Sri Rahayu Lestari, Dewi Sekar Miasih, Alif Rosyidah El Baroroh, Yuslinda Annisa, Muhammad Mauludi Zulkifli, Abdul Gofur, Yunita Rakhmawati, Suharti, Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek
Skin infections remain a significant global health concern, particularly with the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Single-aged garlic (SAG), a fermented form of Allium sativum, possesses enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial properties due to its enriched phenolic and flavonoid content. This study aimed to optimize and characterize the transfersome-based delivery system of SAG extract (T-SAG), and to evaluate its physicochemical properties, phytochemical content, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial potency. SAG was produced through controlled thermal incubation followed by microwave-assisted extraction, and subsequently formulated into transfersomes using the thin-film hydration method with phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate as an edge activator. The formulation was characterized in terms of particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, morphology, chemical compatibility, and storage stability. The optimized transfersome formulation exhibited nanosized vesicles (81.03 ± 0.47 nm) with a low PDI (0.14 ± 0.008), a zeta potential of −17.93 ± 0.31 mV, and high encapsulation efficiency (77.04 ± 6.62%). Transmission electron microscopy revealed well-defined spherical vesicles with uniform size distribution, while scanning electron microscopy confirmed smooth surface morphology and structural integrity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated no significant chemical interactions between SAG and lipid components, confirming successful encapsulation. Stability studies conducted over 28 days at 4 °C demonstrated minimal changes in particle size and zeta potential. Phytochemical analysis showed total phenolic and flavonoid contents of 62.19 ± 1.07 mg GAE/g and 63.15 ± 0.38 mg QE/g, respectively, accompanied by strong antioxidant activity (77.74 ± 2.88% DPPH inhibition). Antibacterial activity, evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, demonstrated notable inhibitory effects, particularly against E. coli (8.19 ± 1.34 mm), with chloramphenicol used as a positive control. These findings indicate that transfersome-based delivery enhances the stability and bioactivity of SAG extract, supporting its potential application as a natural topical antimicrobial formulation. © 2026, Walailak University. All rights reserved.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Cardiovascular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Innovation Center of Integrative Jamu and Eco-pharmaca, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, 81310, Malaysia; Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials (CSNano), Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (ISI-ISIR), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, 81310, Malaysia
