IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF HERBAL OILS FOR ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL APPLICATIONS: A REVIEW

The rapid rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacterial and fungal pathogens presents a major global health challenge, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic agents. Herbal oils, rich in bioactive compounds such as terpenes, phenols, and aldehydes, have gained attention for their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities and potential synergistic effects with conventional antibiotics and antifungals. This review highlights in-vitro studies on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils, emphasizing their mechanisms of action, efficacy against drugresistant strains, and ability to inhibit biofilm formation. Key findings indicate that oils like tea tree, thyme, clove, oregano, and cinnamon demonstrate significant inhibitory activity against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Factors influencing efficacy, including concentration, chemical composition variability, and storage conditions, are discussed alongside safety, toxicity, and standardization challenges. The review underscores the potential of herbal oils as natural antimicrobial agents while emphasizing the need for standardized methodologies, toxicity profiling, and clinical validation to enable their safe therapeutic application.