Biological properties of essential oils: an updated review

• Published in: Flavour and fragrance journal Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 407 - 426
• Main Authors: Adorjan, Barbara, Buchbauer, Gerhard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.11.2010; Wiley
• Subjects: anti-nociceptive effect; anticancer effects; antioxidant activity; antioxidative activity; antiphlogistic activity; Antiviral activity; Antiviral agents; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Chemical industry and chemicals; drugs; Essential oils; Essential oils, perfumes; Exact sciences and technology; General pharmacology; Inflammation; insect repellent activity; insect repellents; mechanism of action; Medical sciences; Pain; penetration enhancement; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Repellents; Reviews; traditional medicine; Washing products. Cosmetics and toiletries. Perfumes; Antineoplastic agent; antiphlogistic activity; Pharmacognosy; Antiinflammatory agent; Drug adjuvant; Review; antiviral activity; Antioxidant; penetration enhancement; Biological activity; anti-nociceptive effect; anticancer effects; Analgesic; Insect repellent; Antiviral; Essential oil; Absorption enhancer; antioxidative activity; insect repellent activity; essential oils
• ISSN: 0882-5734; 1099-1026; 1099-1026
• DOI: 10.1002/ffj.2024

In the last few years more and more studies on the biological properties of essential oils have been published and it seemed worthwhile to compile the studies of 2009, 2008 and the second part of 2007. Such an overview covering the scientific literature mainly from 2000 onwards, up to the first half of the year 2007, has been published recently. The focus of this overview lies on the anti‐nociceptive, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, penetration‐enhancing, insect repellent, antiviral and antioxidative properties of essential oils. Many essential oils have been used for centuries in folk medicine and in recent years the biological properties of various essential oils have been proved by a number of studies. Their use in the treatment of pain, inflammation, viral diseases and cancer and their potential to enhance the penetration of other drugs, their insect repellent activity and their antioxidative effects were confirmed. Nonetheless, more studies are necessary to analyse the biological properties of other essential oils or to prove their mechanism of action. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.