Essential oils of aromatic plants with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and cytotoxic properties--an overview.
The abundant use of anti-infective agents resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, fungi, and viruses. To overcome the increasing resistance of pathogenic microbes, a variety of medicinal plants have been screened worldwide for their antimicrobial properties. The aim is to find new, effective antimicrobial agents with novel modes of actions. Essential oils derived from aromatic medicinal plants have been reported to exhibit exceptionally good antimicrobial effects against bacteria, yeasts, filamentous fungi, and viruses. The progress of this expanding scientific field will be documented by the most important results published in the last decade.
Reichling
Jürgen
J
Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Biology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, Heidelberg, Germany. Juergen.Reichling@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
Schnitzler
Paul
P
Suschke
Ulrike
U
Saller
Reinhard
R
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000633:toxicity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile