In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Olive (Olea europaea) Leaf Extracts Loaded in Chitosan Nanoparticles

This research explored using olive leaf extracts encapsulated in tiny biodegradable particles to fight harmful fungi that damage crops. The study found that packaging the natural antifungal compounds from olive leaves into nanoparticles made them more effective at stopping fungal growth compared to using the extracts directly. This has important real-world implications: • Could reduce reliance on synthetic chemical fungicides that can harm human health • Provides a natural and environmentally-friendly way to protect crops from fungal diseases • Demonstrates a way to make plant-based medicines more potent and effective • Could lead to safer food production with fewer chemical residues • Shows promise for developing new sustainable agricultural practices