Skip to main content
Log in

Antimicrobial activities of essential oils

A 1976–1986 literature review on possible applications

  • Review Articles
  • Published:
Pharmaceutisch Weekblad Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The testing of essential oils for antimicrobial activities is reviewed with respect to various possible applications. Consideration is given to the screening for antimicrobially active oils or constituents, for disinfecting or antiseptic properties and for food conserving properties. The role of essential oils in biological interactions and their potential as therapeutic agents are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Morris JA, Khettry A, Seitz EW. Antimicrobial activity of aroma chemicals and essential oils. J Am Oil Chem Soc 1979;56:595–603.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Yousef RT, Tawil GG. Antimicrobial activity of essential oils. Pharmazie 1980;35:698–701.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ross SA, El-Keltawi NE, Megalla SE. Antimicrobial activity of some Egyptian aromatic plants. Fitoterapia 1980;51:201–5.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kellner W, Kober W. Möglichkeiten der Verwendung ätherischer öle zur Raumdesinfektion. Arzneimittelforsch 1954;4:319–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Inouye S, Goi H, Miyouchi K, Muraki S, Ogihara M, Iwanami I. Inhibitory effect of volatile components of plants on the proliferation of bacteria. Bokin Bobai 1983;11:609–15 (via Chemical Abstracts 1984;100: 48439k).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Makarchuk NM, Krivenko W, Akimov YuA, Smorodinskaja VG, Marchenko KP. Antimicrobial activity of essential oils — peppermint, lavender, wormwood and lemon. Khim Vzaimodeistvie Rast 1981:146–50 (via Chemical Abstracts 1982;96:3536x).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Taldykin OE. Use of phytoncidic activity of essential oils for improving the air in sealed places. Fitonsidy: Rol Biogeotsenozakh Znach Med Mater Soveshch 8th, 1979:201–3 (via Chemical Abstracts 1982;97:97621s).

  8. Pellecuer J, Jacob M, Simeon de Buochberg M, et al. Essais d'utilisation d'huiles essentielles de plantes aromatiques mediterraneennes en odontologie conservatrice. Plant Med Phytother 1980;14:83–98.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wade A, ed. Martindale. The Extra Pharmacopoeia. 27th ed. London: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1977:1018.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lavelle CLB, Proctor DB. Clinical Pathology of the Oral Mucosa. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1978:251.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hintz D, Margineanu C, Hodisan V, Popa L. Comparative antimicrobial effect of eugenol and of the volatile oil ofCarum carvi L. Rev Chir Oncol Radiol ORL Oftalmol Stomatol Stomatol 1981;28:259–64 (via Chemical Abstracts 1982;96:210502y).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Madhyastha MS, Bhat RV.Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxin production on black and white pepper and the inhibitory action of their chemical constituents. Appl Environ Microbiol 1984;48:376–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hitokoto H, Morozumi S, Wauke T, Sakai S, Kurata H. Inhibitory effects of spices on growth and toxin production of toxigenic fungi. Appl Environ Microbiol 1980;39:818–22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Reiss J. Mycotoxins in foods. xvi. Studies on the effect of the components of cinnamon bark on the growth of molds on bread and formation of mycotoxins. Getreide Mehl Brot 1982;36:50–3 (via Chemical Abstracts 1982;96:141325d).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Tiwari R, Dikshit RP, Chandan NC, Saxena A, Gupta KG, Vadehra DE. Inhibition of growth and aflatoxin B1 production ofAspergillus parasiticus by spice oils. J Food Sci Technol 1983;20:131–3.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Forstreuter-Künstler M, Ahlert B. Hemmung von Mikroorganismen durch Gewürzinhaltstoffe. Lebensmittelchem Gerichtl Chem 1984;38:143–5.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Farbood MI, McNeil JH, Ostovar K. Effect of rosemary spice extractive on growth of microorganisms in meats. J Milk Food Technol 1976;39:675–9.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Sharma A, Ghanekar AS, Padwal-Desai SR, Nadkarni GB. Microbiological status and antifungal properties of irradiated spices. J Agric Food Chem 1984;32:1061–3.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mabrouk SS, El-Shayeb MA. Inhibition of aflatoxin formation by some spices. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch 1980;171:344–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Beuchat LR. Sensitivity ofVibrio parahaemolyticus to spices and organic acids. J Food Sci 1976;41:899–902.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bullerman LB, Lieu FY, Seier SA. Inhibition of growth and aflatoxin production by cinnamon and clove oils. Cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol. J Food Sci 1977;42:1107–9.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Buchanan RL, Shepherd AJ. Inhibition ofAspergillus parasiticus by thymol. J Food Sci 1981;46:976–7.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Alderman GG, Marth EH. Inhibition of growth and aflatoxin production ofAspergillus parasiticus byCitrus oils. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch 1976;160:353–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Thompson DP, Cannon C. Toxicity of essential oils on toxigenic and nontoxigenic fungi. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 1986;36:527–32.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Sarbhoy AK, Varshney JL, Maheshwari ML, Saxena DB. Efficacy of some essential oils and their constituents on few ubiquitous molds. Zbl Bakt II Abt 1978;133:732–5.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kurita N, Miyaji M, Kurane R, Takahara Y, Ichimura K. Antifungal activity and molecular orbital energies of aldehyde compounds from oils of higher plants. Agric Biol Chem 1979;43:2365–71.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kurita N, Koike S. Synergistic antimicrobial effect of sodium chloride and essential oil components. Agric Biol Chem 1982;46:159–65.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kurita N, Koike S. Synergistic antimicrobial effect of acetic acid, sodium chloride and essential oil components. Agric Biol Chem 1982;46:1655–60.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kurita N, Koike S. Synergistic antimicrobial effect of ethanol, sodium chloride, acetic acid and essential oil components. Agric Biol Chem 1983;47:67–75.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Conner DE, Beuchat LR. Effects of some essential oils from plants on growth of food spoilage yeasts. J Food Sci 1984:49:429–34.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Dikshit A, Dixit SN.Cedrus oil — a promising antifungal agent. Indian Perfum 1982;26:216–27.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Dikshit A, Dubey NK, Tripathi NN, Dixit SN.Cedrus oil — a promising storage fungitoxicant. J Stored Prod Res 1983;19:159–62.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Arora R, Pandey GN. Effect of essential oils onCitrus decay pathogens. Biol Mem 1984:9:69–72.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Arora R, Pandey GN. Application of essential oils and their isolates as preservative ofCitrus reticulata bianco. Biol Mem 1984;9:98–104.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Pandey DK, Chandra H, Tripathi NN. Volatile fungitoxic activity of some higher plants with special reference toCallistemon lanceolatus DC. Phytopathol Z 1982;105:175–82.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Pandey DK, Tripathi NN, Tripathi RD, Dixit SN. Fungitoxic and phytotoxic properties of the essential oil ofCaesulia axillaris Roxb. (Compositae). Angew Bot 1982;56:259–67.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Pandey DK, Tripathi NN, Tripathi RD, Dixit SN. Fungitoxic and phytotoxic properties of the essential oil ofHyptis suaveolens. Z Pflanzenkr Pflanzenschutz 1982;89:344–9.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Gupta YN. Germicidal and antifungal studies of essential oils and some of their constituents. Indian Perfum 1976;20(1a):45–53.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Elkhouly AE, Tawil G, Yousef RT. Combined bactericidal activities of volatile oils and preservatives in oil/water dispersions. Acta Pharm Fenn 1978;87:143–8.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Elkhouly AE, Tawil GG, Yousef RT. Combined antibacterial activity of the oil of rosemary and preservatives in emulsified systems. Aust J Pharm Sci 1980;9:81–4.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Hamperl W. Erlangen: Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 1984. Dissertation.

  42. Urbasch I. Produktion von 2-Tridecanon durch verschiedene Kultur- und Wildtomatenpflanzen (Lycopersicon spp.). Planta Med 1985:492–4.

  43. Urbasch I. Vergleichende Analyse der ätherischen öle in Blattdrüsenhaaren verschiedener Kultur- und Wildtomatenpflanzen (Lycopersicon spp.). Planta Med 1986:58–60.

  44. Urbasch I. Defence mechanisms of tomato plants (Lycopersicon spp.) againstBotrytis cinerea involving volatiles with morphogenetic activity. Planta Med 1986:508–9.

  45. Möde J. Wasserdampffluchtige Stoffwechselprodukte aus Kartoffelpflanzen mit antimykotischer Wirkung. Naturwissenschaften 1983;70:258–9.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Andrews RE, Parks LW, Spence KD. Some effects of Douglas fir terpenes on certain microorganisms. Appl Environ Microbiol 1980;40:301–4.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Tanaka H, Uegaki R, Fujimori T, Kato K. Antibacterial activity of sesquiterpenoids from tobacco leaves elicited byPseudomonas solanacearum and tobacco mosaic virus. Ann Phytopathol Soc Jpn 1983;49:501–7.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Friend J, Rathmell WG. Phyto-alexins. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Antibiotics in Agricultural ‘Benefits, Malefits’, 1983:95–115.

  49. Kemp MS, Burden RS. Phytoalexins and stress metabolites in the sapwood of trees. Phytochemistry 1986;25:1261–9.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Oh HK, Jones MB, Longhurst WM. Comparison of rumen microbial inhibition resulting from various essential oils isolated from relatively unpalatable plant species. Appl Microbiol 1968;16:39–44.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Oh HK, Sakai T, Jones MB, Longhurst WM. Effect of various essential oils isolated from Douglas fir needles upon sheep and deer rumen microbial activity. Appl Microbiol 1967;15:777–84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Welch BL, Narjisse H, McArthur ED.Artemisia tridentata monoterpenoid effect on ruminant digestion and forage selection. In: Margaris N, Koedam A, Vokou D, eds. Aromatic Plants: Basic and Applied Aspects. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1982:73–86.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Schilcher H. Pharmakologie und Toxikologie ätherischer öle. Therapiewoche 1986;36:1100–16.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Schilcher H. Effects and side effects of essential oils. In: Baerheim Svendsen A, Scheffer JJC, eds. Essential oils and aromatic plants. Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff/Dr. W. Junk Publishers, 1985:217–31.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Schilcher H. Ätherische öle — Wirkungen und Nebenwirkungen. Dtsch Apoth Ztg 1984;124:1433–42.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Schilcher H. Pflanzliche Urologika. Dtsch Apoth Ztg 1984;124:2429–36.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Janssen, A.M., Scheffer, J.J.C. & Svendsen, A.B. Antimicrobial activities of essential oils. Pharmaceutisch Weekblad Scientific Edition 9, 193–197 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02029329

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02029329

Key words

Navigation