Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Feb 14;28(4):1809.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28041809.

A Status Review on Health-Promoting Properties and Global Regulation of Essential Oils

Tareq M Osaili  1   2   3 , Dinesh Kumar Dhanasekaran  2 , Falak Zeb  2 , MoezAlIslam E Faris  1   2 , Farah Naja  1   2 , Hadia Radwan  1   2 , Leila Cheikh Ismail  1   2 , Hayder Hasan  1   2 , Mona Hashim  1   2 , Reyad Shaker Obaid  1   2
Affiliations
Review

A Status Review on Health-Promoting Properties and Global Regulation of Essential Oils

Tareq M Osaili et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Since ancient times, essential oils (EOs) have been known for their therapeutic potential against many health issues. Recent studies suggest that EOs may contribute to the regulation and modulation of various biomarkers and cellular pathways responsible for metabolic health as well as the development of many diseases, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and bacterial infections. During metabolic dysfunction and even infections, the immune system becomes compromised and releases pro-inflammatory cytokines that lead to serious health consequences. The bioactive compounds present in EOs (especially terpenoids and phenylpropanoids) with different chemical compositions from fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants confer protection against these metabolic and infectious diseases through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. In this review, we have highlighted some targeted physiological and cellular actions through which EOs may exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. In addition, it has been observed that EOs from specific plant sources may play a significant role in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, microbial infections, and increasing breast milk production, along with improvements in heart, liver, and brain health. The current status of the bioactive activities of EOs and their therapeutic effects are covered in this review. However, with respect to the health benefits of EOs, it is very important to regulate the dose and usage of EOs to reduce their adverse health effects. Therefore, we specified that some countries have their own regulatory bodies while others follow WHO and FAO standards and legislation for the use of EOs.

Keywords: anti-cancer; anti-inflammatory; essential oils; metabolic health; obesity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Molecular structures of some common essential oil compounds.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Targeted actions of EOs for the reduction of inflammation and cancer.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Sources of EOs and their respective health-promoting properties.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Reuter J., Merfort I., Schempp C.M. Botanicals in dermatology. Am. J. Clin. Dermatol. 2010;11:247–267. doi: 10.2165/11533220-000000000-00000. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Sadgrove N., Jones G. A contemporary introduction to essential oils: Chemistry, bioactivity and prospects for Australian agriculture. Agriculture. 2015;5:48–102. doi: 10.3390/agriculture5010048. - DOI
    1. Sharifi-Rad J., Sureda A., Tenore G.C., Daglia M., Sharifi-Rad M., Valussi M., Tundis R., Sharifi-Rad M., Loizzo M.R., Ademiluyi A.O. Biological activities of essential oils: From plant chemoecology to traditional healing systems. Molecules. 2017;22:70. doi: 10.3390/molecules22010070. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Corazza M., Borghi A., Lauriola M., Virgili A. Use of topical herbal remedies and cosmetics: A questionnaire-based investigation in dermatology out-patients. J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol. 2009;23:1298–1303. - PubMed
    1. Yeshi K., Phurpa W. Herbal Biomolecules in Healthcare Applications. Academic Press; Cambridge, MA, USA: 2022. Essential oils and their bioactive molecules in healthcare; pp. 215–237.