Essential Oils and New Antimicrobial Strategies

Abstract

Essential oils are complex mixtures of plant secondary metabolites, composed mostly of terpenoids. They show considerable structural diversity with even nitrogen-and sulfur-containing compounds as their constituents. In plant systems they act, according to the design, as defense compounds against microbes, herbivores and other ecological factors. Essential oils have applications as antimicrobials, food preservatives, flavours and cosmetics. They are also used in clinical applications and aromatherapy. This article describes new essential oil based antimicrobial strategies, particularly giving emphasis to essential oil constituents. A range of recent mechanistic studies of essential oil constituents is compiled. The mode of action of essential oils as antimicrobials, specific assay techniques and other recent developments in these areas are also addressed. Further, the evolution of research on essential oils, biosynthesis extraction techniques, chemical analysis, physical parameters, olfactory evaluation and other basic concepts are also described.

Phenyl aldehyde and propanoids exert multiple sites of action towards cell membrane and cell wall targeting ergosterol in Candida albicans

“…Plant products traditionally being used in ethnomedicine as effective antifungal agents, are considered to be a part of the preformed defense system of higher plants (Baby and George 2008; Bakkali et al 2008) and therefore, expected to deliver active anti-microbial compounds against infectious diseases. The phyto-compounds obtained from many aromatic plants are mixtures of various components (terpenes, aldehydes, alcohols, acyclic esters, etc.)…”

“…In these perspectives, there is an increasing demand for novel and effective antifungal agents, justifying the intense search for new drugs from various sources including natural products that are more effective and less toxic than those already in use. Plant products traditionally being used in ethnomedicine as effective antifungal agents, are considered to be a part of the preformed defense system of higher plants (Baby and George 2008 ; Bakkali et al 2008 ) and therefore, expected to deliver active anti-microbial compounds against infectious diseases. The phyto-compounds obtained from many aromatic plants are mixtures of various components (terpenes, aldehydes, alcohols, acyclic esters, etc.)…”

Challenges of a one-health approach to the development of alternatives to antibiotics

“…• Prudent use of existing antibiotics and emerging alternatives throughout the "One Health" continuum, coupled with disease prevention, are integral to sustaining human and animal health. plant components, including flowers, buds, seeds, leaves, twigs, bark, herbs, wood, fruits, and roots, with some sources used in human medicine since antiquity (Baby and George, 2009). The major constituents of essential oils include carvacrol, citronellol, geraniol, eugenol, and thymol (Perricone et al, 2015).…”

“…The major constituents of essential oils include carvacrol, citronellol, geraniol, eugenol, and thymol (Perricone et al, 2015). Several essential oils have been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties (Baby and George, 2009;de Cássia da Silveira e Sá et al, 2014;Chouhan et al, 2017). Constituents of essential oils seem to interact with bacterial cell membrane lipids and cause cell lysis.…”

Combinatorial Drug Therapy for Controlling Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Its Association With Chronic Condition of Diabetic Foot Ulcer

“…130 Effective reports have been mentioned in which oils from cinnamon and palmarosa when administered with ciprofloxacin showed potent response against Pseudomonas infection. 131 But these compounds need to be verified on the basis of clinical trials so that they can actually come into the market.…”