Use of Essential Oils and Volatile Compounds as Biological Control Agents

• Other Authors: Fauconnier, Marie-Laure (Editor), Jijakli, Haïssam (Editor), De Clerck, Caroline (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2022
• Subjects: Research & information: general; Biology, life sciences; natural antimicrobials; encapsulation; shelf-life; microbiological quality; micelles; plant-derived antimicrobial; Enteric pathogens; leafy greens; cheese; essential oils; Escherichia coli; Clostridium tyrobutyricum; Penicillium verrucosum; antimicrobial; Elsholtzia ciliata; Tribolium castaneum; essential oil; carvone; limonene; insecticidal activity; synergistic effect; starch films; active food packaging films; cinnamon oil emulsions; Botrytis cinerea; Zanthoxylum leprieurii; Sitophilus granarius; tridecan-2-one; β-myrcene; (E)-β-ocimene; dendrolasin; antioxidant; anti-inflammatory; insecticidal; anti-plasmodial; Côte d'Ivoire; Staphylococcus aureus; S. epidermidis; carvacrol; thymol; eugenol; benzalkonium chloride; biofilms; planktonic; disinfection; natural products; Aphis nerii; Coccinella septempunctata; plant-based insecticide; Oryzaephius surinamensis; Rhyzopertha dominica; Trogoderma granarium; thyme; edible films; high pressure thermal treatment; ultrasonication; food safety; essential oil composition; sabinene; citronellal; Sitophilus oryzae; marinating solution; pork loin; quality; safety; phytotoxicity; mode of action; biopesticides; biocontrol; antifungal; antibacterial; biopesticide; insecticide; eco-friendly; stored product pest; Allium sativum; Gaultheria procumbens; Mentha arvensis; Eucalyptus dives; controlled release; biosourced; surface response methodology; sweet wormwood; mulberry pyralid; mulberry; immunity; reproductive system; digestive system; n/a
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Essential oils (EOs) and microbial/plant-based volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are being used in an increasing number of sectors such as health, cosmetics, the food industry and, more recently, agronomy. In agronomy, they are employed as bio-herbicides and bio-pesticides due to their their insecticidal, antifungal, and bactericidal effects. Several EO-based bio-pesticides are already registered. Essential oils and other VOCs are 100% bio-based and present numerous additional advantages. They contain a great number of structurally diverse compounds that frequently act in synergy; they are thus less subject to resistance. As highly volatile compounds are found in EOs and VOCs, they typically cause no residue problems in food products or in soils. Indeed, the supply of EOs can be really challenging because they are frequently produced in restricted areas of the world with prices and chemical composition fluctuations. Besides, while the high volatility of EOs and VOCs is interesting for some specific applications, it can be a problem when developing a bio-pesticide with long lasting effects. Finally, EOs are frequently phytotoxic, which is perfect for herbicide formulations, but not for other applications. In both cases, the development of a proper formulation is essential. Owing to the current attraction for natural products, a better understanding of their modes of biological action is of importance for the development of new and optimal applications.