Essential oils andmolecular chirality

Abstract

Molecular chirality is a property of the nature and life, it is present everywhere and at all scales of magnitude. A fundamental aspect of molecules that is generally overlooked in scientific aromatherapy yet based on the use of the chemistry of functional groups. This update attempts to provide information on molecular stereochemistry in the composition of essential oils and its impact on their biological activities. Notions of stereochemistry are introduced and new light is shed with numerous examples on the main molecules making up EO. The importance of the enantiomeric profile of EOs is shown with a more precise evaluation of the consequences on their biological properties.