Essential Oils in Wellness Centers: Overview on European Union Legislation, Potential Therapeutic Effects and Toxicity

Abstract

Essential oils or volatile oils are natural products that have a large series of uses in the food and cosmetic sectors. According to their intended use, essential oils are subjected to various European guidelines that aim to protect the health and safety of consumers. Volatile oils present important biological activities, some of the most known being their antimicrobial properties, but other potential therapeutic indications for such products have been more recently suggested, as well. However, they are not necessarily harmless and can present an important sensitizing potential. Essential oils have been administered through different routes, including inhalations and skin applications, in the treatment of stress and anxiety. Regardless of the rout e of administration, aromatherapy deeply relies on the sense of smell and its connection with the limbic system. Nevertheless, outside of the principles of aromatherapy, numerous scientific studies have revealed their potential beneficial implications in Alzheimer's and other neurological disorders. Rezumat Uleiurile esențiale sau uleiurile volatile sunt produse naturale care au o serie largă de utilizări în sectorul alimentar și în cel cosmetic. În funcție de utilizarea propusă, uleiurile esențiale sunt supuse diferitelor reglementări europene care au ca scop protejarea sănătății și a siguranței consumatorilor. Uleiurile volatile prezintă activități biologice importante, unele dintre cele mai cunoscute fiind proprietățile lor antimicrobiene, dar au fost sugerate și alte potențiale indicații terapeutice pentru astfel de produse. Cu toate acestea, ele nu sunt neapărat inofensive și pot prezenta un potențial de sensibilizare important. Uleiurile esențiale sunt administrate pe diferite căi, incluzând inhalațiile și aplicațiile cutanate, în tratamentul stresului și al anxietății. Indiferent de calea de administrare, aromaterapia se bazează pe simțul mirosului și pe legătura acestuia cu sistemul limbic. Cu toate acestea, în afara principiilor aromaterapiei, numeroase studii științifice au relevat potențialele lor implicații benefice în boala Alzheimer și alte tulburări neurologice.

[Retracted] Phytochemical Constituents, Biological Activities, and Health‐Promoting Effects of the Melissa officinalis

“…The discovery and introduction of antibiotics in medicine had a beneficial effect on the control of infectious diseases [117,118]. Unfortunately, excessive use of antibiotics has been accompanied by the rapid emergence of resistant bacterial strains that are difficult to eradicate and undesirable side effects [7,119]. As a result, the researchers focused on the discovery of natural bioactives with antibacterial effect but with fewer side effects [120].…”

“…An example of popular medicinal plants with recognized beneficial effects on human health belongs to the Melissa genus [7]. Botanically, this plant can be identified as follows: genus Melissa L. belongs to kingdom: Plantae, family: Lamiaceae, and subfamily: Nepetoideae, with numerous species, four of which are Melissa axillaris (Benth.)…”

Neuropharmacological Effects of Quercetin: A Literature-Based Review

“…Due to their active compounds such as flavonoids, curcumin, lycopene, resveratrol, sesamol, etc. several natural products have been tested and showed their neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo studies (Hanganu et al, 2019;Burlec et al, 2020). Quercetin (QUR, C 15 H 10 O 7 ), also known as 3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone (Figure 1), is a unique bioflavonoid, plentifully found in various leafy foods and fruits e.g.…”

Comparative Phytochemical Evaluation in Several Achillea Species From Romania

“…Thus, we face not only to lose known medicinal plants but also plants with until-nowunknown properties and potential sources of health promoting compounds [11]. Yarrow plants have been shown to contain significant level of essential oils as well as flavonoids and phenolic acids with proven role as health-promoting chemicals showing a broadspectrum inhibitory activity over micro-organisms, as demonstrated by the in vitro tests against several types of human pathogens [6,33]. Therefore, exploring the phytochemical profile of lesser-known taxa such as A. distans ssp.…”