Featured Review on Essential Oils
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Flavours and Fragrances".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 3
Special Issue Editor
Interests: essential oil; biotransformation; volatile compounds; organic synthesis; GC-MS analysis; NMR analysis; herbs; drying; pheromones; deeding deterrent
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Essential oils, complex mixtures of volatile compounds derived from aromatic plants, have captivated scientific and industrial interest for their multifaceted roles in health, agriculture, and sustainability. These natural extracts—rich in terpenes, phenolics, and aldehydes—exhibit diverse bioactivities, from antimicrobial and antioxidant properties to neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. As demand grows for eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic chemicals, essential oils are emerging as pivotal players in green chemistry, precision medicine, and circular economies.
This Special Issue seeks cutting-edge reviews that unravel the molecular complexity of essential oils through advanced analytical methods (e.g., GC-MS, GC×GC-MS, NMR-based metabolomics) and innovative extraction techniques (e.g., subcritical water, enzyme-assisted processes). We encourage submissions exploring their therapeutic mechanisms (e.g., synergy between components, receptor-targeted actions), sustainable sourcing strategies (e.g., agro-waste valorization, biodiversity conservation), and novel delivery systems (e.g., nanoencapsulation, edible coatings). Additionally, contributions addressing safety profiling, industrial scalability (e.g., standardization for pharmaceuticals), or cross-disciplinary applications (e.g., biodegradable pesticides, functional foods) are welcome. We also encourage the submission of work on the effect of drying processes on the functional properties of essential-oil-bearing plants.
Prof. Dr. Antoni Szumny
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- essential oil
- aromatic plant
- GC-MS
- bioactivity
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