained by spray drying. Microcapsules were characterized by particle size, morphology (SEM), total pore area and % porosity (mercury intrusion methodology), superficial properties (contact angle), and size distribution of oil droplets (by laser diffraction). Additionally, encapsulation efficiency was determined as a function of total and surface oil. Oil chemical stability and quality were studied by Rancimat, hydroperoxide values, and fatty acid profiles. In addition, a storage test was performed for 180 days, and released oil and polyphenols were determined by in vitro gastric digestion. Moreover, the fatty acid composition of the oil and the total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of polyphenols were analyzed. The results showed that spray-dried microcapsules had an encapsulation efficiency between 54 and 78%. The oxidative stability exhibited a positive correlation between the amount of polyphenols used and the induction time, with a maximum of 27 h. The storage assay showed that the peroxide value was lower for those cross-linked microcapsules concerning control after 180 days. After the storage time, the omega-3 content was reduced by 49% for soy protein samples, while cross-linked microcapsules maintained the initial concentration. The in-vitro digestion assay showed a decrease in the amount of oil released from the cross-linked microcapsules and an increase in the amount of polyphenols and a higher antioxidant capacity for all samples (for example, 238.10 mgGAE/g and 554.22 mg TE/g for undigested microcapsules with TA 40% versus 322.09 mgGAE/g and 663.61 mg TE/g for digested samples). The microcapsules showed a high degree of protection of the encapsulated oil, providing a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAS) and polyphenols even in prolonged storage times.

Constitution and reconstitution of microcapsules with high diacylglycerol oil loading capacity based on whey protein isolate / octenyl succinic anhydride starch/ inulin matrix

The aim of this study was to constitute microcapsule systems with high oil loading capacity by octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starch, whey protein isolate (WPI) and inulin (IN) substrates to provide a new method for encapsulating diacylglycerol oil. Specifically, this study characterizes the physicochemical properties and reconstitution capacity of highly oil loading diacylglycerol microcapsules by comparing the wall encapsulation capacity of the binary wall system OSA-IN, WPI-IN and the ternary wall system WPI-OSA (1:9, 5:5, 9:1)-IN for diacylglycerol oil. It was found that WPI-OSA (5:5)-IN significantly improved the water solubility of microcapsules (86.11 %) compared to OSA-IN microcapsules, and the addition of WPI made the surface of microcapsules smoother and increased the thermal stability and solubility of microcapsules; the addition of OSA enhanced the wettability of microcapsules compared to WPI-IN. In addition, WPI-OSA (5:5)-IN microcapsules have the highest encapsulation efficiency (96.03 %), high emulsion stability after reconstitution, and the smallest droplet size (212.83 nm) after 28 d. Therefore, the WPI-OSA-IN composite system is suitable for the production of highly oil-loaded microencapsulated systems with excellent reconstitution ability to expand the application of diacylglycerol oil.

Chia Oil and Mucilage Nanoemulsion: Potential Strategy to Protect a Functional Ingredient

Nanoencapsulation can increase the stability of bioactive compounds, ensuring protection against physical, chemical, or biological degradations, and allows to control of the release of these biocompounds. Chia oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids-8% corresponds to omega 3 and 19% to omega 6-resulting in high susceptibility to oxidation. Encapsulation techniques allow the addition of chia oil to food to maintain its functionality. In this sense, one strategy is to use the nanoemulsion technique to protect chia oil from degradation. Therefore, this review aims to present the state-of-the-art use of nanoemulsion as a new encapsulation approach to chia oil. Furthermore, the chia mucilage-another chia seed product-is an excellent material for encapsulation due to its good emulsification properties (capacity and stability), solubility, and water and oil retention capacities. Currently, most studies of chia oil focus on microencapsulation, with few studies involving nanoencapsulation. Chia oil nanoemulsion using chia mucilage presents itself as a strategy for adding chia oil to foods, guaranteeing the functionality and oxidative stability of this oil.

Oxidative stability and sensory evaluation of sodium caseinate-based yak butter powder

Yak butter's high unsaturated fatty acid level predisposes it to oxidation, hence must be converted into more stable forms like powder. This study aimed to spray dry yak butter using 10% yak butter and four sodium caseinate (NaCas) formulations: sample A: 100% NaCas; sample B: 50% NaCas, 50% lactose; sample C: 75% NaCas, 25% lactose; and sample D: 25% NaCas, 75% maltodextrin. The powders were vacuum and hermetically sealed, and evaluated for oxidative stability, physical and sensory properties during storage at 65 ℃ for 30 days. The results showed that samples B and D had similar and most favorable physical properties (such as, moisture, water activity, particle size, bulk density re-dispersion time, and encapsulation efficiency); though sample B, together with sample C, browned the most during storage. The majority of the sensory panelists preferred samples B and D; observed high caking in samples C and B; and the least whiteness loss and caking in samples D and A but high off-flavors in samples A and C. After storage, peroxide and thiobarbituric acid values of powder samples ranged from 34.98 to 69.54 meqO2/kg and 1.85-9.43 mg MD/kg, respectively, in the decreasing order of A, C, B, and D. Sample D, followed by B, showed the highest radical scavenging activity. Therefore, for optimum yak butter powder physical properties and oxidative stability, 50%:50%, NaCas: lactose, and 25%:75%, NaCas: maltodextrin formulations should be used. This study provides essential knowledge for butter powder processors.

Influence of the particle size of encapsulated chia oil on the oil release and bioaccessibility during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

Among vegetable oils, chia oil has been gaining interest in recent years due to its high linolenic acid content (ALA, 18:3 ω3). The aim of this work was to study the influence of the particle size of encapsulated purified chia oil (PCO) on the encapsulation efficiency and PCO release during in vitro digestion. PCO micro- and nano-sized particles with sodium alginate (SA) as an encapsulating agent (ME-PCO-SA and NE-PCO-SA) were designed by micro and nano spray-drying, respectively, applying a central composite plus star point experimental design. NE-PCO-SA showed a smaller particle size and higher encapsulation efficiency of PCO than ME-PCO-SA (0.16 μm vs. 3.5 μm; 98.1% vs. 92.0%). Emulsions (NE-PCO and ME-PCO) and particles (NE-PCO-SA and ME-PCO-SA) were subjected to in vitro static gastrointestinal digestion. ME-PCO and NE-PCO showed sustained oil release throughout the three phases of digestion (oral, gastric and intestinal phases), whereas the PCO release from ME-PCO-SA and NE-PCO-SA occurred mainly in the intestinal phase, showing the suitability of sodium alginate as an intestine-site release polymer. Nano-sized particles showed a significantly higher PCO release after in vitro digestion (NE-PCO-SA, 78.4%) than micro-sized particles (ME-PCO-SA, 69.8%), and also higher bioaccessibility of individual free fatty acids, such as C18:3 ω-3 (NE-PCO-SA, 23.6%; ME-PCO-SA, 7.9%), due to their greater surface area. However, when ME-PCO-SA and NE-PCO-SA were incorporated into yogurt, the PCO release from both particle systems after the digestion of the matrix was similar (NE-PCO-SA, 58.8%; ME-PCO-SA-Y, 61.8%), possibly because the calcium ions contained in the yogurt induced partial ionic gelation of SA, impairing the PCO release. Sodium alginate spray-dried micro and nanoparticles showed great potential for vehiculation of omega-3 rich oils in the design of functional foods.

Spray Drying for the Encapsulation of Oils-A Review

The application of the spray drying technique in the food industry for the production of a broad range of ingredients has become highly desirable compared to other drying techniques. Recently, the spray drying technique has been applied extensively for the production of functional foods, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Encapsulation using spray drying is highly preferred due to economic advantages compared to other encapsulation methods. Encapsulation of oils using the spray drying technique is carried out in order to enhance the handling properties of the products and to improve oxidation stability by protecting the bioactive compounds. Encapsulation of oils involves several parameters-including inlet and outlet temperatures, total solids, and the type of wall materials-that significantly affect the quality of final product. Therefore, this review highlights the application and optimization of the spray drying process for the encapsulation of oils used as food ingredients.

Encapsulation of chia seed oil with curcumin and investigation of release behaivour & antioxidant properties of microcapsules during in vitro digestion studies

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of both using curcumin and microencapsulation method on in vitro release behaivour of chia seed oil and its antioxidant potential during simulated gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Maltodextrin (MD) and gum Arabic (GA) was used as wall materials for freeze dried capsules. Sample 6, having 1:3 MD to GA ratio, 1:5 chia seed oil to wall material ratio and 40% total dry matter content, was found to have the optimum results in terms of emulsion stability (CI% = 0), zeta potential (-32.2 ± 0.8 mV) and size distribution (600 ± 8 nm). Moreover, release profiles of encapsulated chia seed oil samples were evaluated to determine if curcumin addition has any significant effect. The results revealed that curcumin addition decreased the release of chia seed oil from 44.6% to 37.2%. On contrary, it increased total phenolic content of in fraction of intestine to 22 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/L.

Improving oxidative stability and release behavior of docosahexaenoic acid algae oil by microencapsulation

BACKGROUND

Spray-dried docosahexaenoic acid algae oil (DHA AO) microcapsules were prepared using whey protein isolate and glucose syrup (WPI + GS), or sodium starch octenylsuccinate and glucose syrup (SSOS + GS), or whey protein isolate and lactose (WPI + L). The effect of the formulations on encapsulation properties, oxidative protection and in vitro oil release pattern of the resulting microencapsulates was investigated.

RESULTS

A high encapsulation efficiency of over 98% of DHA AO was obtained for microcapsules with all three wall materials. Among the wall materials, SSOS + GS exhibited a better micro-particulation ability reflected by more uniform size and smoother surface of the formed microcapsules and no agglomerates. DHA AO microcapsules with all the wall materials showed good protection of the oil from oxidation during storage with an increasing order of WPI + GS, SSOS + GS and WPI + L. Moreover, microencapsulation significantly increased the release of DHA AO in the intestinal phase of the in vitro digestion process with an increasing order of SSOS + GS, WPI + GS and WPI + L, indicating the increased stability of the oil in the highly acidic gastric environment and the enhanced lipid digestibility in the small intestine.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that it is possible to transform a highly oxidizable liquid functional food ingredient such as DHA AO into a stable and easy-to-handle solid powder through spray drying with properly selected wall materials. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Caseinate-Stabilized Emulsions of Black Cumin and Tamanu Oils: Preparation, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity

Caseinate-stabilized emulsions of black cumin (Nigella sativa) and tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum) oils were studied in terms of preparation, characterization, and antibacterial properties. The oils were described while using their basic characteristics, including fatty acid composition and scavenging activity. The oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions containing the studied oils were formulated, and the influence of protein stabilizer (sodium caseinate (CAS), 1-12 wt%), oil contents (5-30 wt%), and emulsification methods (high-shear homogenization vs sonication) on the emulsion properties were investigated. It was observed that, under both preparation methods, emulsions of small, initial droplet sizes were predominantly formed with CAS content that was higher than 7.5 wt%. Sonication was a more efficient emulsification procedure and was afforded emulsions with smaller droplet size throughout the entire used concentration ranges of oils and CAS when compared to high-shear homogenization. At native pH of ~ 6.5, all of the emulsions exhibited negative zeta potential that originated from the presence of caseinate. The antibacterial activities of both oils and their emulsions were investigated with respect to the growth suppression of common spoilage bacteria while using the disk diffusion method. The oils and selected emulsions were proven to act against gram positive strains, mainly against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Bacillus cereus (B. cereus); regrettably, the gram negative species were fully resistant against their action.

Microencapsulated β-carotene preparation using different drying treatments

β-Carotene is one of the most abundant natural pigments in foods; however, usage of β-carotene is limited because of its instability. Microencapsulation techniques are usually applied to protect microencapsulated β-carotene from oxidization. In this study, β-carotene was microencapsulated using different drying processes: spray-drying, spray freeze-drying, coating, and spray granulation. The properties of morphology, particle size, water content, thermal characteristic, and chemical stability have been explored and compared. Scanning electron microscopy measurements showed that the coated powder had a dense surface surrounded by starch and suggested that the coating process gave a microencapsulated powder with the smallest bulk density and the best compressibility among the prepared powders. The chemical stabilities of microcapsules were evaluated during six months of storage at different temperatures. The coated powder had the highest mass fraction of β-carotene, which indicated that the coating process was superior to the three other drying processes.

Effect of natural antioxidants on the physicochemical properties and stability of freeze-dried microencapsulated chia seed oil

BACKGROUND

Chia oil possesses a very high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly α-linolenic acid. This characteristic makes this oil possess beneficial properties to health but gives it a high susceptibility to the oxidation process. Microencapsulation and the addition of natural antioxidants are alternatives to protect chia oil against oxidative deterioration. The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical characteristics and the oxidative stability of chia seed oil microencapsulated with different natural antioxidants (Guardian Chelox, which is a commercial blend of extracts from chamomile and rosemary, and essential oils from Origanum vulgare, Origanum x majoricum, and Mentha spicata) by freeze-drying using sodium caseinate and lactose as wall materials.

RESULTS

The main physicochemical properties of the microencapsulated chia oil were similar regardless of the presence of antioxidant. The moisture content was 38.1 ± 4.0 g kg^-1 ; the microencapsulation efficiency was higher than 85% in all cases. The freeze-drying microencapsulation significantly enhanced (P ≤ 0.05) the oxidative stability of the chia oil. The addition of natural antioxidants conferred chia oil additional protection against lipid oxidation, depending on the type and concentration (500 or 1000 mg kg^-1 of the emulsion previous to freeze-drying) of the antioxidant. Among them, Guardian Chelox (1000 mg kg^-1 ), presented the highest induction time obtained by the Rancimat accelerated oxidative stability test and the lowest peroxide values after 90 days of storage (33% relative humidity, 25 ± 2 °C). Overall, the microparticles with antioxidants presented a lower degree of yellowing during storage than the control system.

CONCLUSION

The use of different natural antioxidants confers freeze-dried microencapsulated chia seed oil additional protection against lipid oxidation. This information is relevant for the application of this oil, which is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, in the food industry. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Microencapsulation of a Model Oil in Wall System Consisting of Wheat Proteins Isolate (WHPI) and Lactose

Microencapsulation allows for the entrapment, protection, and delivery of sensitive and/or active desired nutrients and ingredients as well as biologically-active agents. The microencapsulating properties of wall solutions (WS) containing 2.5–10% (w/w) wheat proteins isolate (WHPI) and 17.5–10% (w/w) lactose were investigated. Core-in-wall-emulsions (CIWEs) consisting of the WS and soy oil were prepared at a wall-to-core (W:C) ratio ranging from 25:75 to 75:25 (w/w). Microcapsules were prepared by spray-drying the CIWEs. The CIWEs had a mean particle diameter smaller than 0.5 µm and surface excess that ranged from 1.59 to 5.32 mg/m2. In all cases, microcapsules with smooth outer surfaces that exhibited only limited surface indentation were obtained. The core, in the form of protein-coated lipid droplets, was embedded throughout the wall matrices. In all but one case, core retention was higher than 83%, and in 50% of the cases, it was higher than 90%. Core retention was significantly influenced the composition of the WS and by W:C ratio (p < 0.05). Except for two cases, microcapsules exhibited very limited core extractability. The microencapsulation efficiency was >90% and was influenced, to a certain degree, by the composition of the CIWEs. Results indicated the potential for utilizing wall systems consisting of WHPI and lactose as effective and highly functional microencapsulating agents in food and related applications.

Effect of Gum Arabic, β-Cyclodextrin, and Sodium Caseinate as Encapsulating Agent on the Oxidative Stability and Bioactive Compounds of Spray-Dried Kenaf Seed Oil

Kenaf seed oil is prone to undergo oxidation due to its high content of unsaturated fatty acids, thus microencapsulation stands as an alternative to protect kenaf seed oil from the adverse environment. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the oxidative stability of microencapsulated refined kenaf seed oil (MRKSO) by the use of gum arabic, β-cyclodextrin, and sodium caseinate as the wall materials by spray drying. Bulk refined kenaf seed oil (BRKSO) and MRKSO were kept at 65 °C for 24 days to evaluate its oxidative stability, changes of tocopherol and tocotrienol contents, phytosterol content, and fatty acid profile. The results showed that the peroxide value, p-Anisidine value, and total oxidation value of BRKSO were significantly higher than the MRKSO at day 24. The total tocopherol and tocotrienol contents were reduced 66.1% and 56.8% in BRKSO and MRKSO, respectively, upon the storage. There was a reduction of 71.7% and 23.5% of phytosterol content in BRKSO and MRKSO, respectively, upon the storage. The degradation rate of polyunsaturated fatty acids in BRKSO was higher than that of MRKSO. This study showed that the current microencapsulation technique is a feasible way to retard the oxidation of kenaf seed oil.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

There is increasing research on the functional properties of crude kenaf seed oil, but the crude kenaf seed oil is not edible. This study offered in developing of microencapsulated refined kenaf seed oil by spray drying, which is suitable for food application. The microencapsulation of refined kenaf seed oil with healthier wall materials is beneficial in developing a diversity of functional food products and supplements.

Valorization of okara oil for the encapsulation of Lactobacillus plantarum

Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions of okara oil-caseinate (1:2; 1:3 and 1:4 O/W ratios) were used to encapsulate Lactobacillus plantarum CIDCA 83114. Once encapsulated, microorganisms were freeze-dried or spray-dried, and observed by scanning electronic and confocal microscopies. A physical characterization of the dehydrated capsules was carried out by determining their moisture content, water activity, particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential. Determining the induction times and peroxide values provided information about their susceptibility to oxidation. In turn, bacterial stability was analyzed by plate counting before and after freeze-drying and spray-drying, and during storage at 4°C. Spray-dried emulsions had lower Z-sizes and polydispersity indexes, higher induction times and lower peroxide values than the freeze-dried ones, thus resulting better systems to protect L. plantarum CIDCA 83114. In addition, the culturability of spray-dried bacteria did not decrease neither after spray-drying nor up to 60days of storage at 4°C. The results showed that the better physical-chemical stability of spray-dried capsules determined the greater stability of microorganisms. This demonstrates the importance of defining adequate emulsions' formulations for an efficient encapsulation of microorganisms, with promising applications in the development of novel functional foods.

Anti-inflammatory activity of nanoemulsions of essential oil from Rosmarinus officinalis L.: in vitro and in zebrafish studies

The essential oil from Rosmarinus officinalis L. (OERO) has bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potency of nanoemulsions containing essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (NOERO, NECHA, NECULT, and NECOM) in vitro and in vivo. This study was accomplished in a quantitative format through tests with diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), cellular antioxidant activity (CCA), determination of nitric oxide production, cellular viability and anti-inflammatory activity in zebrafish. OERO's were submitted to the analysis-coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which highlighted 1,8-cineol and camphor as major compounds. NOEROs were obtained by a low-energy method and presenting the medium size smaller than 200 nm. The efficiency of encapsulation by spectrometry and gas chromatographic analysis was 67.61 and 75.38%, respectively. In the CCA assay, all of the samples presented percentage values of inhibition similar to the quercetin pattern, indicating antioxidant activity. In the test for determination of NO·, all of the samples inhibited the production of NO· when compared to LPS, and NOEROS were more effective than OEROS to 5 µg/mL. In the cell viability assay, the cells remained viable after contact with the samples, demonstrating an absence of cytotoxicity. This study showed that all nanoemulsions (NECHA, NECULT, and NECOM) showed no toxicity to macrophages, besides demonstrating antioxidant activity and potentiation of the essential oil effect in the proliferation of viable fibroblasts. Nanoemulsions has also shown the ability to potentiate the anti-inflammatory action of essential oils by exerting immunomodulatory activity by inhibiting the production of the pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide. The results obtained with NECHA in zebrafish confirm the hypothesis that prominent terpenic compounds, alpha-pinene, 1,8-cineole, and camphor, became more available at the target sites, inhibiting the inflammatory process in this animal species.