Bioactive Compounds and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils
Summary
Essential oils are complex mixtures of volatile phytochemicals, chiefly terpenoids and phenolic compounds, that exhibit a broad spectrum of bioactivities. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes such as 1,8-cineole, sabinene and linalool often predominate, while oxygenated derivatives and aromatic constituents contribute to antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. These bioactive compounds act against bacteria, fungi and yeasts by disrupting cell membranes, inhibiting enzyme systems and interfering with signalling pathways. Antimicrobial efficacy is typically quantified by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, and advanced analytical techniques, notably gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), underpin compositional characterisation. Growing antibiotic resistance has intensified interest in essential oils as natural preservatives in food and agricultural systems, as topical agents in dermatology and as prototypes for novel therapeutics. Recent advances emphasise formulation strategies to enhance stability and bioavailability, plus synergy with conventional antimicrobials. Ongoing research addresses standardisation, safety profiles and mechanisms of action, highlighting essential oils’ global significance for sustainable disease control and its translation into commercial and clinical applications.
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Bioactive Compounds and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioactive compounds and antimicrobial activity of essential oils across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Essential oil: A concentrated mixture of volatile plant metabolites, predominantly terpenoids and phenolics, obtained by distillation or solvent extraction.
Monoterpenes: A class of terpenoids built from two isoprene units (C10), common constituents of essential oils with antimicrobial and aromatic properties.
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): The lowest concentration of a substance that prevents visible growth of a microorganism in vitro.
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS): An analytical technique combining gas chromatographic separation with mass spectrometric detection for identifying and quantifying volatile compounds.
Terpenoid: A large and diverse class of naturally occurring organic chemicals derived from isoprene units, including mono-, sesqui- and diterpenes, often bioactive in essential oils.
References
- Chromatography analysis, in light of vitro antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiobesity, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and three-dimensional cancer spheroids’ formation blocking activities of Laurus nobilis aromatic oil from Palestine. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture (2023).
- Essential Oils of Laurus nobilis L.: From Chemical Analysis to In Silico Investigation of Anti-Inflammatory Activity by Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase (sEH) Inhibition. Foods (2024).
- Essential Oils from Mediterranean Plants Inhibit In Vitro Monocyte Adhesion to Endothelial Cells from Umbilical Cords of Females with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
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