Essential Oils from Plants: Industrial Applications and Biotechnological Production

Essential oils have been used since the discovery of fire by many civilizations. Alchemists used to produce the Quinta essentia by distillation, which now is known as essential oils. This review aims to provide a systematic overview of the composition in terms of active compounds and main biological activities of different essential oils. In general terms, these include anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antioxidant, antitumor, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antimutagenic activities.