Essential Oils: Chemistry and Pharmacological Activities—Part II
Damião Pergentino de Sousa,
Francisco de Assis Oliveira,
Daniel Dias Rufino Arcanjo,
Diogo Vilar da Fonsêca,
Allana Brunna S. Duarte,
Celma de Oliveira Barbosa,
Thomas Prates Ong,
Timothy John Brocksom
Affiliations
Damião Pergentino de Sousa
Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Francisco de Assis Oliveira
Medicinal Plants Research Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina 64049-550, Brazil
Daniel Dias Rufino Arcanjo
LAFMOL—Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Studies in Physiopharmacology, Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina 64049-550, Brazil
Diogo Vilar da Fonsêca
Collegiate of Medicine, Federal University of São Francisco Valley, Bahia 48607-190, Brazil
Allana Brunna S. Duarte
Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
Celma de Oliveira Barbosa
LAFMOL—Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Studies in Physiopharmacology, Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina 64049-550, Brazil
Thomas Prates Ong
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Timothy John Brocksom
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
The importance of essential oils and their components in the industrial sector is attributed to their chemical characteristics and their application in the development of products in the areas of cosmetology, food, and pharmaceuticals. However, the pharmacological properties of this class of natural products have been extensively investigated and indicate their applicability for obtaining new drugs. Therefore, this review discusses the use of these oils as starting materials to synthesize more complex molecules and products with greater commercial value and clinic potential. Furthermore, the antiulcer, cardiovascular, and antidiabetic mechanisms of action are discussed. The main mechanistic aspects of the chemopreventive properties of oils against cancer are also presented. The data highlight essential oils and their derivatives as a strategic chemical group in the search for effective therapeutic agents against various diseases.
