Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils

Dear Colleagues,

The modern era of human civilization heralded a tendency toward a healthier lifestyle and environment protection. In that regard, and considering emerging multidrug resistance, the discovery of novel and effective sources of natural constituents with significant therapeutic potential has attracted great attention in recent decades.

Medicinal plants represent a valuable source of natural compounds considered to exert different levels of biological activity, making them one of the pathways for dealing with the presented concerns. Essential oils (EOs), as one of these plant products, are considered to have a number of biological effects such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-allergic, antiviral, enzyme-inhibitory, insecticidal, anti-tumor, and pro-apoptotic properties, depending on the volatile’s chemical composition. Essential oils (EOs) are products obtained from a natural raw material of plant origin, through steam distillation, hydrodistillation, or mechanical processes (e.g., cold pressing)

The screening of EOs for their biological effects has been increasing, mainly because they are recognized as safe by the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). It is known that synergistic effects can be responsible for the beneficial biological effects of these mixtures. Additionally, significant effects can be displayed by one of or a few of the components presented in these mixtures. Considering this, the identification of these volatile compounds may attribute to the comprehension of the mode of action of essential oils.

This Special Issue aims to present recent developments in knowledge about essential oils and their constituents as therapeutics and food preservatives, as well as to elucidate their possible mode of action. Moreover, it aims to provide an insight into factors affecting their chemical composition, such as the extraction method, the part of the plant used for extraction, and geographical origin.

The submission of studies on essential oils (stricto sensu) is encouraged, but manuscripts presenting other extraction methods to obtain volatile compounds from plants (e.g., solvent extraction, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, Soxhlet extraction, etc.) will also be critically analyzed and accepted.

Dr. Milena D Vukić
Dr. Andrea Maxia
Guest Editors

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• essential oils
• volatile compounds
• biological effects