Bioactive Properties of Essential Oils from Asteraceae Plants
Summary
Essential oils derived from members of the Asteraceae family encompass a diverse array of volatile compounds, including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and oxygenated derivatives, that confer potent bioactive properties. These oils have been shown to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects, underpinned by secondary metabolites such as parthenolide, camphor, borneol and various phenolic acids. Variability in chemotype and geographical origin modulates yield and chemical profile, presenting opportunities for targeted extraction and standardisation. The global significance of these oils spans pharmaceutical development, food preservation and agricultural biocontrol, with emerging interest in sustainable cultivation and green extraction technologies. Advances in analytical methods, notably GC-MS and HPLC, have refined characterisation of minor constituents and informed structure–activity relationships.
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Bioactive Properties of Essential Oils from Asteraceae Plants publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioactive properties of essential oils from asteraceae plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Essential oil: A concentrated mixture of volatile, lipophilic compounds extracted from plant material.
Monoterpene: A 10-carbon compound common in essential oils, often responsible for aromatic and antimicrobial properties.
Sesquiterpene lactone: A 15-carbon bicyclic molecule containing a lactone ring, associated with anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities.
GC-MS: Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, an analytical technique for separating and identifying volatile compounds.
HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography, used to quantify non-volatile phytochemicals such as parthenolide.
Antioxidant activity: The capacity of a substance to neutralise free radicals and inhibit oxidative damage.
Antifungal activity: The ability of an agent to inhibit the growth or viability of fungal pathogens.
References
- Metabolite distribution, relationships of phytochemical compositions and anticancer compound tracking in organs of Tanacetum parthenium L. as a sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. Environmental Technology & Innovation (2025).
- A Study of the Chemical Composition, Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Bulgarian Tanacetum parthenium Essential Oil. Molecules (2023).
- Chemical Characterization and Antifungal Activity of Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum) Essential Oil and Crude Extracts against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis, an Agent Causing Bayoud Disease of Date Palm. Antibiotics (2023).
- Tanacetum species: Bridging empirical knowledge, phytochemistry, nutritional value, health benefits and clinical evidence. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2023).
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