Professional paper

https://doi.org/10.33128/ag.86.1.3

Essential oils as antimicrobial agents in the food and cosmetics industry, pharmacy and agriculture

Mirna Mrkonjić Fuka orcid.org/0000-0002-8494-8805 ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Martina Grdiša ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Luna Maslov Bandić orcid.org/0000-0003-1296-5777 ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Irina Tanuwidjaja ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Due to the wide range of activities, natural origin, proven safe use and efficacy, the use of essential oils as antimicrobial agents is increasingly being researched. In general, the antimicrobial effect of essential oils is determined by the composition and proportion of the individual compounds and also depends on the type of microorganisms whose growth is to be inhibited. The available scientific and professional literature points to the great potential of using essential oils. They have proven to be effective preservatives in the food and cosmetics industry, alone or in combination with synthetic additives. The addition of essential oils keeps the product microbiologically intact for longer and has a more pronounced antioxidant effect. Essential oils are also used as a means of controlling the growth of phytopathogenic molds and bacteria in agricultural production due to their safe, bioactive, biodegradable, ecologically and economically sustainable properties. The use of essential oils as antimicrobial agents in pharmacy or to control stress and anxiety in aromatherapy has also been documented. The aim of this paper is to emphasize the importance of the use of essential oils in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic and/or spoilage-causing microorganisms and to evaluate their effectiveness as preservatives in the cosmetic or food industry and as biocontrol agents in pre and post-harvest agricultural production. This paper also presents the main methods used to obtain essential oils and describes the main or most common components of essential.

Keywords

essential oils; antimicrobial properties; molds and bacteria; preservatives; biocontrol

Hrčak ID:

316426

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/316426

Publication date:

25.4.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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