Medicinal Plants Essential Oils Properties (Constituents, Chemical properties, extraction, analysis & Bioactivity)

Essential oils are mixtures of volatiles that are produced as a secondary metabolite in medicinal plants. Essential oils are considered as products extracted from plant sources or fruits using steam or water distillation method. Their chemical compositions are very different based on factors such as plant, environment and extraction method. Due to their antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, essential oils can be a good alternative in the food and pharmaceutical fields. The present study is a review on the definition of essential oils, the effective factors in their chemical composition and the extraction method from medicinal plants, biological and pharmacological activity. It provides a review of chemical compounds as well as the potential benefits of essential oils in the control of infectious diseases. Investigating the effects of environmental factors on the quantity and quality of essential oils and modifying cultivars according to different climates can be one of the ways to produce standard essential oils.

Keywords:

Medicinal plants , Essential Oils , chemical compounds , Terpenoids , Environmental Effects.