Plant Essential Oil with Biological Activity

Plant essential oils (PEOs), extracted from many aromatic and medicinal plants, have been used in folk medicine and often represent an important part of the traditional pharmacopoeia. They have a long history of use in folk medicine as antimicrobial agents to control several human and phyto-pathogens. In the last few decades, research in this field has gained great momentum, especially that coming from research/medical institutions and pharmaceutical companies; many PEOs have been registered as effective alternatives to chemical and synthetic antimicrobials and effectively used in the food industry as antioxidants and anticarcinogens. The current Special Issue discusses the chemical composition and biological–pharmaceutical activities of several important PEOs and their single constituents. Detailed information regarding the mechanisms, possible mode of actions, and factors affecting these activities, such as their geographical origins, environmental conditions, nutritional status, and extraction methods, are also presented.