Role of essential oils in food safety: Antimicrobial and antioxidant applications

Essential oils (EOs) are more complex and comprise a number of volatile and natural bioactive compounds, which often used in food industries as the best alternatives. This review focuses on the impact of EOs and the roles of their major components in food manufacturing as natural preservatives with the related mechanisms of action. In addition, the major bioactive molecules of different types of EOs and their pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antifungal and antimicrobial effects on crop protection were also discussed. The major compounds of EOs represent potential antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal activities through various mechanisms. Different types of EOs such as tea tree oil, lemon…