Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review

• Published in: Flavour and fragrance journal Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 331 - 341
• Main Authors: Horvath, Gyorgyi, Acs, Kamilla
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2015; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: anti-infective agents; anti-inflammatory agents; antibacterial properties; antibiotic resistance; antimicrobial activity; Bacteria; bacterial infections; breathing; cosmetics; essential oil; essential oils; food industry; health services; human trial; humans; in vivo study; inflammation; mechanism of action; multiple drug resistance; new drugs; people; respiratory system; respiratory tract diseases; respiratory tract infections; Special Issue: Review; Special Issue: Reviews; traditional medicine; vapour phase; respiratory tract infections; patent; in vivo study; antimicrobial activity; essential oil; human trial; vapour phase
• ISSN: 0882-5734; 1099-1026
• DOI: 10.1002/ffj.3252

The appearance of multidrug resistant bacteria and growing antibiotic resistance is leading to a continuous need for discovering new drugs and alternative treatments against infections. The investigation of the antibacterial effect of essential oils (EOs), which are commonly used nowadays in cosmetics, health care, traditional medicine and food industry, could be one of the promising solutions for this worldwide problem. EOs have a complex mode of action due to their multiple composition. Respiratory tract diseases (RTDs) associated with bacterial infection and inflammation affect a large number of people from every age group worldwide. Because of volatility, EOs can easily reach the upper and lower parts of the respiratory tract via inhalation. Moreover, due to their antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory potency, they offer an effective treatment in respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The purpose of this review is to describe the most frequently developing infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract and to show methods used for the determination of the antibacterial activity of EOs by gaseous contact. The mode of action of EOs on bacterial cells and their anti‐inflammatory action are also discussed. Results coming from recently performed in vivo animal studies as well as human trials are also reported. Patents deal with the role of EOs and their volatile constituents in the treatment of RTIs are also introduced. On the whole, this review aimed at showing EOs as potential antimicrobials and as anti‐inflammatory agents to alleviate symptoms and signs of RTDs including RTIs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This review focuses on a description of the most frequently developing infections in the respiratory tract and demonstration of the antibacterial activity of EOs in vapour‐phase. The effect of EOs on bacterial cells and their anti‐inflammatory action are also discussed. Results of in vivo animal studies as well as human trials are also reported. Patents deal with the role of EOs and their volatile constituents in the treatment of respiratory tract infections are also introduced.