Essential oils antibacterial activity

Keywords Essential oils Antibacterial activity Antifungal activity Thyme oil Clove oil Cinnamon oils Mint oils Citrus oils Rosemary oil... 

Flavors and Fragrances. SaUcylaldehyde is a starting material in the synthesis of coumatin, which finds extensive use in the soap (qv) and perfume (qv) industries and saUcylaldehyde can be used itself as a preservative in essential oils and perfumes (see Oils, essential). The antibacterial activity of sahcylaldehyde is strong enough to allow its use at very low concentrations (79). 

Oumzil H, Ghoulami S, Rhajaoui M, Ilidrissi A, Fkih-Tetouani S, Paid M, Benjouad A, Antibacterial and antifungal activity of essential oils of Mentha suaveolens, Phytother Res 16 727—731, 2002. 

Antibacterial activity. Essential oil, on agar plate, was active on Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 0.5 mg/mL,... 

Hedyotis diffusa Willd. Bai Hua She Shi Chao (leaf) Acyl flavonol di-gycoside, iridoid glucosides, anthraquinone, essential oils, p-vinylphenol, p-vinylguaiacol, linalool 50,202,203,204,205,206 Immunopotentiation activity, treat tumours, antibacterial, antipyretic, detoxicant, diuretic, anticancer, externally applied as lotion. 

Essential oils Melaleuca altemifolia (tea tree oil), Famesol Good antibacterial activity, antiinflammatory potential High allergic potential... 

Chang, S.T., Chen, P.F. and Chang, S.C. (2001) Antibacterial activity of leaf essential oils and their constituents from Cinnamomum osmophloem. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 77(1), 123-127. 

Clove bud oil has various biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and insecticidal properties. The high level of eugenol present in the essential oil imparts strong biological and antimicrobial activity. 

Karamenderes et al. [67] reported the composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils obtained from Achillea millefolium L. subsp. pannonica (Scheele) Hayek, Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium, Achillea arithmifolia Waldst Kitt and Achillea kotschyi Boiss. subsp. kotschyi, four Achillea species from Turkey. 1,8-cineole, Fig. (2), artemisia alcohol and ascaridole were identified as major components. The essential oils showed antibacterial and antifungal effects even with low concentrations. The essential oil of the flowering tops of another Achillea species, Achillea fragantissimum (Forsk.) Sch. Bip growing in Sinai, was analyzed [68]. Santolina alcohol, a- and P-thujone, Fig. (5) and artemisia ketone account for approximately 80% of the oil. The oil showed marked antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli. Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. 

Other species from the Achillea genus also showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Senatore et al. [69] investigated the composition of the essential oil from the aerial parts of Achillea falcata L. 

Reports on the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of other genera from the Anthemideae tribe have also been found in the literature. The essential oil from aerial parts of Eupatorium cannabinum L. ssp. cannabinum, which shows interesting antibacterial activity mostly... 

Iacobellis, N.S., Cantore, L.P., Capasso, F. and Senatore, F. (2005). Antibacterial activity of Cuminum cyminum L. and Carum carvi L. essential oils. Journal of Agricultural and... 

There has been little scientific evaluation of aromatherapy oils but it is known that the terpenoid and phenylpropane compounds found in essential oils do possess biological activities ranging from antibacterial, antiinflammatory, sedative etc. There is evidence that molecules such as terpenoid hydrocarbons, esters etc. can be absorbed transdermally into the blood-stream. In addition, the massage element involving physical manipulation of strained tissues as well as the psychological effects of touch and of the smell of the oil, is of significance. Some trials of aromatherapy have shown benefits in intensive-care patients, in epilepsy and in endometriosis. The most popular oils are listed below with their claimed uses. 

As mentioned before, of the constituents of thyme oil, thymol (91) was the most active, followed by carvacrol (92), borneol (93),/7-cymene (37), a-pinene (13) and camphene (94). When mixtures of these 6 materials were made and the antibacterial activity evaluated, the results were quite unexpected. The antibacterial activity of the mixtures was less than that of the essential oil of thyme. This suggests that the minor compounds play a significant role in the biological activity [121]. 

Essential oils have even shown potential for the treatment of viral diseases. Recently, the results of an investigation were reported on the antiviral and antibacterial activity of essential oils from the fruit of some species of the genus Heracleum L. (Apiaceae) [218]. As well as having antibacterial activity against S. aureus and other bacteria, the essential oils from Heracleum L. species also showed considerable antiviral activity... 

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