Eucalyptus globulus essential oil (EGEO) possesses many biological effects such as antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticide properties. In the current study, the chemical composition of EGEO was first investigated using GC-MS analysis. Then, a nanoemulsion and nanogel containing EGEO (EGEO-nanoemulsion and EGEO-nanogel) were prepared. After that, the successful loading of EGEO was confirmed using ATR-FTIR analysis. EGEO-nanoemulsion and EGEO-nanogel with LC₅₀ values of 27 and 32μg/mL showed promising efficacies against Anopheles stephensi larvae. Besides, the efficacy of EGEO-nanogel (IC₅₀ 187μg/mL) was significantly more potent than EGEO-nanoemulsion (IC₅₀ 3732μg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus. However, no significant difference was observed in the efficacy of EGEO-nanoemulsion and EGEO-nanogel against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Natural components, straightforward preparation, and proper efficacy are some of the advantages of EGEO-nanogel; it could be considered for further consideration against other pathogens and mosquito larvae.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and melanoma is the most dreadful type of skin cancer. Due to the side effects of chemotherapy drugs, the development of new herbal nano-medicines has been considered. Methods: This study first investigated the chemical composition of Ferula gummosa essential oil using GC-MS analysis; β-pinene, with 61.57%, was the major compound. Next, alginate nanoparticles containing β-pinene and the essential oil with particle sizes of 174 ± 7 and 137 ± 6 nm were prepared. Meanwhile, their zeta potentials were 12.4 ± 0.7 and 28.1 ± 1 mV. Besides, the successful loading of β-pinene and the essential oil in nanoparticles was confirmed using ATR-FTIR analysis. After that, their effects on viability and apoptotic index of human melanoma and breast cancer cells were investigated in normoxia and normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) conditions. Results: The best efficacy on A-375 and MDA-MB-231 cells was achieved by alginate nanoparticles containing the EO at hyperoxic and normoxia conditions; IC₅₀ 76 and 104 µg/mL. Besides, it affected apoptosis-involved genes; as Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was higher than 1, conditions for induction of apoptosis were obtained. Higher sensitivity was observed in the A-375 cell line treated with Alg-EO in the NBO model. Conclusions: Alginate nanoparticles containing F. gummosa EO could be considered for further investigation in anticancer studies. Also, it may be expected that NBO can be a new strategy for delaying cancer progression and improving nanotherapy efficacy.