ReviewEXCLI journal2025
Demystifying the power of essential oils: a review of their antibacterial properties and potential as natural food preservatives.
Review in EXCLI journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed.
- Seasonal Variation of Essential Oils Composition in a Genetically Diverse Population of Lippia alba and Its Influence on Antibacterial Activity.Chemistry & biodiversity · 2026Article
- Tea Tree Essential Oil Enriches Lactic Acid Bacteria and Improves Paper Mulberry Silage Quality.Microorganisms · 2026Article
- Zanthoxylum bungeanum Essential Oil Nanoemulsion: Preparation, Characterization, and Insecticidal Activity Against Tribolium castaneum.Chemistry & biodiversity · 2026Article
- Ultrasonication-Enhanced Physicochemical Stability and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Zein-Based Nanomaterials Loaded With Cinnamaldehyde and D-Limonene.Journal of food science · 2026Article
- Spray-Dried Eugenol Microparticles: Physicochemical Characterization and Enhanced Antibacterial Activity.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Essential Oils Derived from Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs as Natural Antimicrobial Candidates for Foodborne Pathogen Control: Antibacterial Activity, Biofilm Removal, and Volatile Composition.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Multitarget Therapeutic Strategies for Chagas Disease: Natural Compounds, Antimicrobial Peptides, and Cell-Based Immunomodulation.Infectious disease reports · 2026Review
- From In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity to Food Applications: Limitations of Essential Oils in Real Food Systems.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Probiotic-Plant Bioactive Synergy in Gut Health: Mechanisms, Antimicrobial Activity, and Translational Challenges.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Unlocking the Aromatic Profile of Wild-Grown Croatian Fennel: A Comparative Study of Essential Oils and Hydrolates.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Spices and Essential Oils in Food Preservation: From Natural Additives to Active Packaging Systems.Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands) · 2026Review
- From Chemotaxonomy to Green Biocides: An Overview of New Studies on the Composition and Functional Properties of Some Plant Essential Oils.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Sustainable Applications of Thymol: Advances in Formulation Technologies, Drug Delivery Systems, and Food Preservation Strategies.Food science & nutrition · 2026Review
- Multivariate Assessment of Microbiological and Incubation Data from an Experimental Trial Evaluating Essential Oil-Based Sanitizers and Formaldehyde on Hatching Eggs.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Integrated Evaluation ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- GC-MS Analysis and Antioxidant Evaluation of Essential Oils fromMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Natural Essential Oils as Promising Antimicrobial Agents to Improve Food Safety: Mechanistic Insights Against Multidrug-ResistantFoods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Next-Generation Strategies for Controlling Foodborne Pathogens: Precision Antimicrobials, Biofilm Disruption, and Emerging Molecular Interventions.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Nanoemulsified orange essential oil for decontamination of some foodborne pathogens on cherry tomatoes during simulated domestic washing.Frontiers in microbiology · 2026Article
- Action Mechanism of Essential Oils or Their Components Against Pathogenic Bacteria: Literature Review.International journal of microbiology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This review delves into the antimicrobial potential of essential oils (EOs), focusing on their mechanisms of action against foodborne pathogens and their applications as natural food preservatives. EOs, derived from aromatic plants, are complex mixtures of volatile compounds, primarily terpenes, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, which exhibit potent antimicrobial properties. These bioactive compounds disrupt bacterial cell membranes, increase permeability, and induce leakage of intracellular components, leading to cell death. Additionally, EOs inhibit energy production by depleting ATP levels, disrupting the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and impairing cellular respiration. They also generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative stress and damaging bacterial DNA, proteins, and lipids. Furthermore, EOs interfere with quorum sensing and biofilm formation, reducing bacterial virulence and resistance. Despite their efficacy, challenges such as strong flavors, poor solubility, and environmental sensitivity limit their direct application. To address these issues, encapsulation techniques, such as nanoemulsions and active packaging, have been developed to enhance the stability and controlled release of EOs. For instance, nanoencapsulation of thyme and cinnamon EOs has significantly improved their antimicrobial efficacy in food products like milk and minced meat. By harnessing the multifaceted mechanisms of EOs, this review underscores their potential as sustainable and effective natural preservatives to combat foodborne pathogens and improve food safety. See also the graphical abstract(Fig. 1).
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.