**3.2 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lower respiratory infection other than tuberculosis**

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lower respiratory infection other than tuberculosis are respectively the third and the fourth leading causes of death worldwide. These diseases caused cumulatively 6 million deaths in 2016. The lower respiratory infection disease owns the gold medal in communicable disease. It is important to notice that, in the developing world, the lower respiratory infectious disease is the first leading cause of death [57].

**25**

*Essential Oil's Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Properties*

bacteria that cause lower and upper respiratory infections [67].

**3.3 Lung cancer**

model [68–70].

ies have also been reported [72–76].

**3.5 Diarrheal disease**

**3.4 Diabetes**

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be defined as a progressive respiratory condition clinically characterized by dyspnea, cough, and sputum production. This is the manifestation of alveolar enlargement and destruction as well as inflammation of lung parenchyma airways [61]. *In fine*, this disease can be categorized as the inflammation of the lung. Essential oils or their components have been reported to have a positive effect on lung inflammation. In fact, eucalyptol, a main component of eucalyptus essential oil, has shown evidence on the resolution of pulmonary inflammation in humans [62, 63] and in rats [64]; myrtle, eucalyptus, and citrus essential oils have significantly reduced the inflammatory response *ex vivo* [65]. Lower respiratory infection disease is mainly caused by microorganisms including bacteria (other than Mycobacterium), fungi and viruses. A myriad of reports has proved the potential of essential oils as a possible source or as a drug against pathogens causing respiratory infection. Essential oils from *Pimpinella anisum*, *Foeniculum vulgare*, *Eucalyptus globulus*, *Mentha piperita*, *Melaleuca alternifolia*, and *Thymus vulgaris* were reviewed by Horvath and Acs from European Pharmacopeia [66] and had an effect *in vitro*, *in vivo,* and on a human. *Syzygium aromaticum*, *Cinnamomum zeylanicum* Nees., Batch, *Eucalyptus globulus*, *Thymus vulgaris* L., *Pinus sylvestris*, and *Mentha piperita* have been reported for their inhibitory effect on

Lung cancer is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide, and in 2016, WHO estimated that 1.7 million persons were dying from lung cancer. It is established that there is an urgent need for anticancer drugs due to the high selectivity that anticancer drug should possess. There are an important number of publications in the literature on the anticancer effect of the essential oils. More specifically, a certain number of essential oils have been claimed to possess anticancer effect against lung cell line; all these experiments are as per now *in vitro* or in an animal

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death worldwide. In 2016, this affection caused 1.6 million deaths with an increase of 0.6 million compared to 2000. As the number of affected persons is increasing, this means that the management method is not that efficient, and alternatives are needed. Essential oils have been analyzed for their antidiabetic effect. *Lavandula angustifolia*, *Melissa officinalis*, *Ocimum basilicum*, *Peper nigrum*, *Rosmarinus officinalis*, *Saliva officinale*, and *Thymus vulgaris* were analyzed of their stimulation of glucose consumption. And *Melissa officinalis* essential oils present better effect compared to insulin [71]; moreover, *in vivo* stud-

Diarrhea is a disease caused by infection of the gastrointestinal tract by bacteria,

fungi, virus, and ameba. The manifestation includes the urination of more than 3 liquid stools per day. The epidemiology of diarrheal disease has decreased from 200 with 2.4 million death cases to 1.4 million cases in 2016 [57]. This reduction is mostly made by hygiene management. Essential oils have been analyzed for their beneficial effect in the therapeutic management of diarrheal infection [77–80]. Some components as linalool, eucalyptol, terpineol, geraniol, thymol, carvacrol, spathulenol, caryophyllene, elemene, viridiflorol, bisabolol, eugenol, t-anetol,

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86573*

*Essential Oil's Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Properties DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86573*

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be defined as a progressive respiratory condition clinically characterized by dyspnea, cough, and sputum production. This is the manifestation of alveolar enlargement and destruction as well as inflammation of lung parenchyma airways [61]. *In fine*, this disease can be categorized as the inflammation of the lung. Essential oils or their components have been reported to have a positive effect on lung inflammation. In fact, eucalyptol, a main component of eucalyptus essential oil, has shown evidence on the resolution of pulmonary inflammation in humans [62, 63] and in rats [64]; myrtle, eucalyptus, and citrus essential oils have significantly reduced the inflammatory response *ex vivo* [65].

Lower respiratory infection disease is mainly caused by microorganisms including bacteria (other than Mycobacterium), fungi and viruses. A myriad of reports has proved the potential of essential oils as a possible source or as a drug against pathogens causing respiratory infection. Essential oils from *Pimpinella anisum*, *Foeniculum vulgare*, *Eucalyptus globulus*, *Mentha piperita*, *Melaleuca alternifolia*, and *Thymus vulgaris* were reviewed by Horvath and Acs from European Pharmacopeia [66] and had an effect *in vitro*, *in vivo,* and on a human. *Syzygium aromaticum*, *Cinnamomum zeylanicum* Nees., Batch, *Eucalyptus globulus*, *Thymus vulgaris* L., *Pinus sylvestris*, and *Mentha piperita* have been reported for their inhibitory effect on bacteria that cause lower and upper respiratory infections [67].

#### **3.3 Lung cancer**

*Essential Oils - Oils of Nature*

against road accident.

stroke disease.

devoted to the review of essential oil use against top 10 human killers. Regarding the classification of 10 global causes of death around the world as published by WHO [57], ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, diabetes, lower respiratory infection, diarrheal disease, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and road injuries were respectively the most important human killers in 2016. Unfortunately, this chapter could not review the potential of essential oils

During the last 18 years, ischemic heart disease had won the gold medal in killing a human. In the second position with silver medal comes the stroke. In 2016, these affections were incriminated in 15.2 million human death [57]. This is clear, known, and localizable but a silent terrorist against which all efforts should be focused on. These two affections share the same origin but different target. In fact, they are both cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular disease is known as a disease that affects the heart and blood vessels of the circulatory system [58]. In this case, ischemic heart disease and stroke are specific to blood vessels. Ischemic heart disease is a class of cardiovascular disease that appears on the vessels that supply the heart cells with blood in terms of nourishing rather than pumping for other organs [58]. Stroke on its part can be defined as neurological shortfall caused by crucial injury of the central nervous system. The reason behind is the cerebral infarction or intracerebral hemorrhage. Ischemic stroke accounts for 80% [59] of all types of

Death happens when cells of these two vital organs are not supplied with nutrients and oxygen and are not free from their metabolic wastes. The main cause is the obstruction of the vessels by a clot (thrombus) from venal or upper artery atherosclerosis in coronary (in the heart) or arterioles (in the brain) and/ or atherosclerosis on these two vessels [58, 59]. It is therefore clear that targeting specific clot dissolution or arteriosclerosis can help to manage ischemic heart and

In that regards, a massive number of essential oils have been studied for their effect on cardiovascular diseases. These reports were previously reviewed by Grenier et al. [60] for the vasodilatation effect. The major compounds from these essential oils were eucalyptol (*Croton nepetaefolius*); piperitenone oxide (*Mentha* × *Villosa*); terpineol (*Alpinia zerumbet*); eugenol and methyl eugenol (*Ocimum gratissimum* and *Aniba canelilla*); anethole and estragole (*Croton zehntneri*); α pinene, caryophyllene, and eucalyptol (*Hyptis fruticose*); geraniol, citronellol, and citronellal (*Cymbopogon winterianus*); and many other essential oils containing linalool, bisabolol, and β pinene [60]. For the anti-arteriosclerotic effect, these same authors reviewed 17 essential oils that have been reported for their anti-arteriosclerotic effect both *in vitro* and *in vivo*. These plants include *Allium sativum*, *Ocimum* 

**3.2 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lower respiratory infection** 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lower respiratory infection other than tuberculosis are respectively the third and the fourth leading causes of death worldwide. These diseases caused cumulatively 6 million deaths in 2016. The lower respiratory infection disease owns the gold medal in communicable disease. It is important to notice that, in the developing world, the lower respiratory infectious

**3.1 Essential oil against ischemic heart disease and stroke**

stroke this chapter will focus on these later on.

*sanctum*, *Melissa officinalis*, and *Lavandula angustifolia*.

disease is the first leading cause of death [57].

**other than tuberculosis**

**24**

Lung cancer is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide, and in 2016, WHO estimated that 1.7 million persons were dying from lung cancer. It is established that there is an urgent need for anticancer drugs due to the high selectivity that anticancer drug should possess. There are an important number of publications in the literature on the anticancer effect of the essential oils. More specifically, a certain number of essential oils have been claimed to possess anticancer effect against lung cell line; all these experiments are as per now *in vitro* or in an animal model [68–70].

#### **3.4 Diabetes**

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death worldwide. In 2016, this affection caused 1.6 million deaths with an increase of 0.6 million compared to 2000. As the number of affected persons is increasing, this means that the management method is not that efficient, and alternatives are needed. Essential oils have been analyzed for their antidiabetic effect. *Lavandula angustifolia*, *Melissa officinalis*, *Ocimum basilicum*, *Peper nigrum*, *Rosmarinus officinalis*, *Saliva officinale*, and *Thymus vulgaris* were analyzed of their stimulation of glucose consumption. And *Melissa officinalis* essential oils present better effect compared to insulin [71]; moreover, *in vivo* studies have also been reported [72–76].

#### **3.5 Diarrheal disease**

Diarrhea is a disease caused by infection of the gastrointestinal tract by bacteria, fungi, virus, and ameba. The manifestation includes the urination of more than 3 liquid stools per day. The epidemiology of diarrheal disease has decreased from 200 with 2.4 million death cases to 1.4 million cases in 2016 [57]. This reduction is mostly made by hygiene management. Essential oils have been analyzed for their beneficial effect in the therapeutic management of diarrheal infection [77–80]. Some components as linalool, eucalyptol, terpineol, geraniol, thymol, carvacrol, spathulenol, caryophyllene, elemene, viridiflorol, bisabolol, eugenol, t-anetol,

cinnamaldehyde, and allyl isothiocyanate were used to optimize the effect of the available drugs against some of the pathogens with successful results [78].

## **3.6 Tuberculosis**

Tuberculosis is the infection of the lung by *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*, and it caused 1.3 million deaths in 2016. Many drugs are available, and control by quarantining the affected person had caused a reduction in this affection during the last 19 years [57]. Essential oils can also play an important role in the management of this affection. In fact, *Salvia aratocensis*, *Lippia Americana*, *Turnera diffusa* [81], *Cuminum cyminum*, *Eugenia caryophyllata*, *Cinnamomum verum*, *Laurus nobilis*, *Pimpinella anisum* [82], and *Hyptis suaveolens* [83], among others have been analyses successfully for their effect against *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*.

### **3.7 HIV/AIDS**

HIV/AIDS is the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, caused by human immunodeficiency virus. The disease is the ninth more important terrorist worldwide, killing in 2016 1 million persons [57]. The mortality due to this virus has decreased along the years due to the generations of antiretrovirals as well as the protective measures adopted by the populations. There are only a few publications available on the effect of the essential oils on this virus. The reason can be the fact that this virus is very dangerous, and the testing equipment must be sophisticated to allow this test. However, *Ridolfia segetum* and *Oenanthe crocata* have been analyzed successfully for their effect on RNA-dependent DNA polymerase and ribonuclease H [84].
