OPTIMIZATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND STABILITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS BLEND LOADED NANOEMULSIONS BY PIC TECHNIQUE FOR ANTI-TYROSINASE ACTIVITY

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the toxicity, antimicrobial and larvicide activities of Smilax larvata Griseb. (Smilacaceae) extracts. Methods: Toxicity evaluation was performed by testing brine shrimp lethality. The presence of saponins in S. larvata extracts was investigated using a hemolysis test. For antimicrobial investigation, S. larvata extracts were submitted to disk diffusion assay, and larvicide activity was evaluated using a larvicidal assay against Aedes aegypti larvae. Results: S. larvata extracts were not toxic to the shrimp and in the hemolysis test, only hexane, chloroform and ethanolic extracts showed significant hemolytic activity at 1000 µg. mL -1 (100%, 59% and 40% respectively). The crude ethanolic extract presented larvicide effect on third instar of Aedes aegypti larvae with LC 50 = 225 µg. mL -1 and LC 90 = 350 µg. mL -1 , and showed antifungal activity against C. albicans . Conclusion: These results indicate that S. larvata extracts are a potential source of antifungal agents and new eco-friendly larvicide compounds.