Abstract
The emerging literature has suggested essential oils (EOs) as new possible weapons to fight antimicrobial resistance due to their inherent antimicrobial properties. However, the potential pharmaceutical use of EOs is confronted by several limitations, including being non-specific in terms of drug targeting, possessing a high cytotoxicity as well as posing a high risk for causing skin irritation. Furthermore, some EOs have been demonstrated to adversely affect the cellular lipid profiles and permeability of the cell membrane, which may result in undesirable outcomes for the cells. Nevertheless, owing to their naturally complex compositions, EOs still hold undiscovered potential to mitigate antimicrobial resistance, as an alternative to existing antibiotics. To address the issue of overuse in antibiotics for crops which have led to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance globally, EOs have also been proposed as potential biopesticides. Since the perceived advantages of antimicrobial attributes in EOs remain largely unexplored, this review aims to provide a discourse into its current practical usefulness in the agricultural setting. Finally, updated bioengineering techniques with emphasis of the biopesticide potential of EOs as a means to alleviate antimicrobial resistance will be included.
Highlights
Essential oils (EOs) are highly concentrated and complex mixtures of chemical components produced by aromatic plants in the form of secondary metabolites
In addition to the rapid emergence of the antibiotic resistance crisis worldwide, there is a clear urgency for the development of new antimicrobial compounds; EOs have been favourably viewed in this regard due to their promising antimicrobial properties and therapeutic potential [4,5]
While diverse antimicrobial mechanisms have been described, the bacterial cell wall and membrane have frequently been reported to be the first target of EOs [7,10,12,13]
Summary
Essential oils (EOs) are highly concentrated and complex mixtures of chemical components produced by aromatic plants in the form of secondary metabolites. Various in vitro and in vivo studies have documented the biological benefits of EOs and their active compounds, such as possessing antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory properties [2,3]. Some compounds in EOs have been observed to be toxic to the cells. Among the major problems encountered in the pharmaceutical applications of EOs is their toxicity to mammalian cells, despite this occurrence being documented relatively poorly. Evidence has shown that the lipophilic character of EO compounds and interactions with hydrophobic parts of the cell play a crucial role in the mechanism of toxicity. A practical outlook of the antimicrobial applications of EOs and their safety concerns as a complement to the growing literature on the mechanism of action of EOs and their components will be presented. The aspect of bioavailability of the usually poorly soluble hydrophobic compounds with respect to the in situ application of bioengineering approaches will be included
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