Diversity of Aromatic Plants: Chemical Profiles and Antioxidant Activities

Dear Colleagues,

Aromatic and medicinal plants (AMPs) are a diverse group of plants characterized by their ability to synthesize a specific type of aroma; the concentration, type, and biological activity of this aroma tend to be unusual and variable. These plants are characterized by their great diversity both morphologically and chemically, as well as in terms of their biological activity. Their properties are modified by various factors of variation: genetic, ontogenetic, environmental, and post-harvest. The biodiversity of aromatic and medical plants and their chemical composition can be a potential source of natural bioactive compounds (phenolic content with antioxidant and antimicrobial potential) for applications on human health and food preservation. The variation in the chemical composition of aromatic plants (applying to both wild and cultivated species) determines their culinary and medical value. The essential oils (EOs) synthesized by numerous plant species from different botanical families vary considerably in their chemical composition and biological activity.

Future research studies should be based on the importance of the rational use and collection of wild plants from spontaneous flora and optimized production techniques for cultivated aromatic and medical plants (using adequate agricultural techniques with crop shading and adequate plant density) with the goal of obtaining an increased content of a high-quality essential oil. These investigations on topics such as the extraction and purification of medicinal compounds can be an effective means of obtaining safe pharmaceutical products.

Dr. Zoran S. Ilic
Dr. Ljiljana P. Stanojević
Prof. Dr. Lidija Milenković
Guest Editors

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