Senior Capstone Experience by Jessica Gunoskey ’21
Submitted to the Department of Biology
Advised by Dr. Kathleen Verville
Description: Essential oils (EOs) have been used as homeopathic remedies throughout history, primarily as inhalants or topical treatments. Essential oils are extracted from a variety of plants as volatile metabolites with high lipophilicity. Both in vivo and in vitro trials have shown positive results of antimicrobial activity using EOs. In this review, recent findings on EOs as antibacterial and antiviral treatments are analyzed, pointing to potential future directions for developing EOs as antimicrobial agents. One result seen across multiple studies shows potential for lemongrass EO, an oil derived from Cymbopogon citratus. Lemongrass oil has shown promise as both an antiviral and antibacterial treatment with high efficacy in vitro and in vivo studies.
Washington College Review 