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Updated: May 5, 2026
09:07
The Effect of the Application of Thyme Essential Oil on Microbial Load During Meat Drying
Published on: March 14, 2018
9.0K
Effect of essential oils on pathogenic bacteria.
Filomena Nazzaro1, Florinda Fratianni, Laura De Martino
1Istituto di Scienze dell'Alimentazione, ISA-CNR, Via Roma 64, 83100 Avellino, Italy. mena@isa.cnr.it.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 30, 2013
Summary
Essential oils show broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, offering a natural alternative to conventional drugs. Their compounds target microbial membranes and cytoplasm, inhibiting growth and altering cell morphology.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Growing microbial resistance to conventional antimicrobials necessitates novel biocides.
- Plants and their derivatives, especially essential oils, are traditional sources of medicinal compounds.
- Essential oils possess inherent protective functions for plants via secondary metabolites.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the antimicrobial activity of essential oils against pathogenic bacteria.
- To highlight essential oils as potential sources for new biocide development.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on essential oil activity.
- Analysis of studies detailing mechanisms of action against bacteria.
Main Results:
- Essential oils exhibit broad-spectrum inhibition against bacteria, yeasts, and moulds.
- Components of essential oils target bacterial membranes and cytoplasm.
- Observed effects include growth inhibition and morphological changes in microbial cells.
Conclusions:
- Essential oils represent a promising natural resource for developing new antimicrobial agents.
- Further research into essential oils can address the challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
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