Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties of Essential Oil Components
Abstract
The solubility in water of essential oil constituents is directly related to their ability to penetrate the cell walls of a bacterium or fungus. The antimicrobial activity of essential oils is due to their solubility in the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes. Terpenoids which are characterized by their lability have been found to interfere with the enzymatic reactions of energy metabolism.
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The antimicrobial activity of essential oils is due to their solubility in the bilayer.
“It can be said that their antimicrobial activity is due to the solubility of essential oils in the bilayer [41].”
From Essential Oils as Antimicrobials in Crop Protection (2021) · cites this paper as [41]
Toxic effects on membrane structure and function are generally used to explain the antimicrobial activity of essential oils.
“Toxic effects on membrane structure and function are generally used to explain the antimicrobial activity of EOs [61,62,63].”
From Effect of essential oils on pathogenic bacteria (2013) · cites this paper as [63]
Cites
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“It can be said that their antimicrobial activity is due to the solubility of essential oils in the bilayer [41].”
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- Authors
- Knobloch, K., Pauli, A., Iberl, B., Weigand, H., & Weis, N.
- Affiliations
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- Venue
- Journal of Essential Oil Research
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1989-05
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 119-128
- ISSN
- 1041-2905 (ISSN-L)
- 2163-8152
- OpenAlex
- W2033768388
- Cited by
- 652
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 2.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Essential Oil Research (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Antimicrobial agents and applications
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Keywords
- essential oils, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, terpenoids, membrane permeability, cell wall penetration, phospholipid bilayers, energy metabolism inhibition
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