Essential Oils to Revolutionize Food Preservation and Replace Antibiotics in Future

Essential oil, also known as ethereal oils, volatile oils, aetherolea, is derived from plants and contains the essence of fragrance of plants from which it is derived. It is extracted by distillation process, mainly by using steam and water. Other processes include expression, resin tapping, absolute oil extraction, solvent extraction, and cold pressing. Its usage is increasing in cosmetics, perfumes, toiletries, and other products. It also adds flavors to food & drink and scents to incense & household cleaning products.

Essential Oils as an Alternative to Conventional Medicine in The Healthcare:

Along with the conventional use in inhalation or aromatherapy, essential oil is also considered as an alternative to conventional medicine in the healthcare industry. “When we think of essential oils we think of aromas, spas and beauty products,” said Dr. Lynn Anderson, Doctor of Natural Health, author and yoga/exercise professional. “But essential oils are so much more. Essential oils are healing modalities. Their antiseptic power comes from phenolic content, and oils with higher phenolic content, like oregano, thyme, cinnamon and clove, are more potent.” Antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties are responsible for its growing use in pharmaceutical industry. Research studies show that it has positive effects on various health concerns, such as pain, infections, depression, anxiety, premenstrual syndrome, tumors, nausea, and others.

Essential Oils as an Alternative to Antibiotics:

Essential oil is also used as an alternative to antibiotics as it does not cause harmful effects to human body. Antibiotics cause destruction of microbiome in human body and leads to variety of health problems. In addition, doctors are prescribing antibiotics for viral problems, such as cold, flu, and minor infection which has adverse effects on health. Commenting on the issue, Margaret Chan, Head of the World Health Organization said, "The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis. More and more governments recognize (it is) one of the greatest threats to health today."

There are best essential oils that are an alternative antibiotics and do not cause any health problems, unless used in excess. Tea tree oil can be applied directly on skin to prevent from bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. Eucalyptus oil is used for rapid wound healing and protection of injuries from exposure to air. Along with its antibacterial and antiseptic properties, lavender oil is effective in speedy healing process of minor skin injuries including cuts, burns, wounds, and sunburns. It is used in treatment of bacterial skin conditions such as psoriasis and acne. Lemon grass, which is also a crucial ingredient in Thai cooking, hinders bacterial growth. This oil is used for external purposes such as treatment of bacterial skin infections and internal purposes such as treatment of food poisoning, urinary tract infections, typhoid, and malaria. These oils need to be taken under supervision as excessive use causes health problems.

Essential Oils in Food Preservation:

Essential oils are revolutionizing food preservation owing to its antioxidant properties and ability to keep food contaminant-free. Its antibacterial properties can keep the food non-toxic and boost the antimicrobial defense system of a human body. There are several essential oils such as Carvacrol, Monoterpenes, and Eugenol that can be used in food preservation.

Carvacrol is an antimicrobial agent that is extracted from oregano and thyme. It is an influential antioxidant that prevents free radical formation to prevent food from spoiling. Phenolic properties of Eugenol enable high scavenging activity of the DPPH radical in food that prevents bacterial growth. Furthermore, turmeric and ginger root oils also have free radical scavenging activity. In smart packaging technologies, addition of essential oils to packaging provides a water vapor barrier in protein-based films. A simple combination of phytochemicals present in essential oils can replace hundreds of toxic preservatives and food additives used in packaging. Its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties have an ability to inhibit bacterial growth by destroying the cell membranes of bacteria. So, it helps to reduce spoilage of food by repelling the moisture. In addition, growing preference as a natural ingredient and favorable government regulation present new opportunities in essential oils market.

A report published on essential oils industry revealed thorough information on changing industry dynamics. As per the report, the world essential oil market is estimated to reach $11.5 billion by 2022, registering a CAGR of 10.1% from 2016 to 2022. The report offers a comprehensive analysis of drivers & opportunities, detailed segmentation, Porter’s five forces model, SWOT analysis, and essential oils market trends.

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