Therapeutic Values of Essential Oils
Reshu Rajput *
University Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India.
Anchit Kour
University Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India.
Sabina
University Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Essential oils (EO) are highly concentrated chemicals extracted from leaves, stems,seeds, roots, flowers, resins, and barks. It has been illustrated that essential oils derived from clove, lemon, fennel, eucalyptus, teatree, lavender, peppermint, rosemary have preventive effects on bacteria, fungi and viruses; various studies have been done to evaluate the usefulness of essential oils against microorganisms. Extraction of essential oil from the raw materials is the most time consuming process. There are various methods that are used in extraction of essential oils that are Steam distillation, hydrodistillation, solvent extraction, cold pressing, enfleurage. The combined effects of EO-EO or Essential oil- antibiotic show higher efficacy, according to the strategy of combinatory effects via conventional and non- traditional means. This paper focuses on the various therapeutic uses of essential of different kinds like Peppermint EO, Clove EO, Rosemary EO, Lemon EO etc. Various properties of EO have been mentioned, including anti-diabetic, anti-fungal, anti-mutagenic, anti-viral, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and cancer curing. EO is composed of different components which consists of alcohol, phenol, aldehyde, ketone, terpenoids and ester. Along with beneficial and therapeutic values of EO there also comes some limitations. EO is very useful and is considered as a futuristic approach for clinical operations.
Keywords: Essential oils, antibacterial, anti- viral, anti- inflammatory, microorganisms, contamination