Role of Essential Oils of Spices and Herbs and Their Applications: A Review

Essential oils (EOs) are pure, fragrant, volatile liquids that are obtained from particular plants. Almost all plant organs, particularly the flowers, buds, leaves, seeds, stems, and fruits, produce essential oils [16]. Terpenes, phenolic chemicals, and alcohol make up the complex mixture of secondary metabolites that make up EOs [8]. EOs possess a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ones. Antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory biological actions are only a few of the many biological properties that EOs have. EOs are utilised in sanitary products (fragrances for home cleaning products), cosmetics (perfumes and makeup products), agriculture (bio-pesticide and repellant), and aromatherapy as natural cures. The earliest, simplest, and most widely utilised techniques for extracting Eos include steam distillation and hydrodistillation [17].

The antibacterial and antioxidant qualities of thymus, cinnamon and oregano essential oils intended for use in the meat sector. Chinese cinnamon and turmeric essential oils have been employed as additives in biodegradable coatings and films [21]. Some plants and EO, including clove, thyme, rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, and pimento, have been found to have strong inhibitory effects on a variety of bacterial pathogens. the essential oils of a number of plant species, including thymus, mentha, artemisia, limnophila, salvia, and rosmarinus, are effective against a variety of arthropod species, including the silverleaf whitefly, aphids, bihar hairy caterpillars, cabbage loopers, diamond back moths, and leaf rollers, which are major pests of horticultural and stored grain crops [45,46]. Patchouli essential oil has also been discovered to be a highly effective substitute for shielding skin from UV radiation. EOs used in shampoo formulations with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5, such as lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), may have synergistic effects.